Tuesday 17 March 2009

Yeh Delhi Hai Mere Yaaaar!















( Title translation: This is Delhi my friend!)

There are just some places that inspire you. They inspire you to think, they inspire you to observe, to draw, to talk, to learn, to write. My city, Delhi, is one such place. The car ride from the airport to home was enough to make me want to say something. It was enough for the sleeping writer in some corner of my being to wake up, and have the desire, or rather, need to write. There's just so much to say!

A mere example, the order in the chaos of Delhi intrigues me. There are people E-v-e-r-y-where, but goodness, every person has character. Every movement has meaning, every disorder has reason, every situation has a solution. Every visual image has a story to tell. The posters on the street lamps show a picture of some lady religious guru with a big bindi. It announces her birthday "pooja" (prayer). Somewhere else, a man serves water from a big container covered in red cloth, with some lemons and leaves on top. I turn my head once again, and a person selling magazines is running between the cars, fearless and persistent. I look around the other cars on the street, and among the scores that surround me, I see activity in almost all.

People's actions interest me. Living outside India for so long, you tend to forget these little nuances, that really catch your eye when you see them again. Like, while passing in front of a temple, my little 12 year old cousin instinctively folded her hands and closed her eyes, something which I recall doing as well but have lost the habit long back. Then, the way strangers just interact with each other. Every second person, who's a man and slightly looks older becomes "bhaiya" (brother), or if he looks a lot older becomes "uncle". The immediate familiarity makes an interaction so much easier and pleasurable, that despite the formality and purely functional reason for the interaction, there is some marginal level of bonding. It's just a feel-good pheonomenon.

There's conversation everywhere. There's movement everywhere. There's sound everywhere. The laughter of the group of teenagers at the mall sharing a pizza, has the same sound has that of the men on the street corner playing a game of cards and sharing their stories of the day. The couple in the restaurant have the same look when they look at each other as that of the one sitting outside on the pavement. Money is a mere token, as it should be. Happiness is the real wealth. In the general sense of the word, India is a poor nation, and it shows, everywhere. But when measured in Happiness, I can proudly rate India very high!

As the colours of Delhi seep through my inexperienced optical nerves, the exhilirations soars through me, and I live through the madness of the city. As my eyes see more, my hands feel more, my ears hear more, I will write more. For now, I'm just going to go back to my blissful admiration of my city.

Yeh Delhi hai mere yaar,
Bas ishq mohabbat pyaaaaar...

5 comments:

Rambunctious WhipperSnapper said...

You in Delhi?

How come?

When?

Where?

With whom?

Neha said...

Lol..easy there!

Question 1: Yes, i'm in Delhi
Question 2: Cuz its my city and I LOVE it
Question 3: Since 2 weeks
Question 4: All over really
Question 5: Family. Won't bore u with details :p

I looooooooooooove this place!

oakleyses said...

gucci handbags, michael kors outlet online, chanel handbags, longchamp handbags, michael kors outlet online, cheap oakley sunglasses, tiffany jewelry, jordan shoes, coach purses, michael kors outlet online, louis vuitton handbags, ray ban sunglasses, kate spade outlet online, louis vuitton outlet online, oakley vault, polo ralph lauren outlet, christian louboutin shoes, true religion outlet, louis vuitton, polo ralph lauren, nike free, prada handbags, nike air max, burberry outlet online, coach outlet, longchamp outlet, michael kors outlet store, true religion, coach outlet store online, longchamp outlet online, coach outlet, michael kors outlet online, tiffany and co jewelry, oakley sunglasses, prada outlet, kate spade handbags, tory burch outlet, christian louboutin outlet, burberry outlet online, ray ban outlet, christian louboutin, nike air max, red bottom shoes, michael kors outlet, louis vuitton outlet, nike shoes, louis vuitton outlet

Unknown said...

ninest123
tory burch outlet, gucci outlet, prada outlet, ugg boots, louis vuitton, longchamp outlet, chanel handbags, longchamp outlet, louboutin outlet, louis vuitton outlet, louis vuitton, uggs on sale, nike air max, ugg boots, nike free, christian louboutin outlet, nike air max, louis vuitton outlet, tiffany jewelry, replica watches, louboutin, longchamp, nike outlet, prada handbags, replica watches, jordan shoes, louboutin shoes, tiffany and co, louis vuitton

Unknown said...

sac longchamp, air jordan pas cher, louboutin pas cher, true religion jeans, coach outlet, sac guess, michael kors, true religion outlet, nike free, burberry, nike air max, nike air max, ralph lauren uk, nike air max, timberland, coach outlet, nike free run uk, oakley pas cher, air max, michael kors, lacoste pas cher, nike roshe run, tn pas cher, north face, kate spade handbags, nike blazer, kate spade outlet, michael kors, hogan, longchamp pas cher, vanessa bruno, nike roshe, ray ban pas cher, abercrombie and fitch, michael kors, vans pas cher, coach purses, lululemon, hollister pas cher, ray ban uk, replica handbags, new balance pas cher, true religion jeans, mulberry, hollister, north face, air force, hermes, true religion jeans, converse pas cher, ralph lauren pas cher