The Dividing Line

Educated and raised with cosmopolitan outlook, my upbringing taught me to value similarities and positives in the differences of humanity. My memories remind me of friend’s circle that consisted of diversity from different parts of India. I also consider myself fortunate enough to be in a profession that enables me to interact with people from varied caste, religion and languages which represent multi-cultural India. Until about three years ago, I never realized the fact that modern India still carried regional prejudices (specifically talking about the educated lot), which I had just heard of then, but never paid much attention to, possibly because of my broad-minded upbringing.

Wondering why the above introduction that is in no way related to the title? Well, that's just to build a perspective around the mind set that drives the opinion further.

India, a culturally rich and highly diversified nation, leverages on it's diversity for development and growth. We claim our identity as “Indian” from diversity in terms of Caste, Religion, Region, Language and Politics. India is further categorized by its internal geographical division as "North India", "South India", "East India" and "West India", to represent cultural and political diversity.

It is a known fact that there exists differentiation between the Southern and the Northern part of India that involve good amount of racial element in it. According to one of several beliefs about the origin of this difference that dates back to medieval period; India is a land of two races, the lighter skinned (Aryans) and the darker skinned (Dravidians). The Dravidians were the original inhabitants of India whom, the invading Aryans conquered and dominated. From this came the additional idea that much of what we call Hindu culture was in fact Dravidian, and later borrowed by the Aryans who never gave the Dravidians proper credit for. This idea was then used to turn the people of South India against the people of North India.

The ancient belief gives us a perspective of the basis of these racial biases. Given the limited exposure of those generations to the modern world and further a consideration as an evolving civilization, their beliefs are justified to a good extent. However, today we are a more developed generation in terms of education and global exposure, but still these biases persist. Ask a person from Tamilnadu (for example) about the identity of a person from Delhi and you will not be surprised to get an instant response as "North Indian" or a person from Delhi referring to a person in Andhra Pradesh as "South Indian".

Though these ignorance and prejudice appears (or at least hoping) to be fading away with time, they still exist in many, due to regional support or political reasons. Many Indians do not understand the culture or beauty of various states in India. To quote an example, I knew a person from Delhi who shared his wish to go camping in a boat-house. My obvious guess was that his destination of choice would be Kerala, which has places like Kumarakom, a major tourist attraction for its boat-house's. He told me that he may need to plan a trip to Amsterdam. When I mentioned to him about the boat-house in Kerala, he was surprised to learn that they even existed in India.

These variations have brought in more ideas that add to the differences between the two parts of India. Phrases that I have heard of:-
- North Indians are better looking than south Indians.
- South Indians are low on self esteem, the North have superiority complex.
- South Indians have darker complexion.
- North Indians are a less intelligent and a lower educated lot.

These undoubtedly indicate the level of ignorance of the youth of (even) today's generation.

I have often heard Indians talk about racism in western world like America and Britain. Aren't these incidents which happen in-house a clear example of racism? In fact, doesn't this portray a much deeper level of racism in terms of Color and Religion, in a pluralist society as that of ours? How much does it take to represent fellow Indian's as Punjabi, Tamilian or Gujarati as opposed to the provoking generalization as "North Indian" or "South Indian"? A thought for introspection!

The effect of such regional biases is evident through various conflicts and political unrest. Example: - In Mumbai, the driving out of the "Madrasis" in the 1990's and now the "North Indian's" in late 2000.

And now the interesting part, irrespective of these differences, there are two significant areas that bring India together; Cricket and Indians abroad!

Sharing an interesting mail forwarded by a friend last year (in strict confidence that he does not claim copyright for this!!) - Origin of the mail is unknown.

HUM SAB EK HAIN!!!! (We are all one!!!!)
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"Tamils" are always proud to be Tamizhs; pretty courteous (that is what they think, at least!). They speak yenglish but sorry, no indi (Hindi) saar... what da??. The more common Madarasi (chennaisi..., now?) is an ardent fan of kireeket matches.

Their counterparts in Bombay think they live in America but speak Hinglish like ... are you sure ki Sujata aa rahi hai ya I'll go akela!" And they take great pride in making stupid mistakes in Hindi Grammar.

Thamizhs, are verrry lecky to have "simble" neighbours in the "Keralites" who are a komblex race of peoblle (they migrated around 2000 B.C. from the middle east, I guess, and now even the Sheikhs feel wary of them) but they eat a lot of chooclyte and own 99.998765% of chai shops in the world and form 99.89% of nursing community.

Not far begind the kerals is the "Telugu desam", who are totally againesht flaunting their wealthu to the woruldu, though they occasionally come out withu brick red shirtsu and parrot green pantsu with pleetsu (pleat). Worustu,no?! But they (think) are greatu in CICSu, Microsu and COBOLu! Generally sane peoplesu (and so you can always findu them judgingu, probhingu, queschioningu othersu ....)

The Canadians, excuse me, the "Kannadigas" aor (are) the coolest dobun. When it comes to Rajkumar (actor), if a fly sits on his nose, they'll burn the entire city of Bengaloroo to kill the fly! To hell with Silicon Valley! I-ron, firshtu, girlu, Lasht Bussu, roadu, rickeatu, filamu are some of their favorites.

"Maharashtrians" are a conservative, confused, complex lot-kar. -Kar, that is because gavasakar, tendulkar, bahulkar,.. confused that is because sitting in southern part of India they would ask the other person "are you from Maharashtra or from south India..?" and genuinely wonder why the other person takes some time to answer the question. They like the principles of pheejix and their favourite character in the alphabet is Zay (god knows where that came from). Although soft, peace loving people but they fail to choose the right leader to rule them.

And right there next to the Maharashtrians are the "Gujjubhais". They like to keep kes in the benk and their favourite past time is eating snakes (snacks) like paav bhaji, masala papad and pijja at the local snake bar. They gobble down palak sev like their life depends on it and believe in the brotherhood and sisterhood of man and woman (everybody is a bhai or a ben).
If you go further eesht, the land uf Udissa - the land of irron ("r" un-silent) where sombalpuroa and Bhubaneshbara are big towns. The people are bery cordial and if you are Vikram they bill soorly ask your name starts from B or Bhe. They do not sout, sam or soot but occasnally bawsh their phace at the wasbashin. James Bond Mohanty in our colleze had a roll nomber jero, jero, sebhen.

Bengalees are bery bery similor, but or bery proud oph Subas Chondro Boash and Shoatyojit Roy (I used to know a director by name Satyajit Ray who was also pretty good) and eberybody is X da. I used to habe a friend by name Dada Bonder...neber mind. Bot I most conphess, Roshgollas are bery goooood, tho!

Bihari kids are supposed to be the smartest kids in India (if not in the universe!). How we wish they grow up the same way,...but... And Biharees are bery phond of Laloo and Ranchi, isse bhadiya tumre pass koochi hai kaa?! spit spit...

UP-ites and MP-ites are busy going to ischool and istudying metals to make lots of ishteel.

Punjabis are very sweet and aggressive and offer "Rotti Shotti Khayega!" to which I once replied No. He said Tage itu, yaar! By Goda! Surjeeta, what happeneda, oi?! Then of course, everybody's a paappe or a kaakke. That's Pnjab for you.

And Kashmir (called Cashmir by many, may be because of the amount of cash spent to keep it in India)?!? I know Roja (or Roza?) was shot (I mean filmed) somewhere nearby...

But at the end of the day, wherever you are in the world, whether it is in Sunnyvale, CA; Birmingham, UK; UmmAl Quwain, UAE or Serangoon Road, Singapore, ask them who they are and you'll get just one answer --- "INDIANS"

AFTER ALL HUM SAAB EK HAIN!!! (We are all one!!!)