Learn Arabic with UAE-based Indian's 'Mafee Mushkil' book

Abu Dhabi - Mujeeb Edavanna took used the best pieces from his 'Arabic munshi' column and bundled it into his book.

The more you read, the more you know. The more you know, the more places you will go. Mujeeb Edavanna's Malayalam book Arabic Mafee Mushkil is packed with such lessons that will help expats learn and understand Arabic the easy way, lessening their travails while living and travelling in the Gulf.
After 19 years in the UAE, Mujeeb only knows too well the communication hurdles a Keralite faces on arriving in Arab lands. "Arabic is not an easy language to grasp, but it's not too difficult either. I wanted to help people be at ease with Arabic, especially executives, labourers, house maids and drivers. But you have to make learning Arabic fun, not a frustration," says the administrative staff employed at the Zaabeel Office, for His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai.
"Since 2011, I've been writing in the Malayala Manorama Weekly under the pen name 'Arabic Munshi'. It was the weekly's editor-in-charge KA Francis and Manorama Dubai's former bureau chief Vinod John, who gave me an opportunity to write an Arabic language column on Gulf expatriates," says the Malappuram native.
Once, he posted one of his 'Arabic munshi' columns on Facebook to overwhelming response. This prompted Mujeeb to think about publishing. "I took the best pieces from 'Arabic munshi' and bundled it into the book, and included many true-life incidents to connect with the readers," he says.
The title, that rolled out in April this year, is among DC books' best-sellers.
Tread carefully with Arabic
One has to very careful when pronouncing Arabic, says Mujeeb, who used to teach the language at a Government school in Kerala.
"'Matar' means 'rain' and 'mataar' is 'airport'. Once, a housekeeping staff was asked by a local, 'wain mataar?' ('where is the airport'?). The housekeeper looked up to the skies and said 'matar mafi'. The Emirati rode away in a huff. I've included such incidents in the book as it easily registers in readers' minds."
Mujeeb is also happy that his book released during the UAE Year of Reading.
What's in the pipeline? Possibly, an audio CD of the book, or another edition of the book "with more interesting reading", Mujeeb says.
The book is available at the Karama branch of DC Bookstore Dubai.
ashwani@khaleejtimes.com

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