Jalandhar- Punjab has given the world many great debates—politics, cricket, farming and even whether tea should be stronger than the person drinking it. But now a new and extremely serious linguistic question has entered the public arena: should comedian Gurpreet Ghuggi be lovingly called “Ghuggi Bhajee” or “Ghugga Bhajee”?
For years, Punjabis have affectionately called Gurpreet Ghuggi “Ghuggi Bhajee.” But somebody has finally noticed the grammatical problem: “Ghuggi” is generally the feminine word for a dove/pigeon, while “Ghugga” is masculine. So technically, if the argument is based purely on Punjabi grammar, perhaps “Ghugga Bhajee” would sound more appropriate. Now the real question is—will Ghuggi Bhajee himself accept this promotion from feminine to masculine terminology?
Imagine introducing him at a Punjabi function: “Please welcome our beloved Ghugga Bhajee!” He might immediately look around and ask, “Who is this new comedian?” And when the audience says, “You, Bhajee!” he may reply, “For so many years you called me Ghuggi, and today you have changed my gender without even consulting me!”
There is another complication. If Punjabis start calling him Ghugga Bhajee, what happens to all the old jokes, posters, interviews and introductions carrying the famous name “Ghuggi”? Do we now need a linguistic committee? Should the Punjab Language Department issue a notification? And most importantly, should Ghuggi Bhajee be given the right to appeal against this grammatical correction?
Perhaps the safest solution is to let the people continue calling him Ghuggi Bhajee out of love. After all, in Punjab, affection often beats grammar. We have politicians who change parties, promises that change governments, and slogans that change every election—so why should a comedian’s nickname be forced to obey the dictionary?
But if the linguistic purists win the argument, then congratulations to Ghugga Bhajee a man who has entertained Punjab for years and has now accidentally created a new debate in Punjabi grammar. Only in Punjab can a comedian make people laugh and, at the same time, make them seriously debate the gender of a pigeon!