Extracted from Sarandib by Asiff Hussein
The Moors of yore unlike those of today commonly bore
nicknames. M.M. Thawfeeq (Muslim Mosaics. 1972) refers to the practice of
calling individuals and later their families by nick-names in the Theruv area (Old Moor Street, New Moor Street, Messenger Street, Barber Street,
Grandpass, Wolfendhal and environs in Colombo)
in the early part of the last century. Some nick-names, he says, may appear
derogatory, some flattering, but none, he is certain, were given with malice. “It
just happened that there were scores of Hamids, Yoosoofs, Haniffas, Mohideens
etc in that concentration of Ceylon
Moors”.
The easiest way out, he says, was nick-names
emphasizing their attributes, penchant, and failings – even physical defects.
He gives as patta-perus as such
nick-names were called, Baba (Baby), Colenda (Infant), Echchi
(Miserly), Pushana (Indolent), Shoththian (Feeble-handed), Shemata
(Brown or Tan), Dada-bada (Noise made when walking), Munda kan
(Big-eyed), Poona kan (Cat’s eye), Madayan (Fool), Jemmi (Jewel)
and Poo (Sweet). There were others like Karupati (Jaggery), Kochchika
(Chillie), Pila kotta (Jak seed) and Porichcha koli (Roast
Chicken) though it is not certain whether they were appellations characterizing
their tastes for certain items of food. There were yet others like Bembi,
Kulla, Gongan, Pangathu, Jadipana, Vengallam, Kappadiar, Kosthapal and Vyra-Ooshi.
Some of these were dubious while others possessed a meaning such as Kostapal
‘Constable or gunner’ and Kappadiar ‘ship captain or owner’. Vyra-Ooshi
probably means a kind of gem.
M.M.B.Ansari (Some Nicknames of Sri Lanka
Moors in Geneological Tables of Sri
Lanka. Moors, Malays and other Muslims by
A.I.L.Marikar, A.H.Macan Markar and A.L.M.Lafir. 1981) also gives a selection
of interesting nicknames that prevailed among the Moors of yore, among them Aana
Bulingi ‘Swallower or Elephants’ (M.L.M.Fauz), Baang Koli ‘Turkey’
(P.L.M.Abdul Majeed), Koli Kunji ‘Chick’ (Sesma Lebbe of Grandpass), Porichakoli
‘Fried Chicken’ (Abdur Rahim of New Moor Street), , Kumbala Mashi
‘Maldive Fish’ (Marikar, father of Mohamed Jamaldeen), Karapothan
‘Cockroach’ (Abdul Aziz of Grandpass), Kochchika ‘Chillie’ (Oduma Lebbe
Marikar), Katchcha Karupatti ‘Bitter Jaggery’ (Oduma Lebbe Marikar), Shappatayan
‘Flat Nose’ (Abdul Hassen Hajiar), Velli Baba ‘Silver Baby’
(M.M.M.Ghouse), Vengalam ‘Loud-mouthed’ (Vangalam Noordeen), Poskoapa
‘Large Bowl’ (The father of M.L.H.A.Mohideen of Wellawatte), Bavulthavaly
‘Stomach ache’ (S.M.Hassim Nana’s maternal grandfather) and Anjishazathu
Mapulle ‘Five Cents Bridegroom’ “who traveled as such in a decorated
tramcar with his entourage” (Father of Falil, at one time assistant at
A.M.A.Marzuk’s textile shop).
There was also Batcha (Said to have
originated from the Turkish title Pasha) given to Abdur Rahman of ‘Pasha
Villa’ of Dematagoda Road, Colombo 9 and Baas Ootar (from Dutch Baas
‘Chief Workman’ or ‘Work Supervisor’) given to the progeny of A.M.Wapche
Marikar, the famous Bas or builder reputed to have built many of Colombo’s
landmarks. Indeed, individuals so nicknamed have given their names to entire
families such as Pullekutti Sherifdin (Boys and girls Sherifdin, so called
after the many children he had), Vellibaba Ghaus (Fair baby Ghaus) and Koli Amin
(Poultry Amin). These names are however not borne by these families, but
ascribed to them by others. Prominent Moor families, especially in the Colombo area are still
said to be known by nicknames such as Shottiyan (People of Property), Poskopa
(Waterbowl), Baas (Builder) and Vengalam. In Macan Markar’s Short
Biographical Sketches (1977) we come across references to personalities such as
Saheed Mohamed of the Goodaku family, Mohamed Ismail of the Shooriyan family
and Mohamed Haniffa of the Kushi family. Gudakku literally means
‘hookah’ or ‘hubbly bubbly’, a device for smoking, Shooriyan ‘sun’ and Kushi
‘fart’.
