A forwarded message from a user claimed English-medium school teachers share it with the students has sparked a heated debate on Reddit. The forwarded message, titled “Colonial slave mentality is crazy in English medium schools,” went viral by showing awkward English translations of popular Indian dishes. Among the weird translations were samosa as “Rissole,” gulab jamun as “Rose Water Berry,” gol gappa as “Waterball,” and jalebi as “Funnel Cake.” Such strange terms were fast to gain reactions online, where users questioned their accuracy and relevance.
Social media sites are filled with snide comments branding these translations unnecessary and culturally insensitive. Examples are dosa – a “Crispy Rice Pancake,” bhel puri – “Puffed Rice,” and kaju katli – “Cashew Nut Fudge.” People said Indian food items should continue to have the same names at English medium schools, as such names carry meaning and are acknowledged across the globe.
Colonial slave mentality is crazy in English medium schools.
byu/mrtypec inindiadiscussion
One of the users quipped, “Even foreigners don’t use these names for Indian dishes lol. Like no foreigner will ever call Gulab Jamun ‘Rose Water Berry,’ they simply mispronounce it as ‘Gulag Jaymoon’ or something.” Another user attacked the translation, saying, “What’s wrong with this thread, are these people not seeing the problem? The problem isn’t using English, the problem is the low-quality literal translation of Indian food that foreigners will laugh at. You are getting mob lynched for saying ‘waterballs’ instead of pani puri, and I HOPE you get mob lynched.
Some found the situation funny, while others called for schools to avoid such practices and preserve the authenticity of Indian cuisine and its cultural heritage. One user said that this thread was having a problem. These people were not seeing the problem. The problem is not when you are using English. The problem is that low-quality literal translation of Indian food items which the foreigners will laugh at. You are getting mob lynched for saying ‘waterballs’ instead of pani puri and I HOPE you get mob lynched, I am going to make your family vanish if you use any of these terms while speaking English
Another user said, “Exactly!!! The issue is not speaking English, it’s erasing your own culture and history to appear white/Western. Even the Japanese/Italian speak English, but not one Japanese/Italian will call sushi rice balls with fish or pizza a bread with vegetable toppings.” Another user responded with bewilderment, stating, “The food items mentioned here originated in India/South Asia, so why is there a need for translations? Like one doesn’t translate a French food item—just use the original term.”
