CHENNAI – Taking a firm stand on ending corruption, black money and unauthorized cash flow, Indian PM Narendra Modi recently banned the 500 and 1,000-rupee denominations. This news made waves throughout India, especially considering the lack of a buffer between the announcement and the implementation. Amidst all this chaos, the nation witnessed the entry of crisp purple-clad 2,000-rupee notes, which contains spelling errors.
As per Chennai-based Urdu scholars, the Urdu word ‘hazaar’ which means thousand has been printed as ‘bazaar’ that means market.
“They have committed a spelling error on the notes,” said U Mohamed Khalilullah, an Urdu scholar and chartered accountant from the southern state of Tamil Nadu.
The value of the currency has been printed in 15 languages on the reserve side of the new Rs 2000 note. In Urdu, it is printed as ‘Do Bazaar Rupye’ instead of ‘Do Hazaar Rupye’. As per a Times of India report, Hindi phrase was also printed wrongly on the newly minted Rs 2,000 notes. It has been printed as ‘Dhon Hazaar Rupye’, instead of ‘Dho Hazaar Rupye.’
Times of India quoted Khalilullah saying, “It has been printed wrongly. When there is a lot of confusion in the country now, whether the wrongly printed notes are valid or legal tender is to be determined.”
Union Finance Minster Arun Jaitley says the Finance Ministry is monitoring currency replacement constantly in a bid to placate the frustration among people. However, currency replacement would take time, he added.
The Central government on Friday extended use of old banned currencies of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes for paying household utility bills, fuel, taxes and fees by another 72 hours to November 14. Although the time limit set was to expire Saturday mid-night, it was extended as banks struggle to cope with the demand. People can also make payments for metro rail tickets, highway and road toll, medicines from the government and private pharmacies use the older notes.
The notes can also be used for LPG gas cylinders, railway catering, electricity and water bills and ASI monument entry tickets.
