Comments on: Old Wallahs

By: Stephen

Stephen — Fri, 21 May 2010 13:50:59 +0000

Thanks for that Max. Literally, you’re quite right, but usage leans more towards the provider than the consumer, as in these examples:
— Dabbawala, lunch box deliverer
— Auto-wallah, driver of an auto rickshaw
— Chai-wallah, a boy or young man who serves tea
— Attar-wallah, seller of perfumes and extracts
— Kulfi-wallah, maker of Kulfi (Ice-cream)
— Bottley-wallah, recycler of printed material, bottles, and these days, TVs and electronic gadgets
— Dudh-Wallah, this is a caste, an accent and applies to milkmen.
— Punkah-Wallah, The servant who keeps the punkah going on hot nights

By: Max

Max — Fri, 21 May 2010 13:41:19 +0000

Steve old man, ‘wallah’ simply means ‘one’ as in chai wallah: could mean the maker of tea or the one who drinks the stuff…anyway, thanks for the interesting article.

By: Stephen

Stephen — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 12:32:34 +0000

Thanks for the correction Gavin. Say, what brought you to my blog?

By: gavin

gavin — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:34:25 +0000

Stephen, I love the angle you take on ODW. By the way, it was Jhampa Shaneman who thought of having a reunion.