King
Sahib
A polite form of address for an educated, cultured man.
Salam alaikum
Arabic language greeting in Muslim cultures, meaning ‘Peace be upon you.’
Sale/Saale
Literally, wife’s brother. Also an abuse implying that the speaker has slept with the sister of one addressed.
Sari/Saree
A garment consisting of a length of cotton or silk elaborately draped around the body, traditionally worn by women from the Indian sub-continent.
Sarkar
Literally, the government. It also refers to a person in a position of authority, especially one who owns land worked by tenant farmers.
Shalwar/Salwar
A pair of light, loose pleated trousers tapering to a close fit around the ankles, worn by men/women mostly in North India and Pakistan.
Suras
A chapter or section of the Koran.
Tehmet/Tehmad
An unstitched length of cloth usually worn knotted at the waist by men in the Indian sub-continent.
Tonga-wallah
‘Wallah’ translated literally means ‘man’ and the prefix tonga (horse carriage) indicates occupation. Tonga-wallah would roughly translate as tonga-man or tonga-driver.
Topee/Topi
A hat or a cap.
Vilayat
England
Wa alaykum
as-Salam
Response to Salam alaikum (peace be upon you) meaning ‘And on you be peace!’
Wuzu
The act of cleaning oneself before namaaz.
Lament on the Death of a Master of Arts… and Other Stories Page 10
