DEFINITION OF A FRIEND

The word friend is a much used and abused word these days. Facebook seems to have altered it somewhat.

Dictionary definitions are:

1. A person attached to another by feelings of affection or personal regard.

2. A person who gives assistance; patron; supporter: friends of the Boston Symphony.

3. A person who is on good terms with another.

4. A member of the same nation, party, etc.

5. (Initial capital letter) a member of the Religious Society of Friends; a Quaker.

There is need now to include a 6th friendship based on social networks

Its translation = snehita (Sanskrit) snehitudu, snehituralu (Telugu)

The root word sneha denotes oiliness, greasiness and hence attachment or friendship through proximity. Even all the classmates or colleagues of an office are sahapaathi or sahodyogi, and that is it.

Facebook friends are often friends in a virtual world many times with a profile without true information and at times with true information also... Of course, it can be meeting old friends, classmates, and also knowing each other personally after FB friendship. That attachment may lead to friendship.

This English word ‘Friend’ opened many avenues to misuse SNEHITHA the English equivalent being FRIEND.

CHERUKU RAMA MOHAN RAO