Thread by @Raja_Sw

Did you spend your early years (say upto the age of 16) in a city, town, or rural/semi-rural setting in India?

How much has that influenced you?

Grew up in a semi-rural setting in Odisha, close to JH.
Delhi was a massive culture shock.
Never quite fitted in, I think, though I loved the city.
Was an introvert, lacking in confidence.
Delhi made it even worse.
Supremely confident, aggressive ppl around me.
And here I was.:-)

Ppl would ask me "kahaan se hai tu?", and laugh at me, when I'd say "Orissa".
At that time, Orissa & Bihar were held in contempt by many Delhiites.
And the MC/BC in practically every sentence!
I'd never used this before - and, to date, haven't.
Not once.
But for Delhiites...

Then there was the time I offered a woman a seat in a DTC bus from Regal to Najafgarh (Bus No. 802, I think).
Offering your seat wasn't uncommon in Eastern India.
Men pounced on me - "oye, line maar raha hai kya?"
I was shocked.
Was new to Delhi, got off at the next stop. :-)

Delhi was quite a learning experience.
I love the city, despite not being entirely comfortable with its aggressiveness.
But that's more my problem, than Delhi's. :-)
But I do love the city a lot, and would love to visit again some time.
Maybe when Central Vista gets built... :-)

My next metro city was Hyderabad.
I absolutely loved Hyd.
Stayed only for 6 months, but I loved it.
I don't know how it is now, but it had a lot of charm in the 1980s.
I esp loved the Salar Jung musem - and was shocked to read, years later, that many artefacts had been stolen.

People in Hyd were SO much more polite than in Delhi, it came as a very pleasant surprise. :-)
The auto-drivers, many Muslim, wonderful to chat with.
And I loved the dakhni language....
kyaa baataan karte aap? :-)
I'd love to visit Hyd again sometime. :-)

From Hyd, I moved to Bombay.
And that was another huge learning experience.
Bombay was SO different from Delhi.
For starters, it felt like 24hrs weren't enough in Bombay.
You were always running, either to catch a local or bus, or to avoid being far behind in a long queue. :-)

I remember my first few days in Bombay.
Had to go to Nariman Point.
A family friend who helped me get temporary accommodation in King's Circle said "You better not try local train rightaway, better take a bus".
So I took no. 5 from Laxmibai Chowk.
Thrilled to go by double-decker!

There was just one problem.
In that morning traffic, took almost 2 hrs, weaving its way through Kalbadevi/Mohammad Ali Road et al.
But as a Bombay newbie, I was enjoying the sights and sounds of Bombay - from that double-decker height.
Feeling literally on top of the world.:-)

The shock came that evening.
Had to take return bus from Mantralaya.
At about 6.00 pm, asked someone "5 no. bus?"
He pointed to a queue.
I'd never seen so many people in a queue in my life.
Dil baith gaya.
Cursed myself for ambling to the bus stop.
Ye Bombay hai.
No one ambles.

It was a serpentine queue w/ so many bends, it'd make Lombard Street proud.
Resigned to my fact, I bought a copy of ADC or Mid-Day, I don't remember.
Ab to ghanta bhar yahin beetega, I thought.
I told myself, surely I can't do this everyday!
After about 5 min, I looked behind.

I couldn't believe what I saw.
In less than 5 min, there seemed to be a few 100s more lined up behind me.
Mostly reading ADC or Mid-Day.
I suddenly felt good about myself.
Main akela suffer nahin kar raha hoon (pun unintended).
To BEST's credit, a flurry of 5 nos arrived.
YESSS!

No one broke the queue.
Not one person.
I don't think I saw anything close to this in Delhi, where there'd be a scramble to get in.
Was mighty impressed.
Ye aur baat hai ki it was another 2-hr return journey.
Exhausted, by the time I got back.
But still impressed. :-)

I always felt super-safe in Bombay.
A feeling I didn't have in Delhi.
Yes, and I'm saying this as a man.
You can imagine how it must be for a woman.
I'd take the local at 1.30 am - feel perfectly safe.
The hustle-bustle of Bombay adds to your feeling of security.

Ppl say, Bombay folks are so busy they don't have time for you.
I never felt that.
I'd say, I found myself more welcome in Bombay than in Delhi.
Yes, ppl were businesslike - and that's ok.
But no one sneered at me for being from Orissa.
And my work colleagues were nice to me.

I was a PG, sharing a flat with 2 other guys.
One day, I'd locked myself out - and the other guys wouldn't return before 11.00 pm.
I didn't know what to do.
One of my colleagues said "come home w/ me, get back home later, when your flatmates get back".
Spontaneously.

So we went from Cuffe Parade to Fort, took bus no 7 ltd (or was it 8?) to Chembur.
She introduced me to her family, I had dinner with them, and returned home late that evening.
Just so wonderful of her.
She didn't have to do that.
I've fond memories of Bombay cos of such things.

Khair, I think I'll stop now. :-)
Thoda nostalgia ka mood ban gaya.
Hope I didn't bore you too much. :-)
These are all only my personal experiences, so one shouldn't draw any conclusions from them.
I'd like to visit Delhi, Hyd & Mumbai sometime.
For old times' sake. :-)
And Cal.

Oh, I forgot one Bombay story that I must narrate.
Quintessential Bombay.
2004.
After staying o/night at my niece's place (Kanjur Marg), was to catch a 9.30 am flight to Bangalore.
That morning, suddenly realised I couldn't find suitcase keys. And everything was in the suitcase.

Panic.
No clue what to do.
Niece got an idea "While walking from Kanjur Marg station, on the wall I remember seeing a number. I think it's a guy who fixes locks. Maybe we can try that?"
She wasn't even sure, and time was ticking, but it's not like we had too many options.
So..

So we rushed to Kanjur Marg station.
Sure enough there was a number on the wall.
Called it, guy said "yes, I fix locks, but I come there only at 10.00."
I don't recall where he said he lived, but it was pretty far off.
My niece spoke to him, explained. Said "emergency hai."

He said "Give me half an hour".
It was touch-and-go, but we had no choice.
Within half an hour, he was there.
No words spoken, took the suitcase, opened it in a few minutes.
I was SO relieved.
That's Bombay for me.
The city runs cos ppl have a very good work ethic.