Why I love my city
In the beginning when I sat down to write this article, the
first thought that came to my mind is how would I ever be able to pen down my feelings for this city in which I have spent 20 years of my life, sometimes cursing it and sometimes (however some it might be) basking in its charm. Many people view Delhi
as this overtly boisterous city full of sprawling bungalows and all the pomp
show, the “tu tadaak” and “tu jaanta nhi mera baap kaun hai” hurling brats,
using and abusing this dialogue whether they are in a plush Merc or on a scooty
pep plus. Then, there are the infamous profanities for which we are world
famous in India! What to say, we have immense love for our maas and behens.
And now, since more recently the city has come into light
for its cons (read being tagged as the rape capital, the pollution capital, the traf(fucked) city etcetera etcetera) it has become all the
more important for me as a true blue Delhiite to bring out the reasons why any
pakka Dilliwalaah loves this city.
Our Khaas Aam Janta
Delhi being the national capital, has flocks of people
coming in from every nook and corner of the country. And even though people
claim they wouldn’t want to live in this city (due to safety and other pish
posh factors), they still don’t stop coming into the city; we have people from
all sorts of backgrounds. From the rani from rajouri to the too cool for school
‘every brand in your face, stilettos clacking, smoothie drinking’ Def Col
chick, with shopping bags filled with vanity fair costing enough to feed an
entire third world country; from the dreamy eyed autowallah hoping to join the
army to the languid thulla hoping to catch one erring driver to grease his
palms for the day. We have all types of mango peeps, from the aam to the khaas
to the aam who think they are too khaas. From the pompous fat aunties to the
sweet ganju uncles, from the too loud chandni chowk waale to the quiet scotch
sipping gentlemen in Lutyens’. From the gujjus to the maraathas, from the surds
to the bongs, from the ammas and appas to the papajis and mummyjis. This
delicious cocktail of people is what makes Delhi, Delhi.
Life
in a metro
It goes without saying that we the people of Delhi are
immensely proud of our metro, the gleaming statuette of development in the
city. Any metro commuter would agree when I say how easy travelling has become after the incoming of the metro; and how difficult it is to travel in it, what with, aunties
elbowing each other to be the first one to get it, how you are never able to
find a seat and how people are running on the platforms all the time. But no
matter how crowded the trains are and how many times we have been pushed by the
crowd to unwillingly get down at CS or Rajiv Chowk, we are proud as punch when it comes to our beloved
metro.
The
food- from golgappas to dosas, we have it all!
Being a foodie, it is probably my favorite part of the city,
the unlimited feast to the taste buds available in this mini country. From
Kashmir’s Yakhni to Kanyakumari’s idlis, from Tokyo’s sushi to Paris’s
pancakes, you name it, we have it. From the twenty rupee chhola kulchas from
the road side, to the two thousand rupee per plate buffet at a five star, you
can fill up your stomach irrespective of the depth of your pockets.
India
Gate and the patriotism it fills in our hearts
There is hardly a Bollywood movie ever made in Delhi which
doesn’t show our stoic India Gate, standing tall and stoic reminding us of the
several soldiers who have sacrificed their lives to ensure our safety. Ask
someone new to the city on what they would like to do in Delhi and a visit to
the India Gate at night like in Rang De Basanti is a definite item in their
checklist. And such is our love for the monument that whenever we are
overwhelmed with emotions of discontent or rage, or outcry over a tragedy, we
run to the monument with candles of hope and determination in our hands.
(but the venue is quickly shifted to Jantar Mantar, security
issues they say.)
Political
class
Delhi being the capital is the hub of political gimmicks as
well, with 4-5 netas in every mohallahs moving about with loudspeakers in
their hands but not much ideas in their brains, being unapologetically
politically incorrect, trying to woo voters with their jhaadoos, kamals, hands,
and all sorts of voodoo.
From
Humayun’s Tomb to Cannaught Place: Everything reminding us of our glory
Delhi has some spectacular monuments, which attracts
hundreds of tourists from all over the globe. These splendid pieces of
architecture remind us of a glorious past, even though they are now covered in
the writings of fools who deem it fit to carry a blade around with them in
order to mark their transient love at least somewhere where it would remain
forever. More than reminding us of our great rulers, these monuments reek of
urine and alcohol. But regardless, one can’t help but marvel at these magnum
opus structures and often wonder how idle must the craftsmen be, to carve
everything and everywhere. Or maybe, it must be the lack of internet and
television which spared them so much free time!
Dilli-dilwaalon
ki!
The last factor, and truly the most important, that makes me
love the city so much is how it opens its arms for thousands of people from all
over the country. No matter whether our own students get admissions here or
not, or whether there are enough employment opportunities or not, the city
makes you feel at home, and embraces you, as it did to my father fifteen years
ago.
These tit bits of goodness make me love this city so very
much.
Perfectly delhi.
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