There was a time in school when advertisement chants, pedlar cries, and bus-conductor calls were the most popular means to disrupt class. (Yes, we were a notorious lot.) These would range from the shrill-voiced "E, Chai boley, Kuffee boley, Chai-Kuffee, Chai-Kuffee", and the monotonous but rhythmic drone of "Sōn Papdi...Sōn Papdi...Sōn Papdi", to the highly enigmatic "Khelei morbe!" Now, translated, going by the common logic of consumerism this seems to mean "If you eat, you die." But in the Bangla sentence "morbe", "will die", is without subject. Who is doomed is uncertain, and for a very long time many of us wondered how this could possibly be the selling-point of a product. Those who had brought this chant into the classroom from the local trains by which they travelled, never offered an explanation - not to me at least. I learnt later that the product being sold was in fact rat-poison. Most appropriate, then, I thought.
An old friend of mine, and one of the best-behaved in class, Atri, recently shared on Facebook a photograph he has clicked of a rat-kill seller at the Dum-Dum railway station. With his kind permission, I share it. If with time the rat-poison cottage industry does disappear, this may even be one for the archives. On the poster, in red, bold letters, it says "Rat-killer". Along the sides it describes the different kinds of pests that one may justifiably hope to kill off using the product.
An old friend of mine, and one of the best-behaved in class, Atri, recently shared on Facebook a photograph he has clicked of a rat-kill seller at the Dum-Dum railway station. With his kind permission, I share it. If with time the rat-poison cottage industry does disappear, this may even be one for the archives. On the poster, in red, bold letters, it says "Rat-killer". Along the sides it describes the different kinds of pests that one may justifiably hope to kill off using the product.
"Along the sides it describes the different kinds of pests that one may justifiably hope to kill off using the product."
ReplyDeleteTrue, but in the upper right corner it also says (somewhat inexplicably) "ব্যথার তেল". Surely they are not suggesting that the rat-killer can also be used as a pain-relief ointment?
In addition to being a pain-relief ointment, it can also be used on one's scalp to kill lice it seems. Truly multipurpose!
ReplyDeleteAlso, there used to be another poison sold on trains whose USP was that the rat "baari'te morbe na, baire giye morbe." Intriguingly, this was also prefaced by "khelei morbe."
I might be mistaken, then. Perhaps he is advertising other products in the same line. And this delayed-action poison is truly inspired! :D
ReplyDeleteMy cook recently got this "barite morbe na, baire giye morbe" rat poison to fend off a few rodents who had become temporary parishoners.
DeleteErr, while the concept is novel, these clearly do not work in the way they are supposed to.
Speaking of multipurpose products, one of my classmates who also used to commute by train used to reel off a sales pitch for a bar of soap which was infamously hard. Apparently one of the uses listed in the sales pitch was that you could keep it next to your pillow while you slept, and if a burgler happened to break in, you could throw it at his head and maim him.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of multipurpose, there used to be this fakir-type dude on the Coalfield express who sold citronella oil from Durgapur to Dankuni. However, after Dankuni till Howrah he used to sell tea. I never found out why this multiple-vendoring(?) was his M.O. or why he only sold tea after Dankuni.
ReplyDeleteHahah. Fascinating man, I must say.
ReplyDelete@Sroyon: That's nice. I should mention this to Professor Aniket Jaware, about whom I will tell you later. I am also reminded of the Nokia ad that I was telling you about. Very allusive, that comment.
ReplyDeleteI am unable to read articles online very ften, but I’m glad I did today. This is very well written and your points are well-expressed. Please, don’t ever stop writing.
ReplyDeletepest control san antonio
Sorry for the delayed response. Thank you very much indeed for appreciating and encouraging my writing!
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteHerba rat repellent liquid from Kalpana Naturals is a herbal product made using herbal extracts. The best herbal ingredients were used, while preparing, after prolonged research on efficiency and safety. The odour of this liquid stops the annoying rats and works effectively for a long time.
ReplyDelete