Timepass

This phrase "time pass" or the word "timepass" is something I've heard ever since my childhood days. Probably the first time heard it and actually remembered was during a bus journey. During the stops at busstands, vendors would flock the bus yelling "kadlekai, kadlekai, timepass kadlekai." WTH! Why would anyone want to eat just because he or she is bored? I've heard all kinds of people use it... friends, relatives, colleagues, strangers. I didn't use, something about it didn't feel right.

After college I got into father's business, made lot of new acquaintances, met different kinds of people, it was an interesting journey. One of our vendors, a sheet metal fabricator was owned by an elderly person with certain principles. However, few of his employees were young, kind of undisciplined, screwed up work quite often. The owner would lose patience and take them to task for not being diligent. Once, one of them was idling with plenty of work on hand, the owner noticed that, lost his cool and yelled "timepass karneko idar ati kya" meaning "do you come here for timepass." Well, that's the right way to use that phrase! School & college teachers are forced to use the phrase to their pupils & classes... do you come here to learn or to do timepass?

A phrase which is used to scold lazy people was being used so casually by so many people. Does it say something about our culture ...rather erosion of our cultural values? Sadly it doesn't stop at verbal usage. Timepass is a popular brand name as well. There are biscuits, chips, fresheners ...mostly eatables. Some of the products are owned by well known companies as well. There's a movie called Timepass as well! WTH!! For masses to accept products named as 'Timepass' ...is an indication of corruption of our culture.

I Googled the word 'timepass' curious to know if it had a meaning. Below is the screen-shot. The word is a noun specific to India. It has to be an Indian idea because I can't recall hearing it in non-Indian movies or TV shows or ads. Probably it might be used in Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh & Pak, quite possible, but that needs to be checked. 

Now lets check out another word with the same letters- pastime. Pastime and timepass are very different. Pastime's meaning in Google is: an activity that someone does regularly for enjoyment rather than work; a hobby. "his favourite pastimes were shooting and golf." Quoting another meaning: something that amuses and serves to make time pass agreeably. As I understand, pastime is a way to use time, while timepass is wasting time.

Do share your thoughts on this post.

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