An Email Note from S. Skandakumar, 25 April 2021
Skanda, as he should, deploys high-flown diplomatic language. In everyday speech in Lanka “stray” dogs are generally referred to as “pariahs” — that is, “para ballo.”
Thus, they are the canine equivalent of “thuppahi.” So, my four good friends in Haputale, you are welcome in my club. The Editor, Thuppahi
***** *****
ALSO NOTE
Michael Roberts: “Why Thuppahi” in that web site
M. Roberts, Ismeth Raheem & Percy Colin-Thome 1989 “PejorativePhrases: the Anti-Colonal Response and Sinhala Perceptions of the Self Thorugh Images of the Burghers,” in People Inbetween, Colombo, Sarvodaya Publishing Services, pp. 1-22.
Barbara Crossette 2020 “The Burgher Exodus from Sri Lanka: A Reading in 1988,” https://thuppahis.com/2020/11/19/the-burgher-exodus-from-sri-lanka-a-reading-in-1988/
