Cubicle Diaries: I

Taking a bit of liberty here, I think people, at least in our country, can be neatly classified into two groups- one who likes to settle down in his own land and the other, likes not to settle down at all. Now, I won't be too simplistic: in the land of million mutinies, such classification doesn't work. True that. The first class (the innuendo will become clear later) will salivate at an opportunity to settle in the Land of the Opportunity or the land of the Queen. Perhaps because it has been drummed into our system that those two countries represent paradise, albeit with certain imperfections, and settling there is one of the highest form of aspiration- so you don't say no to that!

The second class, a certain minority, cannot embrace their land as their perpetual homes. I won't dare put it down to certain factors, though I'll explore. I can, as I am one of such kind. Perhaps because we have a limited span of affection for everything- we outgrow our love for our places. That's pretty much my case. When my friends rave about their cities (the bangalees about their "great" Kolkata, the Delhiites about their "awesome" Delhi or the Mumbaikars about their "rocking" city), I get a sense of amazement and despair, perhaps in equal portions. Amazement, because I never felt such for my Kolkata. I liked the place, especially the part I was born and brought up (I could never reconcile with North Kolkata and its congestion and antiquated buildings), and still like it. I like the rain, the lake, the air and the feel. But I am not in love with it- I do not rave about it, nor I would only spent the rest of my life there. In Kolkata, I used to think it was a bangalee problem- the way eyes get misty when talking Kolkata- attribution to the community-deprecation that is there in most young people. In Delhi, I understood that it is perhaps an universal problem. Mumbai and Hyderabad confirmed the hypothesis- such people are there everywhere and they are the majority.

Two things- I have begun to state that as a problem when it may be not- I mean its a conscious decision by an adult where he/she wishes to settle. But then I am not called opinionated for nothing, and as always, I will only serve the cause of my opinion. Secondly, I kept on mentioning big cities. What about people from towns and villages? Well, for one thing, the power of nostalgia on these people is probably as strong. But for one thing, the people I have met have already shifted and hence I guess, either their economic aspirations overpowered their sentiments, or they are my type.

Plus, they don't have too many things to rave about.

So why Despair? Well, its all very well to rave about your place. But to call it the best there is, must be a stupid exercise at ignorance. The way all big-city dwellers (here I refer to Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata) condescendingly look at other cities is irritating. A Delhiite thinks Mumbai is too congested, Kolkata not even comparable; Mumbai walas laugh at Delhi's security; Kolkatans sneer at both groups and sigh at the memory of old times. Culture precedes everything, they say.

And they are puzzled by the decision of us-types to not settle anywhere, especially in the city that made you. Harmless monikers like "nomads" are acceptable. The air of condescension about our supposed "unpredictability", "immaturity" and "lack of gratitude to near and dear ones" is not so acceptable.

Of course, these are but minor irritations. We give a flying fuck to what they think. But the judgemental approach is perhaps best avoided.

Now we have a movement emerging in our country that people of other states need not settle in other states. The "immigrants" ought not to exploit "their" sources and opportunities.
It may be bold to say this (and perhaps a little foolish) but I do think such turf-mentality gives rise to these ideas. It may be the worst manifestation, but such opinions surely do not arise out of us "travellers".