The story of origin of Chhaddu

In a Punjabi Colony in Rewa in India in 1991….

Punjaban Aunty 1 (shockingly) – “Es munde da naav ki hai. Vadda hi shaitan munda hai ji. Poore mohalle di naak che dum kar rakhiya hai!!” [What is the name of this kid? He is such a big rascal. Everyone in the colony feels pain in their noses.]

Punjaban Aunty 2 (with a wide smile on her face)- “Har koi taan innu Chhaddu kehke bulanda hai” [Everyone calls him Chhaddu.]

Punjaban Aunty 1 (once again, shockingly) – “Behna, eh “Chhaddu” vi koi naav hoya!! Isda matlab taan das.” [Sister, What kinda name is this? At least, tell me the meaning.]

Punjaban Aunty 2 (angrily) – “Mainu ki pata!! Mainu ki puchhdi hai!! Es jahe sade naavan di mere kol koi dictionary hegi??” [How do I know? Why are you asking me? Do I keep a dictionary of such Worst names?]

Yes,  we all know Chhaddu but if someone asks us the meaning or origin of Chhaddu, our faces go blank.

“By jove, ye kya dhansu sawal poocha hai??” [By jove, What kinda "dhansu" question is this?]

Many different people came up with many different stories for the origin of Chhaddu but none was true. One such false story goes like this ..

Kudi 1 – “Mitron, tenu pata hai es munde da naav Chhaddu kiven pada??” [Friend, do you know how this kid got the name - "Chhaddu"??]

Kudi 2 – “Mainu taan apne naav da vi karan nahin pata. “Chunti”, bhala eh vi koi naav hoya. Jade vi mainu koi milda hai chunti bad janda hai.” [I don't know the reason behind my name. Do you consider "Chunti" a name? Whenever someone meets me, pinches me just because of my name.]

Kudi 1 – “Chup, chunti kahin ki. Har velle apne naav de peeche rondi rehandi hai.” [Shut up! You "Chunti". Every now and then you keep on crying because of your name.]

Kudi 2 – “Changa, main nahin rondi. Tu chhaddu vaare taan das.” [O.K. Fine. I don't cry. You tell me about Chhaddu.]

Kudi 1 – “Haan te sun. Actually jad eh munda 2-3 saal da siga taan eh chaddi pehan kar mohalle che firda siga. Taan kuch log innu “Chaddi Chaddi” kehkar bulan lag paye. Jedi chaddi yeh pehanda si, oddha color pink siga. Taan kuch log innu “Pinku Pinku” kehkar bulan lag paye. Taan isde ghar waalon ne in donon naavan nu mix karke ik naya portmanteau nikala “Chaddu” (Chaddi + Pinku). Aur dheere dheere Chaddu ka ho gaya Chhaddu“. [Listen then. When the kid was 2-3 years old, he used to wander in an underwear in the colony. Some people started calling him "Chaddi Chaddi". The underwear he used to wear was of pink color. Due to that, certain people started calling him "Pinku Pinku". His parents then decided to go with the portmanteau of the two names - Chaddu (Chaddi + Pinku). Gradually that Chaddu turned into Chhaddu.]

By jove, completely rofling story. I myself wonder how can people think of a story like this. And this is not just one story, there are many such “completely absurd” stories about the origin of Chhaddu. I must stop beating around the bush and tell you the true(est) story – The story of origin of Chhaddu.

To unravel the mystery, we have to go back in time. The time when almost every story used to start with the phrase – “Once upon a time….”

Once upon a time, in 1986, an unnamed small kid was born in a family living in a remote village in India. The kid’s grandparents actually hailed from Lahore, which is currently in Pakistan, but at the time of partition, they all came to India and settled in this village. The kid seemed innocent at the time of birth but started showing his true nature when he turned two.  The kid was very mischievous and used to pester his grandparents. Whenever his grandfather used to tell him “Chhad de! shaitan“(Leave it! rascal), he retaliated by saying – “Chhad du, dadaji??”[Shall I leave it, Grandfather??] as if he was making fun of him. His retaliation used to infuriate his grandfather who started calling him – “Saale, Chhad du kahin ke!!” [You 'Chhad du'!!]

The villagers of that village were very naive.  One day when two villagers were passing by their house, they heard the kid’s grandfather rebuking the kid – “Salle, Chhad du kahin ke!!”.

Veer 1 – “Veere ‘Saale kutte kahin ke!!, Saale kamine kahin ke!!’ taan maine suna si kintu ‘Saale Chhaddu kahin ke!!’ pehli baar sun riha hun.”[Brother, I have heard "You Doggy!! You 'Kamine'!! several times but I am hearing 'You Chhaddu' for the first time.]

Veer 2 – “Haan veere, suna taan maine vi kade nahin. Jaroor kisi nave dangar (dog) da naav hou – Chhaddu” [Yes brother,  I too have never heard it. It must be a name of a new breed of Dog.]

Veer 1 – “Murkhan jehi gallan naa kiya kar.  Aj kal taan dangaran de naav vi standard de honde ne  – ‘Pomerian’, ‘Alsatian’ etc etc. Eh taan munde da hi naav hou.” [Don't talk stupid. These days, dogs too have names of some standard like Pomerian, Alsatian etc. This must be the name of the kid.]

Veer 2 – “Omg Omg hahahoohohihihehehuhu bas veere aur nahin hans sakda, pet che dard hon lag paya hai. LOL. Period.” [Omg Omg hahahoohohihihehehuhu I can't laugh anymore.  My belly is aching. LOL. Period.]

All the villagers then onwards started referring the kid with the same word and that is how the unnamed kid got his name – “CHHADDU“.

P.S. 1. Today, I am going to leave the college. Wish me luck for future.

P.S. 2. Song of the day – “Aane waala pal jaane waala hai….ho sake to isme jindagi bita do, pal yeh jo jaane waala hai.” [I am not going to translate this song at all.]

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