The word ‘mask’ has become quite familiar with all the people during this pandemic period. The above word is primarily English. But we Indians are using it in our languages without translating it. May be because there are no any traditional words in our languages that exactly mean our today’s mask.
Mask is an English word. It is originated from the French word ‘Masque’. In English mask means “a covering for all or part of the face”. There are no traditional words in our indigenous languages that are same in meaning of the above word. In Konkani language, the words that are close to mask in meaning are ‘rupdem’, ‘mukhvato’, ‘burkho’, ‘padar’ etc. From among the above Konkani words, ‘burkho’ seems to be nearer in meaning to mask. In Konkani dictionary ‘burkho’ is defined as “a piece of blackish cloth worn to disguise the face.” The above definition of ‘burkho’ is not wrong. Because, historically the bandits commit evil acts by hiding their faces with covers. But to-day we are not wearing masks for disguising our faces. Therefore ‘burkho’ does not exactly express the meaning of English word mask.
In English language the definition of mask is “a covering for all or part of the face.” Our mask solely covers mouth and nose with the exclusion of the other parts of the face. Masks are intended to prevent viruses of diseases from entering in our bodies. There are words in other languages like Sanskrit, Hindi and Marathi that seem to be closer in meaning with mask. But none of them exactly mean the latter.
In the past our people were not required to cover their mouths and noses. This is because a pandemic like Covid-19 did not occur then. And therefore a word which exactly means mask in English was not coined then in any local language.
But covering of mouth is not a new thing for us, Indians. In fact India is the first country in the world to begin the practice of covering of the mouths. Jainism was founded in India in the 6th century BC. This religion which believed that there is soul in every living being, strongly propagated the principle of non-violence. Orthodox Jain monks and nuns demonstrated reverences for all lives. They swept the ground in front of them to avoid crushing of any living organism under their feet. Similarly, they wore cloth covers over their mouths to prevent any flying insects from entering accidentally in their mouths. This covering of mouth is called ‘mukhpatti’. But mukhpatti is not mask. Because, the former covers only mouth and the latter covers both mouth and nose. Secondly, whereas the purpose of mukhpatti is to save lives of flies, the purpose of mask is to save the life of the person who wears it.
The whole of the last year and a greater part of the current year, all the people in the world are unwillingly wearing masks. Only Heaven knows when would this end. Now wearing of mask has become obligatory in most of the countries. Last year in the State of Gujarat alone Rs 150 crores were collected by the government as fines for not wearing masks. Many feel it as a punishment to wear masks for longer hours. Again there is no happy coexistence of masks and specs. The world is eager to get liberated from masks.