Sunday 19th Apr, 2026
THE NAIL CONCEPTS
A.H.DAR
Dy.Gnl.Manager ( Rtd.) JKTDC
As a lay man Nails are the hardened form of our skin. These nails are the very important tools as it helps us to facilitate our day to day living. We trim them once they grow long. But in our old times these attentions were either given to us by our Grand Amma or by our parents or by other elderly family members or by the local Barber with his traditional “ Naraun” – a razor sharp cutting edge in a stylish way designed especially for Toddlers/ Kids. The cut edges of such nails would be made softer by rubbing them on the traditional “TSHUPP’’ -the Rice swifter having soft and supple stripped baboon cane stripes and the inter- woven tiny spaces covered by the rice dust or the “TUMMEL GARED”. As on now we have the majestic nail cutters of various colors, curves and styles in place with all the required accessories.
But the question often lurking in one’s mind is as to “why all these nails are there? The answer comes simple that the LORD loves HIS creation the most and as such HAS created both offensive and defensive mechanisms in it for its very existence. Thus we find these Nails in the Mammals, in Birds of Beauty/ Prey using them according to their needs, situation and otherwise requirement in danger. Thus these nails act as an all purpose tool box for those who possess them and are always in a state of readiness to act in the interests of a being come what may.
Yet one may agree that these nails bear a touch of elegance and reflect our mental and mood fluctuations by adding an ounce of grace to our personality and Life Style especially to our women folk who apply nail polish of all shades to these nails to make them more attractive and presentable. On the other hand When we sometimes start biting our Nails it conveys that we are a bit shy, tense, or in dilemma especially while waiting for the results of our endeavor, achievement or in a missed an opportunity etc. The nail biting term used in Sports conveys an act of Dare Devils while having a narrow escape or an act of survival or being in a rescue operation under taken etc. So much so that at times we are seen nailing our worries in grief. The nails are connected to the level of intimacy as per our local proverb goes “ ماز نم” meaning close relation between muscles and nails; Just to show and take it as an act of solidarity under all eventualities to boost the morale of a person or persons in a very demanding situation. Examples could be many but nail is after all a nail. So nail your differences or square your differences. Adopt an attitude of forget and forgive to make this world a beautiful place to live in. Make life musical and play with it the way nails helps in pulling the strings of known Musical instrument Sitar or the Guitar.
To my understanding the word NAIL conveys
N= For Normalization of the work/ routines.
A= Anxiety indicator/ attractive / or assembly of sorts.
I= Inbuilt tools.
L= Learn from them about their Modulation Tactics.
Let us be proud of our nails and thank them for their company.