Settling the dahi gender debate

October 25, 2010

yogurt Settling the dahi gender debateThis 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.

16081BD1A60533E0F1173D28DE4F0D3F Settling the dahi gender debate

dp seal trans 16x16 Settling the dahi gender debateCopyright secured by Digiprove © 2010 Mansi Bhatia

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15 Responses to Settling the dahi gender debate

  1. anon1No Gravatar on October 25, 2010 at 2:14 pm

    Hoti hai, hoti hai, hoti hai!!
    -anon1
    (Aren’t you glad we agree on something ? ;) ).

  2. TaraNo Gravatar on October 25, 2010 at 11:07 pm

    *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.

  3. TbgNo Gravatar on October 25, 2010 at 11:17 pm

    It’s just a game of the languages right? Curd’s curd. Plain and simple.

    I adore veg raita! Yum!

  4. YANo Gravatar on October 26, 2010 at 4:36 am

    LOL…it is just so hilarious. :-)
    anyway, i have voted.

  5. Shachi ThakkarNo Gravatar on October 26, 2010 at 9:33 am

    Male :)

  6. RishabhNo Gravatar on October 26, 2010 at 10:41 am

    What a stupid thing to ask — ofcouse, ‘dahi’ is male… ;-D

  7. World Wide News Flash on October 26, 2010 at 3:55 pm

    Settling the dahi gender debate | First Impressions…

    I found your entry interesting do I’ve added a Trackback to it on my weblog :)

  8. KamikazeNo Gravatar on October 28, 2010 at 5:46 am

    As far as I know dahi is ‘hota hai’ and lassi ‘hoti hai’ :)

  9. AlkaNo Gravatar on October 28, 2010 at 11:35 pm

    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….

  10. The Great Dahi Debate | First Impressions on October 29, 2010 at 8:49 am

    […] started as a non-threatening debate grounded in mirth took a life of its own when I posted it on this public […]

  11. Cee KayNo Gravatar on November 4, 2010 at 10:34 am

    HotA hai!!

  12. Dahi hota hai! | First Impressions on November 30, 2010 at 9:30 am

    […] I started a riot when I asked you folks to settle the dahi gender debate. […]

  13. nomanNo Gravatar on September 3, 2012 at 6:52 am

    I always use “Dahi hoti h” like female…



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