Imaan Sheikh Profile picture
National & Trending Desk Editor @DailyHiveTO. Prev: City Editor @NarcityCanada, Culture Editor @bethejuggernaut, writer @buzzfeed, @etribune, freelance. she/her

Apr 13, 2021, 8 tweets

Most English nursery rhymes have horrifying backstories, so I've been wondering what the origins of our favorite Urdu nursery rhymes are. Because honestly? Some of them MAKE NO CENTS, LUV. The story progression? Wild.

This one is normally used for a game but:

Chai ki pyali posham posham
Bangle ka taala toot gaya
Sau rupay ki ghari churaayi
Ab toh daaku pakra gaya

(what happened to the teacup though)

My fave political banger: 1/6

Chham chham chham
Aath aane ki chhaaliya aath aane ka paan
Chal mere ghoray Hindustan

(sudden but good start)

2/6

Hindustan ki pehli gali
Usme rehte Shaukat Ali
Shaukat Ali ko goli lagi
Sari dunya rone lagi

(Goli? Was this originally Liaquat Ali who was shot dead? A case of the telephone game perhaps?)

3/6

Rote rote bhook lagi
Kha lo beta moongphali
Moongphali mein dana nahi
Hum tumhare nana nai

4/6

Nana gaye Dilli
Dilli se laaye billi
Billi ne diye do bache
Allah Mian sache

5/6

Sache sache jayenge
Bhai ki dulhan laayenge
Bhai ki dulhan kaali
Sau nakhre waali

(come on colorism, let's get sickeniiiiiiiiiiiing)

6/6

Ek nakhra toot gaya
Bhai ka moo soojh gaya

THIS STORYLINE IS IMPOSSIBLE TO STAY ON TRACK WITH

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