Some Indian Weddings aren't Fun.

Some Indian Weddings aren't Fun.

One dreams of a dream wedding in which everything will be the way one wants, and one would be marrying a prince or princess charming. Wedding is a fun experience for most in the West and a developed nation. Often a foreigner has similar notions about Indian weddings, and even an exotic one with lots of people, zillions of spicy and sweet dishes, long lasting rituals, and vibrant lights and colors. The visitor may even be lucky to attend one such Indian wedding; there are many wonderful Indian weddings. However, some weddings in India, or majority of them, aren't fun at all, especially for girls. They are a day which they have waited to come one day and to let it pass. No girl ever says this, though.

I planned to attend an Indian wedding of two girls, one 22 years old and the other 19, on my this visit. The parents found the boys after much search and fixed an earliest available wedding date. Girls and boys did not know each other at all. It was an arranged marriage. Most rural weddings are like this, which begin way before the wedding date.

The Birth of the Girls: After the parents got married, they started trying to bear a male heir. Nature intervened, and a girl was born. They tried again, and another girl was born. They tried harder and even possibly consulted a village physician, and third girl was born. They did not give up, and their efforts brought them an heir finally. They probably loved girls to their greatest capacity but continued trying because of the social pressure: jealous people mocked their abilities, specifically the mother’s ability to bear a male heir, at their backs and in social gatherings. Girls’ grandmother was one of the mockers. The grandmother had gone through similar pains once, could not change anything and probably took pleasure in the revenge this way. (Unlike this case, some parents willingly try to borne a girl, a goddess symbol, after they have had one or two boys. However, their efforts are not that sincere.)

Growing up of the Girls: Girls were brought up in some care and some neglect in a joint family. They played in dust and at home with other girls and learned that they were girls and were expected to behave in certain ways. They also learned to cry. Once they were four or five, the parents sent them to village school, thanks to the every child to school initiative and family pride in girl education. Parents also understood the value of education. Another thing which happened in this period was the concern of the parents about the girls growing older and hence their efforts to save money for dowry and expenses for their wedding. They financially helped other relatives in their daughters’ weddings under an unspoken and unwritten contract that the help will be paid off when the time comes. They also saved some money in bank and invested some more in buying domestic items for the future weddings. Even though there were familial issues, they stayed in the decently big joint family hoping the family would share the wedding expenses one day.  Finally, they kept their eyes open for the possible boys. During this period, the older girl excelled in school and passed her twelfth with excellent grades and the younger one nearly excelled in her 10th grade.

Wedding of the Girls:  Once the older girl passed 12^th grade, her education was over due to two reasons: there was no college close to the village, and finding a more educated boy than she was without a handsome dowry would have been a herculean task. The parents might not have felt safe sending her to school either; they might have feared about an affair, elopement (as in Pride and Prejudice) or rape in worst cases. The end of education worried the father about the wedding: the mission of finding a possible match began. Relatives, friends and acquaintances suggested boys, and he went to verify details about their careers, properties and characters. Some were good but asked for as much dowry as he could not afford. Others expected almost no dowry but did not match his standards. After almost  two years of search, he probably reached to a point of desperation. Finally, he settled on a kid who worked on his grocery shop as he waited for a job after finishing an engineering diploma. The boy also had some land in his hereditary share which implied that he would be able to earn bread if things got worse. The total cost of this wedding was about 300,000 rupees. As the father broke the good news in the house, the joint family broke apart. Two younger brothers denied sharing the wedding expense, and grandfather, fearing repercussion from his other children, promised to help his son after the wedding if somehow he could procure a loan now. Only the youngest brother stood for some help. Thus began the parents’ nightmare: How would they arrange for extra money? The changed situation and worry about another dowry also forced the parents to consider the wedding of the three girls altogether, the youngest being 14 years old, to the three prince brothers. As Good-hearted people loaned money, and stress decreased, it was settled that only two girls would get married at the same day. The third girl was saved.

A Scene from Hindu Wedding in India

Almost two weeks before the wedding, the grandmother passed away. No wedding could happen without performing the death rituals, which are traditionally performed thirteen days after the death. However, following exceptional provisions, these rituals were done before thirteen days timeline. Things were back on track.

But the wedding got canceled five days before the date. It so happened this way: Someone who came to the death ritual told the father that the grooms' older brother had married a woman of lower caste in a court; the girls' father knew of the marriage but was under the impression that the woman belonged to the same caste. The brides' father asked the grooms' father to disinherit the older brother which was not accepted.  Result was no wedding.

The search for a suitable boy began again.

I did not ask the girls whether the wedding, whenever that happens, would be fun for them. Though they were asked whether they liked the boys, they made almost no decision about their wedding cancellation. It was just another decision, which the family had made for them. Such is the power of patriarchal ideology that the girls would find happiness and peace in another match. Capacity of Indian girls to bear pain, find happiness in worst situations and carry patience is immense. They do truly smile! Would they know about any other way?

Parents and close family would cry at the separation from the girls when they get married. Parents and close family would also be happy at the happy ending. Thus, another cycle would begin unless some educated soul would break it.

Gender Inequality in Aligarh Muslim University

Gender Inequality in Aligarh Muslim University

A woman walked for ten hours in different parts of New York and was harassed 100 times (Watch). Such is the capacity of media and social media that another girl in India picked up the idea and walked in all areas, some densely populated, of Mumbai, but no one eve-teased on her (Watch). The girl wore a top and short skirt. Then came an election nomination issue from the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly election where Mohammad Yousuf Bhat declared his unemployed daughters as his “liability”-burden-in his nomination papers (Read). And, recently, Times Now hosted a debate (How long can we use 'culture' as a defense for sexism?) on gender inequality in Aligarh Muslim University, questioning an administrative decision banning undergraduate female students from the University's central library (Read in brief).  

Though most education in India is co-ed, there are schools and colleges which are girls-only. Traditionally, girls-only schools and colleges were, though never said explicitly, an effort to keep boys and girls separate from each other. Founders believed that girls and boys in schools and colleges were too young to have interactions with their opposite sex. Or, girls-only schools and colleges attracted parents to send their daughters to the institutions for above reasons. Women's College of Aligarh Muslim University is a girls-only college for undergraduate female students. However, this is not the only girls-only college in Aligarh; Tika Ram Kanya Mahavidyalaya is also a girls-only college in Aligarh, but this is not affiliated with Aligarh Muslim University.

Aligarh Muslim University has come a long way in terms of male and female student interactions: there was a time when women in graduate courses studied literally in purdah (a curtain divided male students from female ones), but such is not the case any more. I had a chance to know some wonderful Muslim women and even visit their homes. Maybe the library ban will also change with time.

But, the problem is not girls going to the library; the problem is the mindset of boys. There are different standards for boys and girls when they are in a romantic relationship, not only in Aligarh Muslim University but in most of India. While a romantic relationship is a symbol of masculine attractiveness and is often boasted by boys, it is often a blot for girls if not culminated into a marriage. Something related to this is also safety of girls, or (excuse me for bluntness) her rape, in most of India, after sunset: I never saw a girl at library or any other place after sunset while male students studied and talked and laughed at the canteen until midnight. A few times I also witnessed gossiping about a girl who dressed non-traditionally. 

A view of the front of Maulana Azad Library

I cannot imagine allowing girls in the library without restraining such male gaze and dealing with female sunset curfew. One of the ways may be to put women in power, in Aligarh Muslim University administration. Has any woman ever been president of the student union or vice-chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University? Women as vice-president/secretary of the student union and registrar and director of some institute are still subordinate to some men.  Well, why only Aligarh Muslim University? Isn't this the case with other Indian Universities?  There is no quota for them, as in politics, and patriarchy seems to be too strong.

One of the solutions can be a mandatory course on gender issues and equality for all students. As mindsets change, and students are educated, there should be no need for such a ban at all. Maulana Azad Library is richer than women's college library; in fact, it is one of the richest libraries of the world. Availability of a richer library should better prepare girls academically. An early interaction with male students should  not harm them morally or culturally either. We are in a a world where men and women need to learn to co-exist, and the sooner we learn, the better it is. Also, can an eastern society teach western education and not modify traditional culture? Is there something wrong with borrowing something good, if it is good?

Are Indians Rude?

Are Indians in United States of America Rude?

I was informed on a few occasions that most Indians in the US are rude and lack western sophistication. They cut lines, do not say thank you every time they receive something, argue a bit on small matters, and hesitate giving lavish tips. Though I have understood the informers' western point of view yet I have found it hard to agree with the charges.

I was also told on many occasions that Westerners in India walk like a cow, say thank you too much, cannot argue to an extent without taking things personally, and spend extravagantly and therefore spoil people's behavior. Again, though I have understood the informers' Indian point of view yet I have found it hard to agree with the accusations.

Both sides judge the other from their own standards without complete understanding of the other's cultural upbringing. They are kind of missionaries thinking the other uncivilized. Viewing of the one as exotic by the other is even worse. 

I'm going to address the first situation here, and will talk about the second another time.

Indians cut lines: Indians at their first arrival in the US  may not stand in lines. However, this is rarely true with the ones who have lived for a while. Newly arrived at times cut lines for several possible reasons: Cutting lines was acceptable socially, though not morally, in India, and it was a sign of power for some. Others may have been victim of lazy and corrupt bureaucracy where some officials come to office late, have extended lunch hours and leave office early. In population of millions, cutting lines was the only way to get the work done on time, and some may simply lack patience! If you are someone who faces one in this situation, confronting may not be a good idea: gently asking may do. This changes with time.

Aren't these mallards in line?

Indians do not say thank you every time: Indians, whether newly arrived or living for a while, may not say thank you when you expect one. However, this does not mean that they are not thankful of your help. This happens because their mind draws distinction between duty and help: if you do something out of your duty, thanking may not be necessary in India. And Indians only want to say thank you when they really mean and feel. I have made some of my Indian friends uncomfortable at several occasions by saying thank you: helping a friend is another friend's duty. This may not change ever.

Indians argue over small matters: Indians like to debate and do not like to accept defeat until logic convinces them, and, therefore, it is okay for them to argue even on small matters. What may appear argument for you from the US is usually a healthy discussion for the Indian. Indians are Socrates! Truth must be found, and truth is found by questioning. This may not change, but most Indians will compromise eventually: Logic that they should not debate in the US over small matters convinces them. 

Indians do not give lavish tips: Giving tips does not often make sense to newly arrived Indians, or any one from the East: why they have to pay more than the cost and tax-business includes profit in the bill anyway? There is no concept of tip in traditional (not metropolitan) India: some restaurants and people still see it as alms and as a way of spoiling their employees. You may even see a notice: we do not accept tips. Also, a dollar for a business in the US is approximately 60 rupees in India. I can still guiltily remember my first tip: approximately 25 cent tip to a taxi driver after he dropped me to airport one early morning from a four/five star hotel. One of my friend from another country often avoided eating out due to high charges. Though all understand the concept after a while, some may never agree with it. This definitely changes with time.

We need to note that behaviors and social skills are learned and are not instinctual. Humans, as babies, learn a particular way of behaving, and keep on adding others, say, how to behave in a college classroom.

Are Indians in general or in United States of America Rude? No.

If you have a comment, please use comment link in the grey bar below.

Book a Cheap Air Ticket to India

Book a Cheap Air Ticket to India

Happy Convenient Travel Comes from Educated Decision

If you are planning to travel to India and looking for an air ticket, which is both time convenient and economical, this post is for you. Of course, all the following things will also be true for any other international travel. This post details what I learned in the process of finding economical air tickets for me and my family from/to India. I had to research websites and airlines for reliability and spend time reading reviews about them. Internet was full of suggestions and third party online travel sites and their positive and negative reviews. 

There are two types of websites which are available on web. Some sites show comparative fare from individual airlines and other sites comparative fare on various travel companies. These websites in the (better to good) order of their reliability and performance are:

1. Kayak: Kayak shows comparative fare from individual airlines and from select travel companies. It is always my priority to book a ticket. One can also compare fare on other travel sites. Vayama and Airfare are two reliable external travel sites.

2. Airfarewatchdog: Airfarewatchdog does not give its own comparative fare, but presents comparative fare on different travel sites, which one can check after clicking different tabs. If you find good deal on a reliable travel site, you may go for it.

3. Google Flights: Google Flights gives fare directly from airlines, and also from reliable travel sites. Sometimes deals are exclusive and cannot be found on airline or other travel sites. Main drawback of the service is that the price may not be real time price if the price changes often: real price may be lower or higher.

4. Hipmunk: Hipmunk offers fares from individual airlines in terms of cost, layovers and travel time with a color scheme. The booking is done on a different travel site. If you do not care for a few extra dollars and want to get a good deal in two minutes, the site fits your needs.

5. Cheapoair, Indiaeagle and Orbitz: Cheapoair, Indiaeagle and Orbitz often have cheap fares. The first two often suggest cheapest fare around your travel dates and airports, which may be a boon if you dates and airports are flexible. If  you get a good deal on Cheapoair or Orbitz, you may go for it. I have no research based recommendation for India Eagle.

6. Priceline: Priceline is popular in the US because of its name your own price feature. If you get a cheap ticket, you may book it without worrying about the service quality. The service fee, in case you need to change your travel dates, is also less than the fee some other travel sites charge. However, you should think well before using its name your own price for international travel. The travel time might be beyond your convenience. 

7. Travelocity, Expedia and Hotwire: Travelocity, Expedia and Hotwire have good reputation in the US. You may not find a cheaper international ticket; but if you find one, you may go for it.

8. Others: Cheaptickets, Smartfares, Cheapfareguru, Airfaregeek, Airtkt, Studentuniverse, Justairticket are some other travel sites where you may find a cheaper fare. I have no research based recommendation for these. You might also be able to find a cheaper fare on any other site not mentioned above, especially ASAPTickets. You should not be tempted by the low fare in the searches. The fare may change once you go for booking. You should read this before transacting with ASAPTickets. You should also read BBBTips on Airtravel.

One of my earliest experiences with airplanes

Suggestions:

Buying a ticket is like doing any other business transaction, especially because the fare fluctuates on the demand and supply rule. Therefore, you should avoid travelling on high demand time. Summer is not high demand time because it spans over a two-three months period, while Christmas break is, which spans around a week. The only rule for high demand time is to get ticket as soon as possible, about 90 days in advance. 

A news channel in the US recommended, and many agree on, three steps for a cheaper ticket:

1. Book ticket three months before travel. (This may not matter if you travel from a major airport on off peak dates.)

2. Book tickets around 3 p.m. on Tuesday. (Fare goes up automatically in the airline software during the week as the available for sale tickets are sold. The fare is usually adjusted on Monday and available to buy on Tuesday. However, this is not always true about middle east and Air China airlines.)

3. Travel on Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday. (Week day travel is best for international travel.)

Recommendations:

1. You should plan to spend at least 30 minutes on some of the above sites before you pick a ticket. Most of these have something to offer at different times.

2. Search your ticket on Kayak, Google Flights and Hipmunk. 

3. Keep the above three suggestions in mind.

4. Weigh your options: Booking with an airline directly or with a third party. A ticket through a third party like Cheapoair and Airfare might be non-refundable, though changeable, and any change might cost extra (airline fee plus travel site fee). Ticket may be cheaper from airline sometimes. A particular itinerary may only be available at a third party site. Customer service is provided by the travel site if the ticket is booked there and by the airline if booked at the airline site.

5. There are only better to good airlines. Every international airline invests billion dollars and obeys multiple regulations. Saudia comes with restrictions in terms of food and entertainment. There have been reports of racial discrimination against some Indian travelers by British Airways. Most airlines like United, Lufthansa, KLM, Delta, Qatar Airways, Emirates and Etihad Airways offer one check-in bag and one carry-on for free. However, Air China  offers two free check-in bags and one carry-on.

6. You should avoid booking a ticket which has any layover for more than 5 hours. Long layover may require transit visa.
7. If you plan to come back later, consider using a private or incognito window when booking flights online. Travel websites may track your visits and may raise the price or manipulate results.

Ideal Ticket to India:

What is an ideal ticket to India? If you find a round trip airfare from a major airport in the US, say Washington DC, on an off peak time for about 900 dollars and on a peak time for about 1100 dollars for approximately 24 hours travel time, it is a good air ticket. 

I hope this helps you make educated decision about your travel as well as help you travel conveniently.

Liberal Islam of India

                                                          Baab-e-Syed, one of the gates to liberal Islam

On October 16. 2014, I read an article entitled Why India’s Muslims Haven’t Radicalized by Jake Flanagin. This article stood out to me especially because it coincided with the recent ISIS crisis in the middle east and many western Muslims going to join it, Nobel prize for peace to Pakistan's Malala Yousafzai and India's Kailash Satyarthi, which some called dirty western politics, and recent India-Pakistan border conflict. I agreed to a T with the author's views and information. But it lacked a narrative which could justify that Indian Muslims are liberal when media often report of the terrorists, like Daood, which moved out of India and radicals who are involved in religious riots and fatwas.

My first encounter with Islam happened in my childhood. But I consciously experienced it when I went to Aligarh Muslim University to continue my higher education. I faintly remember my inconvenience going there. Upon reaching there, I could not believe that Muslims were no different from me. Muslims had existed as demons in one story about some Aadam temple in a distant place far away from India (I guess it was Meccah) which I often heard from my traditional Brahmin grandfather and as untouchables in the life teachings of my grandma (mother of my father's friend) who professed that one should not allow a Muslim in the house, and if allowed, the mat or the cot should be cleaned properly to maintain piety. I am not sure to this day whether they ever had any first hand experience with Muslims or aware of the ideological implications of the thoughts which they did not practice in their day-to-day life.

When I spent time with Muslims, I realized that I had already had two Muslims in my life. Wonderful Imam Maassaab in my village who taught us in middle school and a friend of my grandfather who, a butcher by profession, often had tea, chat and financial transactions with him in my presence were, in fact, Muslims. When the teacher loved us all, grandpa's friend never greeted him and us with anything but "Ram-Ram" (Hindu greeting with religious overtones).

I witnessed in Aligarh Muslim University that mutual respect existed among Hindu and Muslim colleagues, and love and care among classmates and students and their teachers. There were exceptions, no doubt: some classmates always considered me, a Hindu, in an outsider circle, and one Hindu custodian could never sit on a chair in the presence of other adults. I received unconditional grooming from more than one Muslim teacher, and two of my teachers even offered food and tea at least on two distinct occasions during Ramadan. Isn't eating in front of a fasting Muslim in Ramadan a punishable crime in some countries? Could you receive such an offer from a radical Muslim?  

I have many Muslim friends who pray five times in a day. They often greet me with Namaste when I greet them with Salaam. I am also in touch with many Muslim teachers who are there to help me in any way any time. There are Muslim colleagues with whom I would love to spent time when I visit India.

Radicalism is the last thing that the world should expect from Indian Muslims. It is not simply in India's loving-all nature. Exceptions exist in every religion and country, even in grammars.

India Post: For Every One and Everywhere

India Post: For Every One and Everywhere

India (भारत) is one of the countries which defies a single definition, a stereotype. Some traditions and customs in India might freak a visitor out while others might fascinate, and the visitor may say: "that's it!"

While visiting this Golden Bird (सोने की चिड़िया) of the past, you might have tried and experienced many things: fresh spicy food, coconut water, street food, yoga and historical places. But have you tried and experienced using India Post (भारतीय डाक), the institution and service which, with the highest number of postal offices in the world, connects Indians in remote villages, small towns, metropolitan cities and to the world with affordable price and reliable care?

India Post's services range from  communication and logistics to domestic and international financial services. Western Union and Money Gram are often hosted by India Post. However, its primary role is to deliver letters, packages and parcels door to door. It is accessible to all and in most personal way: most postmen (डाकिया) know their clientele by face.

The purpose of this post is to make you familiar with the grand India Post and possibly inspire you to experience it on your visit to India.

Post Card: Post Card (पोस्ट कार्ड) is the cheapest method of open communication. You can either buy an India Post Card, which is yellow in color, and write your message on its limited writable space, or you can buy postage of equal value and paste them on a custom (picture) card bought from market. Traditionally, before the coming of email and tele-devices, Post Card was used to send short personal messages and family news to relatives. A Post Card with a trimmed corner meant (and still means) that the card bore news of a death. You can send a Post Card within and outside India.

Inland Letter Card: The green color India Post Inland Letter Card (अंतर्देशीय पत्र कार्ड) appears like a post card when folded but it carries more than two writable pages and thus more space for message in the letter. Also, unlike the message on Post Card which could be seen by anyone, the message in envelop is always private and confidential. Nonetheless, you cannot use a custom paper or send an item in the Envelope (लिफाफा), and you can only send it within India.

Book Post: Book Post is a cost effective method of postal delivery of a printed material, which may be books, magazines, newspapers, and greeting and invitation cards. But you can only send a printed material in an open envelope and cannot write a personal message.

Custom Envelope and Package: You can also send your message on any kind of paper and on any number of pages in a custom envelope or send any article except money or a prohibited item in a custom package. In this case, you would need to use one of the following two delivery types:

Speed Post: This eponymous method of postal delivery is a preferred and probably the only method of timely and responsible post delivery within India. It is a good and trackable service but not something like overnight delivery. You can also use it for international letter or package, but it is costly and delivery time may be more than a week.

Registered Post: This was and is a cheap and reliable method of postal delivery both within and outside India because the post is recorded at every point of entry and is only delivered to the recipient in person. But since the delivery is slow, and the domestic price is almost same to the speed post, it is rarely used within India. However, it appears to be a cost effective and reliable (and personally recommended) method of  international delivery. International delivery may vary from one week to a month.

Parcel/Package Service: These services allow the sender to use custom envelopes and boxes and are similar to Speed Post and Registered Post. However, the posts in this category are cheaper due to the heavy weight of the item.

In addition to the the above services for the public, India Post also serves its rural public financially and contributes to the quality of their lives. With a Post Office (डाक खाना), one can save money, insure life, invest in the market, get a postal order, and send/transfer money within and outside India through its money remittance services. India Post also offers express and business services for small and big businesses.

Whatever service you choose to use, you need to remember a few things:
1. Recipient address is always written on the right hand just a bit down the upper corner of the custom envelope. Preferably write "To" or "सेवा में" before the address.
2. Sender address is a must and is written on the left hand bottom corner.
3.  You should write and underline the applicable category (only if it is speed, registered or book post) at the top in the center.
4. Recipient and Sender addresses must have a valid six digit pin (zip) code. Pin code is usually written on a new line as in the above Post Card image. If your international zip code is fewer than six digits, add required zeros in the beginning to make it six digits.
5. You can only pay in cash; no debit or credit card is accepted at most post offices. You can pay the price to the representative, and the person will do everything for you, or you can buy required postage stamps, glue them to your letter/package and drop it in a post box.
6. Postage are usually called stamps or Tikat (टिकट) in India. You mostly need external glue, which is available somewhere near a window, to affix your stamps.
7. India Post domestic and international letters sometimes get lost. Think whether you can afford a possible loss and to what degree.

Considering the importance of India Post in Indian life and its reach to distant parts of the country, you should try experiencing it in some way when you visit India next time. Your experience of India may never be complete without experiencing India Post!

The Hindi Dictionary that Best Fits You

The Hindi Dictionary that Best Fits You:
A discussion on print, online and app Hindi dictionaries

Spending your time reading this somewhat long post will benefit you in the long run. However, you can simply skim through, or use CTRL+F for search.

Dictionaries are one's best friends when one ventures on the learning of a new language. And a good dictionary, like a good friend, guides one through the mysterious world of new and unknown words.

When you decided to learn Hindi as a Second Language (HSL), you might have picked a dictionary which someone recommended or what you found through Google. When you picked a dictionary, you might have wondered whether that was the best option of you. This post does at least two things: one, it details all available good dictionaries for Hindi Language Learners (HLLs), and two, it presents possible options for HLLs at different proficiency levels.

Print Dictionaries1. Hindi Sabdasagara by Syamasundar Das was published by one of the best publishers for Hindi books in India and is a rich resource for HLLs and Hindi teachers. Though now unavailable in print, the dictionary can be accessible online through University of Chicago.

2. A Practical Hindi-English Dictionary by Mahendra Chaturvedi and Bhola Nath Tiwari (at amazon) will suit you well when you learn Hindi as a Language (HAL) on advanced level. This dictionary may especially help you while you are reading an upper intermediate or advanced level general text, or any literary text. This dictionary is also accessible online through University of Chicago but is worth buying in print format.

3. Advanced Learner's English-Hindi Dictionary (at amazon) and Advanced Learner's Hindi-English Dictionary (at amazon) by Hardev Bahri is another resource which is must for any one interested in learning HAL on advanced level. Due to its richness and appropriate and abundant usages in more than 85000 words, phrases and entries, either of the dictionaries is used as a consulting resource by Hindi language and literature teachers in India. The Hindi-English version is accessible online through University of Chicago.

4. The Oxford Hindi-English Dictionary (at amazon) by R. S. McGregor is another important resource. The dictionary covers both conversational and literary Hindi, and gives etymologies of the words. If you love knowing etymologies of words, this dictionary is for you.

5. The Essential Hindi Dictionary (at amazon) by Rupert Snell is also a good resource for HLLs. The dictionary in two (Hindi-English and English-Hindi) sections is a good fit for beginner to lower intermediate levels. Introduction to Hindi, Devnagari script, concise grammar,  and insights in the book are recommended readings.

6. Prabhat Advanced Hindi-English Dictionary (at amazon) and Advanced English-Hindi Dictionary (available in India) by Badrinath Kapoor is the latest comprehensive endeavor at an updated Hindi dictionary. The dictionaries are rich and suit HLLs at the Advanced level. 

Online Dictionaries1. HinKhoj Hindi Dictionary: It is in Hindi-English and English-Hindi formats, and both dictionaries are good. Since word meanings with transliteration and grammatical categories are contributed by people, they have positive and negative sides associated with crowd sourcing. Some words also have detailed usages. Primary Use: Search word meaning

2. Bab.la Dictionary: Bab.la is an English-Hindi dictionary which presents information in a compact way. It provides possible meanings of the searched word with its transliteration and forms in other grammatical categories. You can also listen to the pronunciation of the searched word. There are also crowd-sourced examples for words. Primary Use: Search word meaning with pronunciation

3. Shabdkosh: The dictionary is in both Hindi-English and English-Hindi formats; the result depends on what you type. You can also listen to the pronunciation of the searched word and read the transliteration. The dictionary is richer in conversational words and presentation is clear. However, there are no examples of the word usages in sentences. Primary Use: Search word meaning with pronunciation

4. Raftaar Shabdkosh: The dictionary is in three formats: Hindi-English, English-Hindi and Hindi-Hindi, and, therefore, gives flexibility to the users. The user can search a word in one of the first two formats and see extended examples in the third, Hindi-Hindi, format. The third format is what makes the dictionary invaluable resource. Primary Use: Search word meaning (no pronunciation) and read its use in sentences and common expressions

5. Hamari Web: The dictionary is in Hindi-English and English-Hindi formats, and provides word meanings and transliteration without the usages in sentences. Primary Use: Search select word meanings

6. Universal Word-Hindi Lexicon: This is an English-Hindi corpus/dictionary developed for the purpose of machine translation. However, you can also search word meanings and their grammatical, morphological and semantic attributes. Primary Use: Search word meaning and its linguistic attributes

7. Lexilogos: This works as a search engine and allows the user to search the meaning of Hindi or English word in four dictionaries: A Practical Hindi-English Dictionary by Mahendra Chaturvedi, Shabdkosh, Bab.la and Universal Word-Hindi Lexicon. The same search is also connected to Google Translate, Bing Translate, Wiktionary, Wikipedia, Google Search and Google Books. Primary Use: Search word meaning simultaneously in four dictionaries and at other platforms

8. Lexicool: This also works as a search engine and allows the user to search the meaning of Hindi or English word but in six dictionaries: four dictionaries available at Lexilogos, and Glosbe and Sensagent. Google Translate and Wiktionary are embedded on the site. Primary Use: Search word meaning simultaneously in six dictionaries

9. HindiCube: This dictionary is in Hindi-English and English-Hindi formats but additionally allows the user to search the Hindi word of an English number. Primary Use: Search Hindi words for English numbers from 1 to millions or billions

10. Meaning Hindi: This is a crowd sourced platform, which can help you find Hindi meaning (translation) of a rare word if someone asked the meaning of the word. Primary Use: Post a question

Other online dictionaries namely Utilities Web Duniya and English to Hindi appear to be in developmental phase.  

Dictionaries for Mobile Phones
1. HinKhoj Dictionary: This app on Google Play provides Hindi-English and English-Hindi search and can be accessed in online and offline formats. It also allows the user to save words in a list and listen to the word pronunciation. Other features are word of the day, word guess game and spell checker. Highlights: Online and offline access, word guess game and spell checker

2. Hindi Dictionary iGeniusDev: This app on Google Play provides English-Hindi search only but works offline. It allows the user to configure the font size, mark words as favorite and listen to the word pronunciation. Other features are word of the day and Hindi and English quizzes. Highlights: Offline access, custom font size and quizzes

3. Hindi Dictionary Pocket dictionary: This app on Google Play also works offline. It allows the user to configure the font size and theme and mark words as favorite. Other features are word of the day, automatic history and context word search. Highlights: Offline access, custom font size and theme and context word search

4. English to Hindi Dictionary Burning Passion: This app on Google Play provides English-Hindi search and works offline. It allows the user to mark words as favorite and listen to the word pronunciation. Other features are voice recognition and ability to block ads. Highlights: Offline access and voice recognition

5. English Hindi Dictionary Movin'App: This app on Google Play provides English-Hindi search and works offline but uses Internet to run ads. It allows the user to bookmark words and listen to the word pronunciation. Other feature is the ability to share translations by sms and email. Highlights: Offline access and ability to share translations

6. English to Hindi Dictionary Applicity: This app on Google Play provides limited English-Hindi word search and works offline. It allows the user to share translations by sms and email and has voice recognition feature. Highlights: Offline access, ability to share translations and voice recognition

7. Hindi- English Dictionary Mobifusion: This app on Nokia store provides common Hindi vocabulary and works offline. It allows the user to listen to the word pronunciation. Highlights: Offline access and compatibility with Nokia phones

8. kdictMobile: This app downloadable from the creator's website is English-Hindi dictionary and works on Java supported and android phones. The user can also download add-on for Firefox and Chrome. Highlights:  Availability in multiple formats

9. Hindi English Translator GK Apps: This app is primarily a translator, which translates words and texts from English to Hindi, and from Hindi to English using Google Translate services. Highlights: Ability to translate multiple words

10. Hindi Translator/Dictionary GreenLife: This app works as  a dictionary and a translator. It translates words and texts from English to Hindi, and from Hindi to English and includes offline dictionary. It allows the user to listen to the word & text pronunciation. Other features are word of the day, sentence correction, voice recognition, email or sms the translation, copy to paste in other apps, and use of the same app for other languages. Highlights: Offline dictionary access, ability to translate multiple words in many languages, voice recognition, email and sms the translation, and copy and paste 

Other apps namely English Hindi Dictionary Hindi Apps, English Hindi Dictionary SE Develop, English to Hindi Dictionary Syamu Vellanad, English Hindi Dictionary NDT, Hindi to English Dictionary Khandbahale and English to Hindi Dictionary Hotfunapps are also available, but most of what they offer is available in the above apps.

 

So, which dictionary best suits you? The answer will depend on your proficiency level and purpose/use. But these combinations might help you:

Beginner Level: Buy Snell print dictionary (if you can afford it), bookmark Shabdkosh online dictionary and download one or two of the apps on your phone addressing your needs (possibly Hinkhoj/iGeniusDev and Burning Passion/Pocket Dictionary). Use HindiCube for numbers

Intermediate Level: Buy Bahri or Kapoor print dictionary, bookmark Bab.la and Raftaar Shabdkosh online dictionaries, and download one or two of the apps on your phone addressing your needs (possibly Hinkhoj/iGeniusDev and GreenLife)

Advanced Level: Buy Bahri/Chaturvedi/Kapoor and McGregor print dictionaries, bookmark Lexicool or Lexilogos, and download one or more apps on your phone addressing your needs (possibly Hinkhoj/iGeniusDev, Movin'App and GreenLife)

Traveling Purpose: Buy Snell print dictionary, and download Burning Passion and GreenLife apps

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