This one is for Hindi speaking individuals — for those of you who aren’t native Hindi speakers, I’m sure you’ll find the following post amusing (weigh in if you’d like with examples in your own native language).
For many years there has been a raging debate in my house. Is dahi (yogurt) male or female?
Growing up, I always knew dahi to be a cool female.
She would spend her time in the metal container changing form overnight thanks to her helper bacteria friends.
From a dripping liquid to a silk, smooth satiny texture, she would appear transformed in the mornings.
I despised her virginity, though.
I always needed to embellish her … Chopped cucumber, tomatoes, onions, a dash of red chilling powder, roasted cumin and salt, and boy, did she go from cool cat to snapping hot vixen. Muaah!
When I got married, my husband insisted she was a he.
It’s always been a he, he’d say.
Whosoever thinks of dahi as a female? He’s robust, he makes you strong(er). How could I mistake his velvety coolness and power-packed muscle-building qualities for effeminate virtues?
He was to be savored stark. No sugar, no salt. Just enjoyed simply with veggies and rice.
When the debate got really intense, my husband would always quiet me with: Dahi comes from doodh (milk) … And doodh is male, right? You don’t say “doodh khatam ho gayi” (there is no milk), do you?
Hmm…no. Doodh is male. Sure. But…Doodh isn’t dahi. And “lassi (made from dahi) meethi hoti hai” would be my retort.
I’ve never won the argument, but I’ve also continued to fight it. I’ve found many supporters … People who, like me, consider dahi to be female. But so has my husband. Right now our camps seem equally divided.
So, I’m taking this domestic dispute to the interwebs in hopes of a final resolution. Take the poll and add your comment. Come back to view the results (when the voting closes) on Friday, October 29.
Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2010 Mansi Bhatia
You might also enjoy:
Hoti hai, hoti hai, hoti hai!!
).
-anon1
(Aren’t you glad we agree on something ?
I wish you could’ve voted thrice!
Looks like this debate will never really be settled…
http://books.google.com/books?id=4XwaoH4-8oQC&lpg=PA138&ots=Ls89DmNhQj&dq=dahi%20noun%20gender&pg=PA138#v=onepage&q=dahi%20noun%20gender&f=false
Check out the book linked above: Eastern dialects consider it masculine, whereas western dialects consider it feminine. I guess you and I are more ‘westernized’ than we thought
*after thinking for a sec*
i remember saying “dahi khatam ho gaya”, “i like meetha dahi” etc
so my vote would go for male.. but i think its gender less or gender-neutral what ever that is called.
It’s just a game of the languages right? Curd’s curd. Plain and simple.
I adore veg raita! Yum!
LOL…it is just so hilarious.
anyway, i have voted.
Male
What a stupid thing to ask — ofcouse, ‘dahi’ is male… ;-D
Settling the dahi gender debate | First Impressions…
I found your entry interesting do I’ve added a Trackback to it on my weblog
…
As far as I know dahi is ‘hota hai’ and lassi ‘hoti hai’
Interesting…Used to teach Hindi while I was in Blore and had no answers when kids asked, ” Maam why is kursi rakhi hai, and table rakha hai?” I guess it is about usage…there is no logic to it. But for me dahi has been male and yes lassi is definitely female….
[…] started as a non-threatening debate grounded in mirth took a life of its own when I posted it on this public […]
HotA hai!!
[…] I started a riot when I asked you folks to settle the dahi gender debate. […]
I always use “Dahi hoti h” like female…