Sophistication, S&G song perhaps? (6,5)

You can name-drop single malts and GLP-1 receptor agonist meds as much as you want. But you know what the true measure of a society's sophistication is? It lies in how many of its people spend mornings freestyle wrestling with 17 across or 4 down. Crosswords and other word puzzles are the brain's version of jazz - not just listening to it but playing it: improvised, layered, and requiring a deep love of structure and surprise. Societies that cherish them aren't just literate; they're linguistically indulgent, playful, lithesome. They don't merely use language to order groceries. They use it to duel, flirt, and solve riddles that hinge on obscure Chola dynasty nautical terms.

A crossword clue is a cultural microdose. 'Capital of Bhutan' tests geography. 'Sounds like a sheep's complaint?' tests your tolerance for puns. To enjoy this is to embrace ambiguity, nuance, and masochistic joy of being wrong 5 times before being gloriously right. Whether it's Hindi shabd khel or English jumble, the principle holds: linguistic play is a luxury of the mind. It requires time, peace, and a people who find joy in decoding rather than doomscrolling. When societies stop playing with words, they start turning brains to jello. And, frankly, 'cryptic clue' sounds a lot more fun than Ludo King and Candy Crush. BTW, the answer to the headline: savoir faire.