Nuggets of Sholay: Seven - Loha Lohe Ko Katata Hai

In case, you've not been following, I've been writing about nuggets hidden in the movie Sholay, that are being presented a bit hatke (differently). And in this episode, I'm choosing a proverb that always has me puzzled.

Muhavra: Loha Lohe Ko Katata Hai (लोहा लोहे को काटता है) 

During the 40th minute, Thakur sahab and his minion Ramlal meet Jai and Veeru at this half-way house. Thakur is kind of giving a supari (contract) to these two for catching Gabbar Singh (the first time his name is mentioned in the movie). Jai, the smarter one is curious why Thakur chose them for this task even though they are baddies? "Aapki nazron mein, hum bhi to chor-badmaash hain. Phir us daku ko paadne ke liye, hum dono ko kyon chuna?" Thakur replies with an air of triumph that only iron cuts iron. "Isliye, ke loha lohe ko katata hai." 

The English equivalent proverb is "diamond cuts diamond". You know the meaning, it takes something of similar strength to defeat the other. On a funnier note, this line was extended in Gangs of Wasseypur, where Piyush Mishra's voiceover says in the beginning "Jaise loha lohe ko katata hai...waise ch**tiya hi to ch**tiye ko katata hai"  

But whenever I've heard this proverb, I've always wondered why only iron or diamond that can cut its own species? Why don't other metals or matter do the same? Why can't gold cut gold, silver cut silver, copper cut copper, paper cut paper, water cut water, plastic cut plastic, cloth cut cloth...? I can go on, but for the sake of sanity, I will stop there.

Loha lohe ko katata hai

But the question still remains, why only iron or diamond have these properties? Does this have a chemistry answer, physics answer or a philosophy answer? Readers please  educate me.

That was the nugget. Samjhe ke nahin? Agar achha laga to comment kijiye. Agar achha nahin laga to lament kijiye.

Goodbye, aadab and namaste.