kurta (koor-tuh)—a long, tunic-like garment, similar to a kameez
lakh (lahk)—one hundred thousand
lehenga (lehng-uh)—an outfit consisting of a tight-fitting, midriff-baring blouse, a full A-line skirt, and a very large dupatta wound around the body for modesty
maharaja (muh-hah-rahj-uh)—the title given to the ruler of a Registani city-state
mirza (meer-zuh)—an honorary title used as a surname granted to Nizami princes of the royal line
nirvan (nir-vahn)—a surgical procedure that removes the genitals
paisa (pl. paise) (pay-suh; pl. pay-say)—a small monetary denomination equal to one one-hundredth of a rupee
rupee (roo-pee)—a common monetary unit, usually minted in the form of silver coins worth one hundred paise
samosa (suh-mow-suh)—a savory, deep-fried snack of pastry stuffed with a spicy filling
sari (sah-ree)—a long piece of cloth wrapped around the body as a garment, usually paired with a petticoat and blouse underneath
shalwar (shuhl-vaar)—a pair of loose-fitting trousers usually paired with a kameez or kurta
subah (soo-buh)—a province
subahdar (soo-buh-dahr)—a provincial governor
talwar (tuhl-vahr)—a word meaning sword; in the weapons trade it refers to a single-edged, heavily curved sword with a short hilt and disc-shaped pommel made for slashing attacks
toradar (tore-uh-dahr)—a matchlock musket
zahhak (zuh-hawk)—one of several different species of large, feathered, flying creatures, which are ridden by Daryastan’s nobility
zamorin (zuh-more-in) [a corruption of Samoothiri]—the hereditary ruler of Kolikota
© Spencer Micka Photography
Alina Boyden is a trans rights activist, author, and PhD candidate in cultural anthropology. As an ACLU client, her case secured health care rights for transgender employees in the state of Wisconsin. Her work in cultural anthropology centers on the civil rights struggles of transgender women in India and Pakistan, and consequently she divides her time between the United States and South Asia. When she’s not writing, traveling, or working on her dissertation, she spends her free time indulging in two of her childhood passions—swordplay and flying airplanes.
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