I retreated to the ‘boy’s room’ to write. Told our cook Banu, who had many questions for me, ‘socho hum ghar pe nehin hain.’ Imagine I am not there.
She looked as flummoxed as the respondents in my focus groups in Hindi from another lifetime would when I’d try to use projective techniques. A subject of much mirth for my colleagues back then!
The market research story goes back to ‘97/ 98. I was moderating my first focus group after moving into Mumbai. In Dadar in Hindi. On Kodak film rolls among photo studio owners.
‘Samjhiye ke mera shaadi ho raha hain. Main kaunsa film roll kharidunga.’
What I was trying to say was, ‘what film roll would someone who is about to get married buy for his wedding shoot.’
My question was lost in translation and the respondents began to congratulate me thinking I was getting married!
The #kittykarmakars cracked up on hearing this story!
