Delhiites don’t derive mileage of being in Delhi
Seat of a grand, enviable centuries-old cultural and ruling legacy notwithstanding, city of Delhi now hardly has anything to pat on its back except that top national leaders are here to decide the fate of political aspirants. The national capital is also the hang out for those already in power to be sure of their continuity, and grip on bureaucracy.
Delhi has not even its own weather either. While in winter, the unrelenting cool breezes from Mussoorie and Shimla make Delhiites shiver in cold even at noon, or in summer, the biting heat waves from Thar desert and elsewhere scorch their skins. The catchphrase, Delhi hai dil walon ki, is sheer cliché, a pure lie. You can find the lone daughter or son proceeding to airport for a long sojourn being seen off just at the apartment’s door.
Each city has a flavour
Most cities have a distinct culture of their own. I can tell something about Kolkata, Bhopal and Karnal where I lived for 4-5 years in each place. In Kolkata, compliance with ‘rule’ (ain) is sacrosanct. So, in the major local bus terminal Maidan, you can find queue of just two persons one behind the other, waiting for the bus for score of minutes. At crossings, vehicles shall neatly make a bee line, sometimes the queue may extend a kilometre or more, and never side-to-side with minimal gap. So, when traffic opens, movement is smooth and swift. In gatherings, the guests shall be served food invariably on chairs with tables, it is blasphemy to eat in standing posture. If the city bus conductor is unable to instantly find 10 paise coin to return you after genuine search, in apologetic tone he shall tell, “I don’t have it at the moment, but wait”.
In Thiruvananthapuram, vehicles slow down prioritising road-crossing pedestrians. Another hallmark of this city: prices are reasonable. For a masala dosa costing Rs 170-200 in Delhi you shell out a third of price, if not less for same quality and ambience.
In Bhopal, the accent and nuances of ladies is so sonorous. Post-meal, on the plate being offered, cardamom, fennel seeds, and mishri (sugar candy) may be missing but dry tobacco leaves, wet lime, betel nuts & sarota to crack it is must. Karnal (in Haryana), midway between Delhi and Chandigarh, the ‘rice bowl’ of India, is also the largest basmati rice exporting district of India. In Haryanavi traditional, people known for speaking without; the natives mince no words in conveying their emotions.
You can’t define a Delhiite
Unlike most other cities, Delhi is an assortment of folks of varying ethos & pathos, breeds, and communities from near or far-off places. Even after living here since long, they often chose to settle in isolated pockets of Uttam Nagar, Chittranjan Park, et al. As such, Delhi doesn’t come up as a ‘homogenised’ entity. It’s a heterogenous medley of varying hues. You can’t say what characterises Delhi and Delhiites. One may happily let go a balance of Rs 20 at the counter, yet in a different setting the same person may flare up for not being returned Rs 2. When communicating with others, he can be very descent, well-mannered, soft-spoken and cordial – or at other extreme, quite aggressive and belligerent for no conscionable reason.
A Delhiite usually remains in eternal illusion that his belonging to Delhi bestows on him a special status. He is not more knowledgeable, awakened; he is as good as those elsewhere. And this trait constricts their growing as a rounded personality.
PS: I owe immensely to the city of Delhi that groomed me in my formative years in numerous ways. My strong perception is: Delhiites don’t take advantage of being in Delhi.
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