In day-to-day life, we observe new things, which make them unique in a particular region but used universally. Similarly, some phrases are popular among people but have some interesting history and link with former Cheif of Jammu and Kashmir Ghulam Nabi Azad. So, in this article, we will elaborate on the “Chilli Se Dilli Tak” phrase, which is used by the people in the Doda district of the Chenab region in Jammu and Kashmir.
What does “Chilli Se Dilli Tak” mean?
Chilli, also written as “Chilly”, refers to a place in the Bhalessa area of Doda district, and Dilli refers to New Delhi, the capital of India.
What is the language used in the Chili Se Dilli Tak phrase?
The Chilli Se Dilli Tak is generally used in the Urdu language, but it has Kashmiri and Bhaderwahi language versions also. In Kashmiri, “Chillih Peth Dillih Taan” is used, while “Chillyra Dilli Tagēr” is used in Bhaderwahi.
Why do people use the “Chili to Dilli Tak” phrase?
You may believe that the Chilli and Dilli are just similar words that are easy to use, which is why they are used, but there is a specific reason for using them, and they have a meaningful context. Chilli is a far-flung and backward area of Doda district, and for the people of this region, Dilli (that is, Delhi) is also far from them. It usually means moving from a far-flung and backward area to a developed city or capital. However, it can also mean from zero to the last. Or we can say that it is used in place of “everywhere”. So, the short and simplest meaning of Chilli Se Dilli Tak is “Everywhere.”
When is the Chilli Se Dilli Tak phrase used first?
The phrase started to be widely used during the tenure of the former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Ghulam Nabi Azad, in 2005, and his tenure at various positions at national level. People used to say it as “Chilli Se Dilli Tak Apki Sarkar Hai” mostly. It is pertinent to mention that Azad hails from the Bhalessa area of Doda district, where Chilly village is also a part of.
Some common sentences or examples of the “Chili Se Dilli Tak” phrase?
This phrase is used in Urdu as “Chilli Se Dilli Tak Apki Sarkar Hai” and “Chilli Se Dilli Tak Apki Approach Hai”. This word was also used by the Bhaderwahi rapstar and musical artist Vicky Manhas in his debut Bhaderwahi Rap “On the Road Chālli Mēri Gaddi”. In the rap song, he said, “Lok Puzāy Zēmmu Tē Dilli, Tu Māri Gæta Bhalēshay ri Chilli” means “People have reached Jammu and Delhi, but you are still in Bhalessa’s Chilli.”
Conclusion
The “Chili” or “Chilly” in the “Chili Se Dilli Tak” phrase doesn’t refer to chilli powder but a place in Doda’s Bhalessa area. It is used to compare the long distance from the far-flung Chilly village in J&K’s Doda district to the capital of India, New Delhi.
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Anzer Ayoob is the Founder and Chief Editor to The Chenab Times
