Dilwaloon ki Dilli: Celebrating 100 years of Delhi

11 December, 2011

It is an ideal place to be the capital of the country that is as diverse as the city itself. Celebrating its plurality, a Delhite has this to say.

THE CITY of life and laughter (bah-ha-ha not he he, mind you) has hit a century today. Saadi Dilli is a cocktail city in itself. We have mohallas with Auntiji ki Gappein ; the snobbery of ‘that’ hot chick ; the zayka of chaat streets; the chic colour of campuses; and the artistic minds brewing master literary pieces over a coffee at CCD’s and Baristas.

They say once a Delhite always a Delhite (holds true for me folks!). Delhi is not a glam city like Mumbai or Bombay. Neither is it the cultural capital like Kolkata; nor the hi-tech city like Bangalore. The city takes tea leaves from Assam; sugar from Maharashtra; milk from Gujarat; adds a few spices; allows it to simmer with water and Wollah! Dilli ki mushoor Nukkad chai is ready! This fusion city has space literally for everyone and everything (and the Delhi wallas don’t really mind it). In fact, this amalgam is what Delhi is all about.

There are false tags for all the communities and states; while a kanjiwaram saree clad female with thick -oiled braid and white tilak on the forehead describes0 a stereotypical South Indian; the self obsessed loud one who always flaunts has to be a Punjabi. There are numerous clichés saying about Delhi wallah and waalis too. Google it and you’ll know about the contradicting type castes made by people based on their perceptions. I have lived in this city for 20 years now and I still don’t know who “The” delli wallah or waali is.(Either I’m too dumb or the city a too finely blended mélange ).

Delhi has the vivacious campus students always engrossed in something or the other; the unostentatious women tattling-chattering across their balconies; the Rames –Puspa romance; the exquisite creative people in art galleries or theatres; fashionistas bumming around like fleas in markets or emporiums. Everybody is welcome aboard.

The city is full of stories. The punjabiyat of the city, Dilli ki shaadian, Dilli ki ladkiyan, Dilli ki thand, Dilli ki ladaiyaan and Dilli ka khana have all carved blockbuster Bollywood flicks (Band Baja Baraat, Delhi 06, Delhi Belly et al.)

Despite open man-holes and their stink; the hotness of June and shivers of December; eve teasers; traffic jams; and educated illiterates :) Delhi remains the city of cities. The heart or the dill of this diverse country. That is why this is the most ‘logical’ state to be the capital.

I’ am a proud to be a born Delhite and I am not leaving the city even for the shortest period of time (Vacations excluded of course!). 20 years and still counting...