‘Timepass’ is India’s way of lying flat

IN THE quirky world of Indian English, “timepass” is of relatively recent vintage. Its first known appearance was in a newspaper article from 1982. But like “prepone” – the opposite of postpone – the word has gained currency because of its sheer efficiency.

“What are you doing nowadays?” a friend inquires. “Timepass,” comes the reply. The stuff that is filling up one’s day is really of no importance; it is just helping pass the hours. The friend will know better than to probe any further.

In smaller Indian cities and towns, where opportunities for advancement are few and dwindling, the noun* is emerging as something of a social and cultural phenomenon. It bears resemblance to China’s “lying flat” movement, which tells young people to opt out of the economic race and settle for mediocre workplace success and modest consumer fulfilment.