Microfinance and Its Discontents: Women in Debt in Bangladesh

Glossary of Bengali Words

207 Adda a style of conversation enjoyed by Bengalis Apa a formal address for a non-kin woman Ashami culprit Baki to buy on credit Bari house, dwelling Bazaar market Begana half-naked, shameless Be-ijjat shameless Bhai formal address for a non-kin man Borolokh rich and powerful people Burqa head-to-foot covering worn by Muslim women Bustee slums Chaap pressure Chotomahajan small moneylender Chowki a bed with no headboard Daan charitable contribution Darshan to visit a holy man or a deity at a shrine Desi native Dhaar borrow Durnam ill repute Fatwabazz those who issue fatwas Garib poor Ghar Bhanga to break a house Ghorer Bou housewife, bride Ghorer Meye daughter, someone who belongs to one’s village Goriblokh poor people Gram village Gusti lineage Glossary of Bengali Words 208 Glossary of Bengali Words Hartal shutdown of offices and vehicular movement Huzoor honorific for clergy Jhupri a very small thatched dwelling Jihad struggle against anti-Islamic forces Jontrona pain, suffering Kisti loan installment Korjo Hashana to donate labor for community works Lajja shame Maan-ijjat notions of honor Mahajan moneylender Maktab religious primary school Matabbar village elder Math Kormi field-worker Maulana member of the clergy Monga drought Mullah member of the clergy Mufti a clergyman who is learned in the Quran and Islamic jurisprudence Mukhchalu outspoken, forward Murubbi respected older person Nakh phool nose ring Nogno bare, shameless Noshto spoiled, ruined Oshohai helpless Para neighborhood Purdah seclusion of women Putul Natch puppet show Reen loan Salaam Muslim greeting Samaj society Samity civic groups, NGO groups Sangstha/Sangathan organized groups Sari a garment worn by Bengali women Shahajya assistance Shaheb a formal address for an educated man Shalish village adjudicating board Shami husband Shamman pride, honor Sharm shame Glossary of Bengali Words 209 Shasthya Shebikas BRAC rural health workers Shudh interest, usury Tafsir Mahfil recitation from the Quran Taka unit of Bangladeshi currency Taka Khatai to invest money Tolpeth underbelly Zaqat mandatory charitable contribution incumbent on all financially able Muslims This page intentionally left blank ...