Emotion and Obligation Archives - understand-culture

No Gifts for Doctors

In March 2024 the government notified the Uniform Code for Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices. It states that “no gift should be offered or provided for personal benefit of any healthcare professional or family member.” Companies may not give doctors travel, hotel stays or resort accommodation.

In August 2022 a federation of medical representatives told the Supreme Court that the maker of Dolo-650, a paracetamol tablet, had spent about 1,000 crore rupees on freebies for doctors who prescribed it. The figure came from an accusation by the tax authorities. The company, Micro Labs, denied it.

The Thread of Protection

Raksha bandhan means “the bond of protection, obligation, or care.” On the festival, sisters tie a rakhi around their brothers’ wrists. The sisters receive a gift in return and give their brothers a share of responsibility for their care.

A popular story says that Rani Karnavati of Chittor sent a rakhi to the Mughal emperor Humayun to ask for his help. Historians such as Satish Chandra consider the story a fable.

The Vocabulary of Favors

Ehsaan. A favor, a kindness, the conferring of an obligation, in the Rekhta dictionary.

Ehsaan maanna. To acknowledge a favor, to feel obliged.

Ehsaan utaarna. To return a favor.

Ehsaan-faramosh. Forgetful of favors received, ungrateful.

I Have Mother

In Deewaar (1975), Vijay, played by Amitabh Bachchan, faces his brother Ravi, a police inspector, played by Shashi Kapoor. Vijay lists what he owns. Aaj mere paas building hai, property hai, bank balance hai, bangla hai, gaadi hai… kya hai tumhare paas? Today I have buildings, property, a bank balance, a bungalow, a car. What do you have? Ravi answers: Mere paas maa hai. I have mother.

The line was written by Salim-Javed. It is widely known in India and has become part of its popular culture.

The Fast at Yerwada

In September 1932, in Yerwada jail in Poona, Gandhi began a fast unto death against separate electorates for the Depressed Classes. On September 24, 1932, the Poona Pact was signed, a settlement between Gandhi and B.R. Ambedkar. Instead of separate electorates, it gave the Depressed Classes reserved seats within the general electorate.

Ambedkar later wrote of the fast: “It was against them and was the worst form of coercion against a helpless people to give up the constitutional safeguards.”

Reunion

In November 2013 Google released an advertisement called Reunion, made by Ogilvy & Mather India. Two old men, Baldev in India and Yusuf in Pakistan, were separated as children during the partition of 1947. Baldev’s granddaughter uses Google Search to find Yusuf’s family in Lahore.

Dawn reported that the film had been viewed more than 1.6 million times on YouTube. It wrote that it “struck a cultural chord with Indians and Pakistanis.”

True to the Salt

Namak halaal, true to the salt. Namak haraam, false to the salt. The Rekhta dictionary defines namak haraam hona as to be treacherous, a traitor, one who harms his benefactor, disloyal. Namak halaal hona means to be loyal, grateful and indebted.

Two Hindi films carry the words as their titles. Namak Haraam (1973), directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee, starred Rajesh Khanna and Amitabh Bachchan. Namak Halaal (1982), directed by Prakash Mehra, starred Amitabh Bachchan.

Food Eaten with Love

In the Udyoga Parva of the Mahabharata, Krishna comes to Hastinapura as the envoy of the Pandavas. Duryodhana invites him to a feast. Krishna declines. “Envoys, O king, eat and accept worship only after the success of their missions,” he says, in the Ganguli translation.

Duryodhana presses him. Krishna answers: “One taketh another’s food when one is in distress. At present, however, O king, thou hast not inspired love in me by any act of thine.” He goes to the house of Vidura and eats there.

Magic Hug

In Munna Bhai MBBS (2003), the hero has no medical skill. He wins people over with a jadoo ki jhappi, a “magic hug,” which his mother taught him.

The phrase came from the film. BollyMeaning, a site that explains Bollywood expressions, defines it as a hug the hero gave “to anyone in trouble, to make them feel better.”

Diwali Gifts

At Diwali, according to the gift retailer Ferns N Petals, Indian companies send gifts to “employees, clients, dealers, financers, business associates.” The retailer presents this as a way to keep professional bonds strong.