Rajasthan to Tamil Nadu; Diverse India
From deserts to waters, it has been almost a month that I am here in Chennai. On the one hand, my life is still not able to grasp the completely different model of culture, language and food and on the other hand, I feel happy to be experiencing all of this with an embracing heart.
I’m here for an internship and study. But either way, I had the choice of choosing a city. I chose Chennai, it was not forced on me.
My choice. These two words change the whole narrative of a story. An account of my history and my futuristic approach. Although I have many challenges to contend with, but like I said it is my decision and I will try my best to accommodate.
The weather is nice here. Monsoons have not arrived yet. My friends from Jaipur are sending me pictures enjoying heavy rain but we in Chennai will get heavy rains in November and December as I am told from the local people.
I face numerous questions about why I chose to shift to south India. But there is no single answer to this question. Politically, as I am a citizen of the country I am claiming my right to move freely in any part of the nation. I am claiming my right to education. Personally, I like south Indian culture and I wanted to experience it.
In my town, most of my friends and teachers were South Indians and I shared a good bond with all of them.
How am I going to survive is the basic intention behind those questions..
I want to make friends (made some already and they are really good). I want to try all the food. I want to visit the beach again. Oh my god, that huge water body! I want to breathe in happiness. I want to admire palm trees. Oh, wait. But I do not want to pay ₹70 for a kilometer to auto. Auto fares are quite high here. I do not want to swim in the Chennai floods at all.
Anyway, I am just waiting for better days to come and this universe to be kinder to me.
Although I am receiving love from people, I feel little left out as I do not understand their language. Tamil is a very old language. The way they saved Tamil culture is commendable, but aaiiyooo I do not understand anything what my auto anna or pg aunty say.
Food habits are different too, I am a vegetarian but I see most of the people around me love chicken biryani. So, when it is the biryani day in pg, it feels like a festival to them and a fast day for me but I feel happy when I see them happy.
I am still figuring out some chapati diet for me as I never ate so much of rice in north India.
But one thing is for sure. I am going to love it. I am loving all the hard and happy days. I am loving each day full of new and diverse experiences. There are also some people who behave differently with me, but I hope I be able to change their perspective and attitude, with all my love and understanding.
Wish me luck for coming days and Till then… Vanakam!