Dhobi

Spotted forktails are often seen near the places where the _dhobis_ wash clothes by banging them violently against rocks, hence the name dhobi-birds, by which they are called by many Europeans. ❋ Douglas Dewar (1916)

Hailing from the 'dhobi' caste, which is one of the Scheduled Castes, Manish, as a student of Standard IX in Ballia was not very comfortable going to the homes of his classmates to collect clothes for washing or for delivering them after they were washed. ❋ Unknown (2009)

'dhobi' or traditional washerman, says he shifted into the area nine months ago because of its ready availability of water supply. ❋ Unknown (2008)

Scared my self the other day when I was tasked with putting on the washing machine – I asked Mrs Army where she kept the dhobi dust! ❋ Inspector Gadget (2010)

By the standard of educated folks, our dhobi might be viewed as uneducated but he is wise. ❋ Shahnaz Taplin-Chinoy (2012)

Where my taxi driver and dhobi would have peace, their leaders see advantage in strife - where and when does India reach the tipping point and choose its path? ❋ Shahnaz Taplin-Chinoy (2012)

There was a cook, a bearer (the cook's assistant; he did the shopping), a sweeper (Rajasthan is dusty, so the sweeper did indeed spend his days sweeping – when he wasn't dusting), plus a gardener and the dhobi man (who collected the laundry each week). ❋ Unknown (2011)

As my husband and I stroll along the banks of the Gomti river, enjoying the wind blown, kaleidoscopic saris, freshly embroidered, starched and washed by the dhobis or washer men, then suspended to dry, we meet, chat and fall in love with a soulful dhobi. ❋ Shahnaz Taplin-Chinoy (2012)

When I offered the dhobi a small tip for hijacking him from his work, he refused the tip and touched my heart when he said, I spoke to you from my heart. ❋ Shahnaz Taplin-Chinoy (2012)

Mataprasad (the dhobi) and Chacha (the victoriawalla) are both in their fifties, and they have both seen better days. ❋ Unknown (2010)

In Varanasi, India, by the holy Ganges River, dhobi wallahs knelt beside the river and slapped wet clothes against flat rocks. ❋ Ross Arbes (2010)

As Munna, a young, handsome dhobi who dreams of becoming a Bollywood actor, Babbar offers such an incredibly charming, funny and sensitive performance that it's hard not to root for him the whole way through. ❋ Marissa Bronfman (2010)

"Then you should take better care of her," says I, whip-ping out a dhobi-list and scribbling professionally. ❋ Unknown (2010)

The ones who still had trust funds and deposits and prosperous folders of share certificates had their houses painted every year, the silver polished every week, the red or black stone floors swept and swabbed to a high gloss, the Irish linen or Bengal Home tablecloths washed, starched and returned in pristine condition by the family dhobi. ❋ Unknown (2006)

Filed under: Firoze Shakir Bollywoods Most Wanted , mahalaxmi dhobi ghat, swedish family ❋ Unknown (2008)

It was no time for thanks or congratulation: I scrambled up and fairly flung myself at the boat, knocking one of the dhobi lasses flying, seized its prow and thrust it down the bank into the water. ❋ Fraser, George MacDonald, 1925- (2005)

Safe bar the sun and the Punjab head and the Doolally tap and the dhobi itch and the Billy Stink and the rest. ❋ Jamie O’Neill (2002)