TALK LIKE A PIRATE DAY IN INDIA: FROM FAMILY FUN AND FORGOTTEN PIRATE STORIES

     

 

USUALLY, MY UNCLE, WHEN HIS SON WAS A KID, THEY BOTH USED TO ADDRESS EACH OTHER AS AOOU, ENA YA, ELLEA YA, AYOO, AYAO, and many such funny calls. This playful exchange started because it was International Talk Like a Pirate Day. What began as a joke on one September 19th grew into a tradition—uncle and son continued speaking in this pirate-style banter for years. Later, when the boy grew up and went to school, he gradually left behind the “Aoou” and “Ayoo,” and began addressing my uncle simply as “Dad.”

This little memory shows how special days like these can add lighthearted traditions to our lives.

 What is Talk Like a Pirate Day?

Every year, 19 September is celebrated as International Talk Like a Pirate Day. It’s a day dedicated to fun—encouraging people to greet each other with “Ahoy!”, “Avast!”, and “Arrr matey!”, and even dress up like the swashbuckling seafarers of old.

 Started in 1995 in the US as a humorous idea, the day has since caught on globally thanks to internet culture, memes, and of course, the popularity of pirate-themed movies.

 How It Is Celebrated in India

In India, the day isn’t celebrated on a large scale, but it has a small following. People often:

Share pirate jokes, memes, and greetings on social media.

Use the pirate lingo playfully in schools, offices, or among friends.

Organize fun activities in language or theatre classes.

Families (like mine!) may create their own pirate-style conversations, adding to the laughter of the day.

While not mainstream, it’s a quirky way for Indians to join a global celebration of humor and creativity.

 Pirates in India: Stories Worth Remembering

When we think of pirates, Jack Sparrow and the Caribbean often dominate our imagination. But India has its own legendary pirate tales worth recalling on this day:

Kanhoji Angre (1669–1729):  Known as the “Shivaji of the Sea”, Kanhoji Angre (1669–1729) was the most famous naval chief of the Marathas. To Europeans, especially the British and Portuguese, he was a dreaded pirate who disrupted their trade routes. To the Marathas, he was a naval hero who defended Konkan’s coast and ensured Maratha supremacy at sea. He commanded forts, fleets, and seamen who raided foreign ships and collected tribute. His name struck fear in European merchants, yet he is remembered in Maharashtra as a patriot.

 Malabar Pirates:  The Malabar Coast (modern Kerala) was notorious for its Mappila pirates, who preyed on Arab, Portuguese, and later British vessels. These pirates were skilled in navigating the monsoon winds and used small, swift boats that could outrun larger European ships. Their raids became part of the folklore of Kerala’s coastal villages.

 Bengal Pirates:  In the riverine deltas of Bengal, the Arakanese Magh pirates (often in alliance with Portuguese adventurers) raided the Sundarbans and coastal Bengal during the 16th and 17th centuries. They attacked villages, looted wealth, and even captured people for slavery. Mughal officials often called them the “terrors of the Bay of Bengal.”

 Lascar Pirates:  Lascars, Indian sailors employed on European ships, sometimes mutinied and turned pirate when mistreated. Their scattered stories across ports like Bombay, Calcutta, and Singapore remind us that piracy was also an act of rebellion against colonial exploitation at sea.

 These figures may have been called pirates by some, but many were freedom fighters of the seas, defending their coasts and livelihoods.

 Why Remember Them Today?

Talk Like a Pirate Day is meant for fun, but it also gives us a chance to look back at India’s own swashbucklers—men who ruled the seas with daring raids and fearless spirit. Just as my uncle and cousin turned pirate-speak into a family tradition, we can turn this day into a reminder of India’s maritime past.

So today, when you shout “Ahoy!” or “Arrr!”, spare a thought for Kanhoji Angre and the sea raiders of India—our very own pirates who once made the Indian Ocean their playground.

Does anyone in your family celebrate Talk Like a Pirate Day in a fun way—maybe with silly greetings, nicknames, or pirate-style jokes? Share your stories below!