abscond
To escape, leave in secret
After Eights
A British brand of mint chocolates
aggrandizement
The expansion of someone's power
angrezi khana
The Hindi term for "English food"
anthers
The part of a flower where pollen is produced
ashram
A monastery or hermitage in Indian religions
belladonna
A poisonous plant that has medicinal purposes
borborygmus
A rumbling produced by the stomach by gas running through the intestines
Boots
A British chain pharmacy
brahmin
The highest social class in Hindu India
chhang
A Nepalese and Tibetan rice alcohol
choora
Wedding bangles traditionally worn by Punjabi brides
Cho Oyu
The judge's manor in the Himalayas, which he purchased from a Scottish colonial explorer
colonialism
The exercise of control of one power or nation over a dependant nation or people
desi
A person of Indian, Pakistani, or Bangladeshi heritage who lives abroad
dhoti
A waistcloth-type garment worn by male Hindus
Durja Puja
A Hindu festival that celebrates the goddess Durja
dzong
A fortress-like Tibetan monastery
eructation
Belching
fusty
Musty; an unpleasant odor
goonda
A hired criminal; a henchman; a thug
Gujarati
The Indo-Aryan language spoken in the Indian state of Gujarat
gymkhana
A British Raj term that refers to a skill-based contest, such as a sporting event or dance competition
haveli
A mansion
hirsute
Hairy
hubshi (slur)
A Hindi slur for people of African descent
huzoor
A title of address for a high-ranking Indian person
Kachenjunga
The world's third highest mountain, where Jemubhai Patel makes his home
kukri
A curved Indian sword
lascivious
Lustful
maharaja
The Hindi word for "king" or "ruler"
Marks and Spencer
A British chain department store
maund
A unit of weight used in some Asian countries, weighing approximately 82 lbs
Marmite
A savory British food spread made of yeast extract
mithai
Sweets and sweet dishes
Mughal Empire
The Muslim dynasty that controlled much of South Asia during the 16th through the 19th centuries
odoriferous
Something that carries a scent or odor
pallu
The loose end of a sari that is worn over the shoulder or head
pakora
A spiced fritter
parsimonious
Stingy, unwilling to spend money.
phosphorescence
The emission of light from an irradiated object
pisciculture
Fish farming
pitaji
The Hindi word for "father"
pomade
A wax-like substance used to style hair
puja
An act of worship in Hinduism and Buddhism
sahib
A polite title for a man; sir
sericulture
The practice of silk farming
silguri
A major city in West Bengal
stenographer
A person who produces a simultaneous transcript of an ongoing conversation using a stenograph machine
stratum
Social level or class
thangka
An intricate Tibetan or Nepalese Buddhist painting, typically of a deity or mandala
titillation
Excitement or arousal
Tom Collins
A cocktail made from alcohol, lemon juice, sugar, and carbonated water
topi
A short, rounded hat
ubiquitous
Omnipresent; present everywhere at all times
virile
Masculine; manly
Zoroastriansim
One of the world's oldest organized religions, Zoroastrianism is based on the teachings of the Iranian prophet Zoroaster
