The Half Truth

 It's Home 

The heat is intolerable. Men are lecherous. Traffic gets on your nerves. Everyone from auto – rickshaw driver to top level bureaucrats is corrupt. Delhi might be the worst city to live in. But then, we Dilliwaala’s swear by it and absolutely love it! Here are the reasons why:

1)      India’s dil: Raj Thakre might have a problem with all the Biharis and UP bhaiyya’s who flock his Maharashtra but Delhi can accommodate everyone. Delhi celebrates a unique cultural festival everyday! You get south Indian chana bhatura and Punjabi style Dosa here. You get the best Banarasi sari and the yummy Manipuri dim – sums. Everyone is welcome. I have had a conversation in Punjabi with a South Indian police – officer. I have gotten tips about the best Rajasthani restaurants from my East Indian friends. Delhi is home to about 14 million people and not 4 million of them can claim Delhi to be their home town. But it’s home.

2)      Chief chef: Mumbai is famous for vada – pao. Chennai for dosa. Kolkata for fish and Punjab for chana – bhatura. Big deal! Delhi might not have a regional specialty but then it is master of all! Delhi can pamper your palate with every imaginable variety. You crave it? Just name it! And it suits everyone’s pocket. You can spend 400 bucks on an iced tea or have a complete meal in just Rs. 20. Roadside pani – puri, small cosy Italian joints, stuffy Punjabi dhabas, simple south Indian restaurants, flashy north – Indian family restaurants, dingy Chinese outlets. You get everything you want and the way you want it!

3)      Rail – gaadi: Mumbai’s local and Kolkata’s trams can’t even dream to compare with our Metro! It’s our pride. It’s sophisticated and cool and fast and chick and.. it’s THE Delhi Metro! It is a gift to Delhi-ites. A new way to travel which has not only reduced distances, but also taught some manners to us all. It is Delhi’s jugular! It’s just incomparable.

4)      Dilli – Darshan: India gate – Red Fort – Humayun’s tomb – Zoo – Purana Quila – Qutub Minar - Lotus temple - Jantar Mantar - Akshatdham and a hundred or so places to visit! Even if you choose one place per weekend, it would take years to see all of Delhi’s marvels! And ofcourse, the nights are made fun with all the clubs and discos and pubs. Delhi is a quieter city than many others. Long drives at late hours can be fun with friends and romantic with that someone – special. Boating at the lake in India Gate can be as much fun as shopping in a mall. Playing gully – cricket can be as entertaining as watching a live match in Feroz Shah Kotla. Multiplexes and malls might have gained popularity, but the street market at Sarojini and Janpath is still the best for some shopping with free doses of masti. Delhi offers something to everyone.

5)       Dilwaale Dilliwaale: Most of all, it is the people that make Delhi special. You will find every variety here. Cute guys, pretty girls, hot dudes, traditional aunties, grumpy uncles, modern women with elbow length chooda and bright red sindoor, vegetable vendors with better mobiles than yours. They just never cease to surprise you. We Delhi – ites are a curious lot. We are always interested in other people’s business. If you ask us the way to a place, we’ll give you unimaginable details ranging from the placement of the public urinal to the description of the tree from which you might have to take that turn. We love a free show and hence every little accident of the road guarantees a huge crowd! We are appreciative. If a young girl is out for a walk in a mini skirt and figure hugging t-shirt, we are sure to sing a cheap song when she passes or whistle or pass a lewd comment or if nothing at all, we just like to stare to show our appreciation. We are very kind. We would come running to your help even if you don’t call us because it just might turn out to be an entertaining scene! We are warm people!

There are a hundred things which make Delhi better than any city in the whole world. It’s perfect for everyone. It might not be the cleanest or greenest or politest or richest or something else-sest.

But. It’s home.