# It's Gandhi, Gandhi, Gandhi, Gandhi, GANDHI!!! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 11, 2007, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-gandhi-gandhi-gandhi-gandhi-gandhi/387607 "2007-01-11T20:58:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2007, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-gandhi-gandhi-gandhi-gandhi-gandhi/387607/61 "2007-01-12T03:13:13Z")
[QUOTE=Auntbeast] Anyone want to be my guinea pig or go-to “general cultural questions about India” [/QUOTE] You might be able to sneak it into **Anaamika** ’s [Hinduism - calling all Hindus, ex-Hindus, and those merely interested](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=403185) thread (until she tells you to go away and stop bothering her). ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2007, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-gandhi-gandhi-gandhi-gandhi-gandhi/387607/62 "2007-01-12T03:36:54Z")
Eh, Hindi is a phonetic language. Spell it how you like. And I read/write/speak it, so I know! ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2007, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-gandhi-gandhi-gandhi-gandhi-gandhi/387607/63 "2007-01-12T03:51:26Z")
[QUOTE=elucidator] Oh, I got that part ok. Is it intended to be some sort of memnon…nemonic… whatever device to assist memorization? Like “All good boys deserve favor”? [/QUOTE] Goodness And Nonviolence Did Him In ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2007, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-gandhi-gandhi-gandhi-gandhi-gandhi/387607/64 "2007-01-12T04:00:37Z")
[QUOTE=tomndebb] You might be able to sneak it into **Anaamika** ’s [Hinduism - calling all Hindus, ex-Hindus, and those merely interested](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=403185) thread (until she tells you to go away and stop bothering her). [/QUOTE] Not at all! \*\*Auntbeast \*\*is more than welcome in my thread. If you want to start another, I’ll join in there, too (if I can contribute). \*\*Auntbeast \*\*you are also welcome to e-mail me at [elenia25@gmail.com](mailto:elenia25@gmail.com). However I don’t know too much about the caste system. I can tell you a fair bit about what is so euphemistically called eve-teasing, though. (What a silly name). ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2007, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-gandhi-gandhi-gandhi-gandhi-gandhi/387607/65 "2007-01-12T04:10:31Z")
[QUOTE=MaxTheVool] I’m a very literate college graduate, and I can never for the life of me remember whether it’s **Tolkien** or **Tolkein** ; or **Caesar** or **Ceasar**. [/QUOTE] Oh, that’s easy – it’s the one that looks wrong. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2007, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-gandhi-gandhi-gandhi-gandhi-gandhi/387607/66 "2007-01-12T04:12:41Z")
[QUOTE=Quiddity Glomfuster] Oh it’s not. It’s llama llama duck 😃 (Or perhaps lhlhama lhlhama dhuck) [/QUOTE] :dubious: I thought it was rhama rhama dhing dhong. ---
**Author:** ![MilTan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@MilTan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MilTan)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2007, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-gandhi-gandhi-gandhi-gandhi-gandhi/387607/67 "2007-01-12T05:11:09Z")
[QUOTE=Anaamika] Eh, Hindi is a phonetic language. Spell it how you like. And I read/write/speak it, so I know! [/QUOTE] I think I disagree with that. There’s no direct mapping from English to Hindi, true (since Devanagiri has more symbols for consonants than English does). But there _is_ a commonly accepted mapping from Hindi to English. I had a full set of examples worked out, but whatever Devanagiri font is on my computer doesn’t agree with the message board. Bah. So I’ll leave you all with this: Apple’s dictionary throws up a spelling error when you spell the name “Ghandi,” but not when you spell it “Gandhi.” ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2007, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-gandhi-gandhi-gandhi-gandhi-gandhi/387607/68 "2007-01-12T05:22:22Z")
“When I despair I remember that all through history the way of truth and love has always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they seem invincible, but in the end, they always fail, think of it — ALWAYS !” ---
**Author:** ![Mellivora\_capensis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Mellivora\_capensis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mellivora_capensis)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2007, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-gandhi-gandhi-gandhi-gandhi-gandhi/387607/69 "2007-01-12T07:29:48Z")
[QUOTE=elucidator] Badgers! Badgers! We don’t need no _steeenking_ badgers! [/QUOTE] Oy, what did I ever do to you? ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2007, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-gandhi-gandhi-gandhi-gandhi-gandhi/387607/70 "2007-01-12T07:31:02Z")
[QUOTE=Zoe] Oh, I remember that song… “Gandhi…I call my sugar ‘Gandhi’…” [/QUOTE] Wait, what? I thought it was “Sugar…aw Hindi Hindi…you are my Gandhi girl…” ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2007, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-gandhi-gandhi-gandhi-gandhi-gandhi/387607/71 "2007-01-12T07:45:05Z")
I want to pause a moment and welcome **Zoe** and **Otto** to the ranks of the Irredeemably Damned. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2007, 8:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-gandhi-gandhi-gandhi-gandhi-gandhi/387607/72 "2007-01-12T08:49:20Z")
[QUOTE=the PC apeman] Bhadger, bhadger, bhadger, bhadger, bhadger!! [sub]Is it naughty of me to have expected this thread to be about another [Weebls](http://www.badgerbadgerbadger.com/) thing?[/sub] [/QUOTE] That’s what I expected too: It’s a Gandhi, Gandhi, Gandhi, Gandhi, Gandhi, Gandhi, Gandhi, Gandhi, Gandhi, Gandhi, Gandhi, Gandhi, Dalai Lama… ---
**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2007, 9:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-gandhi-gandhi-gandhi-gandhi-gandhi/387607/73 "2007-01-12T09:58:56Z")
[QUOTE=lissener] Except that there’s usually a standard transliteration as devised by native speakers. [/QUOTE] Standard transliteration, yes. Devised by native speakers, no. Hey, I’m all for spelling Gandhi’s name the way he wanted it spelt, but 'm not gonna claim any other way is wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2007, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-gandhi-gandhi-gandhi-gandhi-gandhi/387607/74 "2007-01-12T13:03:21Z")
I thought it was the Dolly Llama I kheed. If you will excuse me, please, I must dash off in my kharmah. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2007, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-gandhi-gandhi-gandhi-gandhi-gandhi/387607/75 "2007-01-12T13:55:04Z")
H/not H is something can get you killed. I should know. Sibboleth ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2007, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-gandhi-gandhi-gandhi-gandhi-gandhi/387607/76 "2007-01-12T13:55:56Z")
[QUOTE=MilTan] I think I disagree with that. There’s no direct mapping from English to Hindi, true (since Devanagiri has more symbols for consonants than English does). But there _is_ a commonly accepted mapping from Hindi to English. I had a full set of examples worked out, but whatever Devanagiri font is on my computer doesn’t agree with the message board. Bah. So I’ll leave you all with this: Apple’s dictionary throws up a spelling error when you spell the name “Ghandi,” but not when you spell it “Gandhi.” [/QUOTE] Actually, I don’t entirely disagree with you. “Ghandi” in Hindi would indeed be spelled with a different letter, it would be “GH” instead of a plain old “G”. But honestly it’s so minor and the man’s dead anyway, and not worth this much hullabaloo. Besides, I have a much greater beef with the fact that this language (or whomever) changes the beautiful sounding “Ganga” to something that sounds like you caught it by going with that nice girl on the corner wearing stilettos; to wit, “Ganges”. _shudders_ ---
**Author:** ![SkipMagic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skipmagic/32/20706_2.png) [@SkipMagic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkipMagic)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2007, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-gandhi-gandhi-gandhi-gandhi-gandhi/387607/77 "2007-01-12T14:07:35Z")
Whatever happened to his good friend, Pohkey? ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2007, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-gandhi-gandhi-gandhi-gandhi-gandhi/387607/78 "2007-01-12T14:09:25Z")
[QUOTE=SkipMagic] Whatever happened to his good friend, Pohkey? [/QUOTE] /pokes **SkipMagic** That was a 'orrible joke. ---
**Author:** ![Auntbeast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Auntbeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Auntbeast)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2007, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-gandhi-gandhi-gandhi-gandhi-gandhi/387607/79 "2007-01-12T15:03:44Z")
Woot! I found this thread! YAY! _does a little dance_ I’m reading A Suitable Boy, so bear with me. Caste System: When asked casually of my husbands Indian co-workers they kind of shrugged it off. This is my theory. Castes are so established culturally that even if there is a public backlash about it, that somewhere, it may still matter more than folks are comfortable saying to silly americans. For example, everyone says it doesn’t matter, but when it comes down to who you marry, does it really? If you do marry someone outside of your caste is there a stigma about it? I did check a few indian dating sites and they do allow you to search by caste. I don’t know if it is for the parents benefit or what, but it does seem important. Which brings me to my next question: Arranged Marriages. Is this still done commonly? From one dating website I found quite a few parents looking for matches for their children. Even if the parents are still all for it, do the kids kind of sigh and think it’s old fashioned? Or because of that being a cultural thing for them accept it as the way it is gonna go? Eve Teasing- The Guys My Husband Works With: they shrugged this off as something unimportant too. That it may happen, but gee whiz, it isn’t that big of a deal. The Arts: Someone brought up M. Knight Notevengonnatrytospellit as being fairly unusual in that he is in the arts and that is frowned upon. To say India has a rich history in the arts, I find this confusing. And god knows, someone in India is making a shitload of movies. Where do artists/musicians/performers fit into society? Being an american southerner, I know there can be differences in what you say to outsiders than what you actually do. As I progress through this book, I’m certain I’ll have many more questions. Please understand, my major was Cultural Anthropology. So my desire to dig a bit deeper than a public facade is a feature, not a bug. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Auntbeast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Auntbeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Auntbeast)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2007, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-gandhi-gandhi-gandhi-gandhi-gandhi/387607/80 "2007-01-12T15:10:36Z")
crap, wrong thread. Mods, can you delete my previous post? The excitement got to me. Let’s not rub my face in the fact the first sentence is I found this thread, which of course, was the wrong thread to be found. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-gandhi-gandhi-gandhi-gandhi-gandhi/387607.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-gandhi-gandhi-gandhi-gandhi-gandhi/387607.md?page=5)