A Defence!

There are times when you ignore things people say about you or your identity. And there are times when you defend.

As a Delhiite, I have, on most occasions ignored the things people have said about me - some juvenile, some seriously condescending - simply because more often than not it is pointless to argue stereotype. 

I reached home a while back, opened my laptop because I had been out for meetings since lunch, and obviously, happened to login to Facebook too. Noticed a friend's comment on a link posted by one of her friends: City of Sperms. Delhi, of course. I clicked on it out of curiosity, only to get infuriated by the things it mentions. Very articulately derogatory. For me. And for my people. There are some aspects of it which I cannot defend and will not attempt to either, but its perspective stinks. And in my free space I am going to elucidate on an insider's story. 

Without getting into my little but enough-to-form-opinions experience of Bombay or the things about the city that have an equal number of people detesting it too, I will come straight to the point. 

Historically, most major cities across the world have developed around water bodies. New York, London, Moscow, Shanghai, Singapore, etc. At home, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, and also Delhi. Port cities for the easy transportation in the olden days, and cities around rivers for easy availability of drinking water. I thought this was common knowledge. However, the greatness of these cities is not because of their advantageous geographical location, but because of their people*. I must not forget though that the article in question mentions that the people of Delhi are a questionable, pretentious lot. I guess I should focus on the people then. 

Delhi, 1947. Monuments left by the Mughals, roads & a few buildings left by the British, and the centre for most of the greats who helped bring in 15th August. Barring the last point, Delhi wasn't too different from some other cities of India. Or maybe it was. There were Indians who didn't know they had become Pakistanis, there were the homeless 'rich', the 'travellers' who did not know of their destination, and there were the scared. 

The scared who managed to hold on are today's Old Delhi with generations-old businesses. The culturally rich generations. The rest of Delhi of '47 began with opportunities in the form of a government. The political will attracted people from disturbed areas to Delhi. The refugees were given homes. Those homes are today's bungalows**. The existent trade channels helped bring up industry as much as they could. 

Khalistan pushed people to Delhi, Kashmiri Pandits on hitlists found recluse in Delhi, the Green Revolution gave neighbouring farmers a market in Delhi, liberalisation gave UP and Bihar an opportunity for much higher daily wages, privatisation and offshoring brought the rest of India to Delhi, Bihar's hard work got appreciated in diplomacy, and of course, the government and politics remained in Delhi. Tch, trade channels. Not exclusive in India. Built. And still exist. Naturally. Organically. Not undeserved. 

Alleged Intellectual Pursuits

The common man in Delhi talks about the weather. It is always too hot, too cold or too humid. It rains too much when not expected. It rains too little when expected. The common man also talks about governance and policy. Heard of that feature of journalism where proximity makes news more interesting? Hmm. The debates on policy take place on the porch that Delhi's homes boast of. And in the college canteens that give students the freedom to discuss what they like, and choose a future that does not result in making hoards of money every month. Where students can enjoy the lectures on Marxist theories and have the option of knowing more about it in a masters or a doctorate course. JNU is a cult. Contemporary culture deceives a visitor of JNU's mind. JNU is not about a meaningless existence or a hip MNC future, but of keeping a school of thought alive which capitalism obviously would not allow to exist. JNU also possibly gives entertainment products like _Capitalism_.
A society is made of layers. Layers of various colours and textures. These layers lend the society a character, a meaning. These layers help in evolution and growth. Layers exist for a reason. Just like vegetarians and carnivores. So, onions being at the heart of all north-Indian dishes are playing an important role. Read about the price issue?

One can always debate the objective and role of media in a democratic state, but The Times of India being quoted as a game-changer in media is a big misrepresentation in my mind. A game-changer in the business of media, yes. Journalism, NO. 

Going back to the layers that Delhi is made of - the city lets you decide whether you want to make money or not. It gives you the opportunity to go to Gurgaon and earn a BMW or make a living out of painting and dancing. It does not throw you off a railway platform for not running the race to earn more money. Or call it a commercially viable existence!

Delhi, like any other part of the world has stood the test of time. It does not become endearing because a loser decides that his city has some related flaws. It does not become hateful because it happens to be home to corrupt politicians. Delhi is beyond labels. It is a lot more than the stereotype.

*Which is why there are numerous cities across the world which are great even in the most challenging geographical terrains. People make a city, not its terrain or climate. 

**Rest of the bungalows belong to rich industrialists and Bollywood stars. Perhaps made for their extended family and extended servants. Perhaps the same in number as those in Bombay. 

P.S. - Didn't Bombay inherit fish? Does it not make millions off it every day? Undeserved? I don't think so. It is distressing to imagine that people like a Manu Joseph talk on behalf of an entire city. A city that minds its own business. Of its contempt for another city of the same country?!
P.P.S. - When did 'sperm' become a dirty word? The art of making normal words sound gross. Appreciation-worthy!

And talking of a crass Jat and the 'thousands like him' is like talking about India and comparing population-based indices with a country like, what, Iceland! Of course there are thousands like him from neighbouring states in a city of over one crore people. About the Jat behaviour, go do some reading!

And I rest my case.

WHY?

I am in awe of the human mind and the way the world functions. It is beyond comprehension at times and I wonder if I ever will be equipped to at least understand it if not do anything to contribute positively towards it. And I wonder how so many things seem simplistic to the mind. Is it just me or that's how it is with everybody? What is it that is so complex? Why is the rat race given so much importance? I know I am one of those who do give it importance but today I cannot address a WHY. Why does the world system function the way it does? What difference does it make if it is Keynes who is being followed or Patnaiks of the world who are talking about a different world? There will always be questions that remain unanswered and that is what the job of a question is but there must be solutions too, right?
And if it is affecting not just people whom we feel disconnected from but also our peers, then who really is gaining? But there is an argument that can be put forth for our micro society where people have a degree of freedom and understanding of things - at least we can think and decide for ourselves. So maybe it is only the less privileged who need a system that works for them. But at the same time, how many of us really have the capability to think for ourselves and decide what is right or wrong? Sure it is all relative but do we not need to understand ourselves before questioning the existence of anything else in the world? Or for that matter even taking for granted things that are easily available to us?

If we are all suffering then maybe it is time for social change. But what will the current world give way to? Something more brutal? Need not be, but could be. Would officially be the kalyug and end of the world then, is it?

Waiting for a day when there are more thoughts that answer all these questions. If you can enlighten, please do.

Will Somebody Grow Up, PLEASE?

So my favourite RJ Nitin is now India's Jade Goody. The man made an outrageously politically incorrect statement on air - a clear example of how racism is deeply rooted in even the smallest form of humour all across. It was certainly not said with the intention of insulting anybody, but that happened nonetheless. But violence? It seems like that is the only answer we have got left. Whatever the situation may be. So the people in Bihar have started beating up and killing people they suspect of robbery. Maybe Sikhs should also come to the streets for every joke ever made about them. Why don't all blondes across the world do the same?
What is with the world and the word 'tolerance'?! I am not saying that we must tolerate things that need protest, but is burning up buses a way to do it? And I am very curious about how many of the people on the streets doing all this really care about the reasons. Even when a political party calls for a rally in Delhi, more than half the truckloads of people they get from villages do not know why they are here. They just know that they are being paid. And sitting here inside my comfortable home, yes, I am daring to say that most people in these mobs are not there for the reasons flashed on news channels.

So the man apologises for being politically incorrect. The 'victim' acts as the more sensible man and says that it is not an issue only to calm things down. Thank you.

But there is another politically incorrect thing that recently happened and it has not stopped making me sick. More so now that this issue came up. Karunanidhi's speech about Lord Ram. What was that? Take this as my Hindu sentiments, or know that I do not give a damn about whether Ram was in the Ramayana or Mahabharata, but I do not understand why nothing dramatic came to the streets after his speech. Are you telling me that the Sangha Parivaar does not have any more political power left AT ALL? Don't get me wrong, I am not saying that there should have been more riots. No. But why do the remarks of BJP leaders on this issue get written off as just another piece of crap from the Hindutva school. Because Karunanidhi is part of the ruling government today? Or no news channels are being influenced by the BJP today? He talks of "scientific, rational and progressive ideals" and development in the south! Ever heard of something known as a tsunami?

My concern, as all educated, sensible people's is that why do issues get blown out of proportion, why politicians can get away with whatever they want, why real issues are not even on their agendas, why all political parties in our country today are in reality on the same side, and for god's sake why can't people be more tolerant? We take pride in being multi-cultural. I am sorry that I do not get to see much of happy multi-culturalism around me. I hear of more of it in places like UK and the US. People here at least belong to the same country. Why do rascals with so-called power have no shame?