“Dram” in Karachi refers to a measure of whisky. The term “Turm” refers to a cavalry troop. “Taupie” is a stupid child.
These are not phrases that most teenagers would know, but Pakistani prodigy Bilal Asher, the global under-14 Scrabble champion, knows how to use them all with ease.
The word-spelling game, which has a cult appeal among young people in Pakistan despite its musty reputation, is a holdover from the English language that was enforced by Britain’s empire but that the nation has now adopted into its own accent.
Since the tournament’s inception in 2006, Pakistan’s youth have won more championships and been the current youth global champions than any other country, making them the dominant force in the bizarre world of competitive Scrabble.
After defeating a grey-bearded opponent, 13-year-old Asher declared, “It takes a lot of hard work and determination.”
