# Khalsa bole

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Khalsa bole (Gurmukhi: ਖ਼ਾਲਸਈ ਬੋਲੇ or ਖ਼ਾਲਸਾ ਬੋਲੀ; Ḵẖālasa'ī bōlē, Ḵẖālasā bōlī; meaning "words of Khalsa"; alternatively transcribed as Khalsa boli) is a bravado-based language variety developed and spoken by members of the Akali-Nihang sect of Sikhism. It has also been described as a coded language. Sant Singh Sekhon describes the lect as a "grandiloquent patois" that "comprises euphemisms and jargon symbolic of high-spirited confidence and courage". The Nihangs use certain vocabulary with distinct semantics.

## Names

Other common names for the lect are Gar Gaj Bole (ਗੜਗੱਜ ਬੋਲੇ; meaning "words that thunder"), Nihang Singh de Bole ("words of the Nihang Sikhs"), Nihang Bola ("Nihang speak"), and Khalsa de bole ("words of the Khalsa").

## Purpose

The dialect encompasses the Sikh philosophical concept of remaining ever optimistic, known as Chardi kala. The unique dialect serves martial and mental objectives, such as helping the speaker and listeners remain in high-spirits in the face of adversity. It serves as a verbal act of dissent in the face of troubling circumstances.
   "There is a great degree of general Sikh ambivalence towards the Nihangs and their deras. There is no real knowledge but through the construction of the Sikh past by ragis and dhadis and others involved in the invention of Sikh tradition, they seem to have made sacrifices for the faith and qaum. One possible consequence of their relative isolation could be the development of coded language. Sekhon (1997: 229) attributes these different meanings of the words as metaphors of optimism and belief in the inevitable achievement of the goal: 'Taking a meal of parched gram of necessity a Nihang would describe himself as eating almonds. Even now onions for Nihangs are silver pieces, rupees on the other hand mere pebbles, and a club the repository of wisdom.’ "
An account of Khalsa bole published in 1903 is as follows:
   "One branch of them [Nihangs] will never use a word of the feminine gender, and others will add the word Singh or lion -the distinctive suffix of Sikh names) [sic] after almost every substantive they use. The Akáli is full of memories of the glorious days of the Khálsa: he is nothing if not a soldier-a soldier of the Guru. He dreams of armies, and he think in lakhs [hundred of thousands]. Often if an Akáli wishes to imply that five of his order are present, he will say 'Five lakhs are before you'; or if he would explain that he is alone, he will say that he is with 'one and a quarter lakhs of the Khálsa.' You ask him how he is, and he replies that 'the army is well'; you enquire where he has come from, and he says, ' The troops marched from Lahore.' At the end of his prayers he shouts. 'Sat Srí Akál' ('God the Immortal is True') as loud as he can, and if he is given money to buy 'karah parshad and requested to do so', he utters this Jaikára or cry of victory, as it is called."

## History
### Origin

Some claim it was invented by Banda Singh Bahadur, the early 18th century Sikh general and martyr.$^{:120}$ Sikh scholar, Piara Singh Padam, claims it originated earlier in the 17th century, during the time of the Sikh gurus. The dialect developed during the period of intense persecution of the Sikhs by the Mughal and Durrani empires in the 18th century. During that period, Sikhs vacated for the mountains, jungles, and deserts to escape the genocidal policies enacted against them.
   "Guru Gobind Singh would rename some of the smaller or weaker Singhs in the ranks of the Khalsa Army. He would bestow them with lofty titles such as ‘Dharti-Hallaa Singh' (literally, the Earth-shaker). This would not only send fear and doubt deep within the ranks of the enemy soldiers, but encouraged the Singhs in the Khalsa Army to fight heroically with courage and confidence and honour the names given to them by the Guru."
Jasbir Singh Sarna claims the language variety evolved during the time-period of Nawab Kapur Singh.
Accord to Sant Singh Sekhon, the Nihangs developed the special vocabulary full of euphemisms and parallels to common words and phrases to complement their martial role and character. The terms were used by Nihangs to "make light of hardships", to describe enemies in a bold and provocative manner, and to belittle/ridicule things of worldly comfort.

### Present-day

The dialect is still used by some modern Sikhs, especially the Akali-Nihangs. Nihangs still employ Khalsa Bole in their encampments and also when they talk to members of the general public. The Khalsa Bole used by Nihangs today with the public are for the purpose of comedy but also secrecy. The euphemisms used by the Nihangs can be interpreted as derogatory.
Many modern Nihangs are ridiculed for using their dialect. They are often the target for jokes by outsiders. Many of the terms of Khalsa Bole have been forgotten and lost.

## Linguistic sources

Khalsa bole sources its vocabulary from "a mixture of Punjabi, Old Hindi, Persian and other dialects used in various regions of India".

## List of vocabulary examples

Khalsa bole words and phrases with figurative and literal meanings :
| Word or phrase | Figurative meaning/Euphemism for | Literal meaning/Meaning in the common language | Reference(s) | ਗੜਗਜ ਬੋਲੇ | ਆਮ ਭਾਸ਼ਾ ਵਿੱਚ ਮਤਲਬ |
| airāvat | he-buffalo | legendary elephant | | ਐਰਾਵਤ | ਝੋਟਾ |
| akāl dan | wooden club; a baton | dispenser of wisdom | $^{:120}$ | ਅਕਲ ਦਾਨ | ਡੰਡਾ |
| ākaṛbhann | disease, especially fever | that which shatters arrogance | | ਆਕੜਭੰਨ | ਬੁਖਾਰ |
| amritī | broth of gram flour | name of sweetmeat | | ਅਮਰਤੀ | ਕੜ੍ਹੀ |
| aṅgīṭhā | funeral pyre | fireplace | | ਅੰਗੀਠਾ | ਚੀਤਾ |
| añjanī | night | antimony powder | | ਅੰਜਨਿ | raat |
| athakk | emaciated pony | tireless | | ਅੱਥਕ | khachar |
| baṭerā | brinjal, eggplant | quail | | ਬਟੇਰਾ | ਬੈਂਗਣ |
| bhoiṅsūrs | turnip | oil pig | | ਭੋਈਸੁਰਸ | ਸ਼ਲਗਮ |
| brahma ras | sugarcane | drink of the gods | | ਬ੍ਰਹਮਰਸ | ਗੰਨਾ |
| būndī | boiled gram | sweets | | ਬੂੰਦੀ | ਉਬਲੀ ਦਾਲ |
| chalākā | thick needle | clever man | | ਚਾਲਕਾ | ਸੂਆ |
| chalākan | spud, hoe (tool) | clever woman | | ਚਲਾਕਣ | ਖੁਰਪਾ |
| chāndanī-pulāo | parched millet | dish of cooked rice | | ਚਾਂਦਨੀ ਪੁਲਾਓ | ਖਿੱਚੜੀ |
| charandāsī | shoes | maidservant, attached to the master's feet | | ਚਰਨਦਾਸੀ | ਜੁੱਤੀ |
| chimanī begum | opium | humorous name for a woman | | ਚਿਮਾਨੀ ਬੇਗਮ | ਆਫ਼ੀਮ |
| dharamrāj dī dhī | sleep, sleeping | daughter of the mythical Dharam Rāj, dispensar of Divine justice, daughter of the angel of death | | ਧਰਮਰਾਜ ਦੀ ਧੀ | ਨੀਂਦ |
| dharamrāj dā puttar | fever | Dharam Rāj's son | | ਧਰਮਰਾਜ ਦਾ ਪੁੱਤਰ | ਬੁਖਾਰ |
| dhūṛkoṭ | woman's heavy skirt | the fort of dust | | ਧੂਰਕੋਟ | ਘੱਗਰਾ |
| dusāṅgā | trousers | fork | | ਦੁਸਾਂਗਾ | ਪਤਲੂਨ |
| fateh kumait | black-coloured club | winning bay horse | | ਫਤਿਹ ਕੁਮੈਤ | |
| gaṅgā jal | liquor | water of the Ganges | | ਗੰਗਾ ਜਲ | ਸ਼ਰਾਬ |
| guptā | dumb | secretive | | ਗੁਪਤਾ | ਬੋਲਾ |
| harā | dried | green | | ਹਰਾ | ਸੁੱਕਾ |
| harn hoṇā | to flee | to become a deer | | ਹਰਨ ਹੋਣਾ | ਭੱਜ ਜਾਣਾ |
| hukam sat | dead | true order | | ਹੁਕਮ ਸੱਤ | ਮਰਨਾ |
| ilāchī | a twig of palāhi or acacia chewed to cleanse teeth | cardamom | | ਇਲਾਚੀ | |
| indrāṇī | emaciated mare | Indra's consort | | ਇੰਦ੍ਰਾਣੀ | ਮਰੀਅਲ ਘੋੜੀ |
| jagat jūṭh | hukkā; hubble-bubble | universal pollution | | ਜਗਤ ਜੂਠ | ਹੁੱਕਾ / ਤੰਬਾਕੁ |
| joṛ melnī | sewing needle | match-maker | | ਜੋੜ ਮੇਲਣੀ | ਕੱਪੜਾ ਬੁਣਨ ਵਾਲੀ ਸੁਈ |
| kalgā | bala person | plume | | ਕਲੰਗਾ | ਗੰਜਾ |
| kanūngo | stick, walking-stick | a revenue official | | ਕਾਨੂੰਗੋ | ਸੋਟੀ |
| kaṭṭā | elephant | young buffalo-calf | | ਕੱਟਾ | ਹਾਥੀ |
| khaṇḍ | ashes | sugar | | ਖੰਡ | ਸੁਆਹ |
| kotal | charpoy, bedstead | horse of good breed | | ਕੋਤਲ | ਮੰਜਾ |
| kūch | death | march | | |
| kuhī | sickle | bird of prey | |
| lāchīdāṇā | millet | cardamom seeds | |
| mahāṅ prasād | meat curry | supreme dish | |
| māmalā lainā | to collect victuals or donations | to collect land revenue | |
| nākhāṅ | fruit of banyan tree | pears | |
| nihakalaṅk | earthen pitcher | without blemish | |
| pañj isnānā | washing of face, hands, and feet only | five times bath | |
| parī | sheep | fairy | |
| pauṇ turaṅg | jaded, worn-out pony | flying horse | |
| pauṇ parkāsh | fan | lighter of wind | |
| phirnī | hand-operated millstone | circulator | |
| rajjī | ladle | satiated | |
| rāmbāgh | forest | garden of Rāma | |
| rāmjaṅgā | gun, musket | Rāma of battle | |
| rāmlaḍḍū | watermelon | sweet balls of Rāma | |
| roṛ | kidney bean | gravel | |
| Roop Kaur, Rup Kaur, rūpkaur | pitcher in which milk is boiled | beautiful princess, woman's name | |
| rūp ras | salt, salt water | silvery drink | |
| sabaz pulāo | dish made of sarsoṅ (mustard) leaves | green dish of rice | |
| sadā gulāb | acacia tree | perennial rose | |
| safājaṅg | hatchet | cleanser in battle | |
| saugī | green gram grain | dried grapes | |
| shahidī deg | drink prepared from hemp | martyr's cooking-vessel | |
| shāh jahāṅ | poppy plant | king of the world | |
| sirkhiṇḍī | raw sugar | woman with untied scattered hair | |
| sodhaṇā | to punish; to beat | to apply correction | |
| sukhdeī | mattress | woman, bringer of comfort | |
| sukhnidhān | drink of hemp | treasure-house of comforts and happiness | |
| sundarī | broom | beautiful woman | |
| ṭhīkarī | coin, rupee | shard | |
| ujāgar | earthen lamp | well-known, shining | |
| quilla dhana | urination or defecation | collapse/conquer a fort, Chittor or Multan | |
| Nihal Kaur, nihalkaur | blanket | woman's name, meaning "content princess" | |
| larki | green chillies | girl | |
| rupa, ruppā | onion | beautiful, beauty, silver piece | |
| dhid phookni, tid fookni | tea | stomach burner | |
| thokhay baj | (spoon) of sugar | | |
| akaash pari, akāshparī | goat | sky fairy, fairy of heaven | |
| larraaki | refers to an individual with a martial spirit | red chillies | |
| akkar-bhan | fever | | |
| sukha | Cannabis concocted beverage (bhang), tranquilizer | peace of mind, happiness, pleasurable | |
| araakis | horses | | |
| thanedaar | donkey | station house officer | |
| qazi, kaji, kāzī | cockerel, cook | judge in the field of Islamic jurisprudence, interpreter of Islamic law | |
| chhauni, chhauṇī | undergarments (kacchera), the camp of Nihaṅgs | encampment, cantonment | |
| aflatoon | quilt | braggart, bragger, boaster | |
| aandey | potatoes | eggs | |
| aring baring | lying down | wrestling | |
| Basant Kaur, basantkaur | corn, maize | combination of Basant (Spring festival) + Kaur (princess) meaning "spring princess", a woman's name | |
| billa | Englishman | tomcat | |
| bhuchanger | children | snake | |
| chugal | mirror | back-biter, tattler | |
| DC | limper | | |
| dhullay | meat | | |
| gobinday, gobindā | watermelon(s), melon(s) | a man's name | |
| gobindyia, gobindī | carrot(s) | a woman's name | |
| jahaj, jahāz | cart, bullock-cart | ship | |
| sarb ras, sarab ras | salt | essence of life, manifold flavour | |
| siropa | beating | robe of honour | |
| tehsildar | intelligent | tax official of a tehsil (administrative unit) | |
| Teja Singh, tejasingh | train | Sikh man's name, meaning Fast Lion | |
| athak savārī, athakk savārī | pair of shoes or slippers | tireless mount | $^{:120}$ |
| charāī karnā, chaṛhāī karnā | to die | to invade, charge or set out on an expedition | $^{:120}$ |
| lakh netarā, lakhnetarā | blind in one eye | one with 100,000 eyes | $^{:120}$ |
| mast, mastana, mastānā | empty of personal supplies, empty of provisions | in a state of ecstasy, carefree | $^{:120}$ |
| savā lakh | approach of one Nihang Sikh | 125,000-strong army | $^{:120}$ |
| | eating almonds | eating parched gram | |
| rupee | pebbles | rupee currency | |
| | a quarrelsome woman | red chilli | |
| garamjal | beverage concoction made of cannabis and hot water | hot water | |
| khoti chuṅghāṇā | smoking, hukkā, pipe | kissing a female donkey, sucking a she-ass smoking | |
| golee | medicinal pill, tablet, or capsule | bullet | |
| veer | brother | brave | |
| fauj | oneself | army | |
| mithe parshad | old bread, leftover roti or chapati more than a day-old | sweet and blessed bread or sacrament | |
| tar pulaw, tar pulāo | dry bread or meal | aromatic gravied rice, juicy dish of rice | |
| langar mast | nothing to eat, hunger | happy time, intoxication | |
| chhapa maarna | showing up spontaneously to the homes of friends or relatives | guerilla ambush, surprise attack | |
| Dharamraj di dhee di sewa | being ill | being cared for by the angel of death's daughter | |
| jān bhai | personal horse | dearest brother, blood brother | |
| Pathan sira | cauliflower | Pashtun head | |
| chhilad, chhillar | money, rupee, coin | tree bark, husk | |
| resham | Jute (bast fibre) | silk | |
| budhiye | young lady | old lady | |
| panjwan, pañjavāṅ | clarified butter, ghee | fifth | |
| chaiwan | cooking oil | | |
| chup | sugar | silence | |
| choona, chūnā | flour | lime-stone powder, lime | |
| panj ratnee | wine, alcohol | five jewelled | |
| titari | karela (bitter melon or bitter gourd) | | |
| karadhee | radish | | |
| garday | rice | | |
| samudar | milk | ocean, sea | |
| kastoora, kastūrā | pig | musk-deer | |
| kesar | turmeric | saffron | |
| badam | groundnuts, chickpeas, grams, parched grams | almonds | |
| aaracaa | horse | | |
| harni, harnī | louse, lice, fly | doe | |
| baaj | iron rod | hawk, falcon | |
| bhuchangee, bhuhhangi | son | snake | |
| aakarhpun | fever or bodily illness | arrogance | |
| irāqī | miserable pony, horse of poor quality | Arab or Iraqi steed, thoroughbred from Iraq | |
| bata | iron bowl | | |
| birajkay | seated | holding court | |
| gurh | jaggery (unrefined cane sugar) | | |
| heeray | white hairs | diamonds | |
| hulla | hurry | blast of eastern winds | |
| jhatanga | goat | | |
| kulga | baldy (bald person) | | |
| laraki | chilli, spice | shrew | |
| mamla | money | revenue | |
| morcha | endeavour | front line | |
| parsram | axe | | |
| patwari | cat | tax-collector/village accountant | |
| bhootni, bhūtanī | rail locomotive (train), dust storm | female ghost, witch | |
| subhedar | sweeper | governor/warrant officer | |
| theekar, ṭhīkar | body | shell, broken piece of pottery | |
| dhokhay baaj | spoon | imposter | |
| vaheer | mobile | | |
| ghorrhey | jutti shoes | horses | |
| shaheedi maar | punishment to the guilty | a martyr's beating | |
| sawaayaa | A little | one and a quarter | |
| haraa pallaa | grass | green rice | |
| sheesh mahal | shanty, crumbling shack through which the sky peeps | palace of mirrors, glass palace | |
| swarag | calamity | heaven | |
| hazaar mekhee | worn-out scarf | | |
| gurmukhi parshad | coarse grain | blessed sacrament from the mouth of the Guru | |
| dabrroo ghusrooh | individual lacking in Sikh conduct | | |
| sūrmā | blind person | wide-awake hero, hero, warrior | |
| | half-blind man | argus-eyed lion | |
| chubāre chaṛhiā | deaf person | one on the upper storey | |
| | baptised Sikh | brother of the golden cup (actually an iron vessel) | |
| tankhāh | to be fined by the community for a fault, penalty for breach of religious code | getting one's salary, salary | |
| | big stick | lawyer | |
| | to speak | roar | |