Keeping up with the trends, My blog is going to be about the 'Madrasan' who has reached infamous notoriety. If you don't know what I am talking about, you are my friend, behind the times. Get up to speed.
Before I too create a storm for supporting her, I must add that I do not agree with a lot of things mentioned on her blog. But rather my blog is about the storm the blog is creating and indeed if its necessary. Also I must mention I love Delhi, I have been in this city for almost 7 years now, and will not consider living anywhere but here. But here is the problem, was she so off-based in what she claimed in the blog?
Personally, I think the fact that people are SOOO mad, calling her names, questioning her upbringing (I absolutely despise that), attacking her from morning till dawn tells me she hit a nerve somewhere. Its ok to dish it out but not take it yourself? I don't particularly like the habit some N.Indians have of thinking they are superior. And I don't get their sense of humour. Maybe that is why I found Shahana's funny where many didnt, I get that sense of humour. Coming back to Delhites and the blog, having lived in the city for a long time, and being a bengali, let me tell you about a few experienced I have had.
Firstly, I have been saved the humiliation of being laughed at my Hindi for the fact that I have lived in north India for a long time now, and my Hindi is pretty decent. but still every time I make a 'ling' mistake (Bengali's don't have separate sexes for inanimate objects, as it should be, by the way) and don't roll my R's I have been met with giggles and requests of repeating what I said, making me go red in the face, and preferring to talk in English instead. And of course a constant inquiry of 'do I eat fish?', and 'why do I eat so much non-veg?'. Funny stuff those are, now to the not-so-funny stuff. My second year of college I got sick and failed to meet the attendance criteria needed to sit for the exam. I was called to the vice-principal's office and told that she was sick of all 'north- easterns', who aren't interested in studying and party and keep going to home-towns. She wanted to teach a lesson and rejected my medicals claiming they were fake.
I have heard conversations here and there by Delhiites 'How they hate Bangalis'. Talks on how 'Bengalis' are know-it-alls' and how most Bengalis they have seen are 'dark' and how am I so fair are more common than I would like to admit. 'Don't the guys do a middle parting? (snigger, snigger)' is another popular one. not to mention the blatant stereotyping of the North Easterns, those from the South and the 'Biharis'.
Im not saying the whole of Delhi is like this.Im just stating that stereotypes exist. And many things mentioned on her blog hit the spot..quite exactly. Are we sure we have never insulted anyone for being 'different'? We have never made fun of anyone in any way, shape, or form? Was her crime that she wrote a blog about it rather than laughing with her friends about it?
Over-reacting and getting over enthusiastic about something is a problem we as a nation must really get over. A blog was written by a girl, you agree, or disagree, that is absolutely OK, going on and on about how she is a 1000 things( all very 'stereotypical' themselves), when you don't even know her, is ridiculous. I will go as much as saying it is cyber-bullying. We all are constantly badgering her, her personally, not an imaginary person she has attacked, all of us are attacking "HER". Its not right. Grow up, get lives. leave her alone.
Thank you.
Before I too create a storm for supporting her, I must add that I do not agree with a lot of things mentioned on her blog. But rather my blog is about the storm the blog is creating and indeed if its necessary. Also I must mention I love Delhi, I have been in this city for almost 7 years now, and will not consider living anywhere but here. But here is the problem, was she so off-based in what she claimed in the blog?
Personally, I think the fact that people are SOOO mad, calling her names, questioning her upbringing (I absolutely despise that), attacking her from morning till dawn tells me she hit a nerve somewhere. Its ok to dish it out but not take it yourself? I don't particularly like the habit some N.Indians have of thinking they are superior. And I don't get their sense of humour. Maybe that is why I found Shahana's funny where many didnt, I get that sense of humour. Coming back to Delhites and the blog, having lived in the city for a long time, and being a bengali, let me tell you about a few experienced I have had.
Firstly, I have been saved the humiliation of being laughed at my Hindi for the fact that I have lived in north India for a long time now, and my Hindi is pretty decent. but still every time I make a 'ling' mistake (Bengali's don't have separate sexes for inanimate objects, as it should be, by the way) and don't roll my R's I have been met with giggles and requests of repeating what I said, making me go red in the face, and preferring to talk in English instead. And of course a constant inquiry of 'do I eat fish?', and 'why do I eat so much non-veg?'. Funny stuff those are, now to the not-so-funny stuff. My second year of college I got sick and failed to meet the attendance criteria needed to sit for the exam. I was called to the vice-principal's office and told that she was sick of all 'north- easterns', who aren't interested in studying and party and keep going to home-towns. She wanted to teach a lesson and rejected my medicals claiming they were fake.
I have heard conversations here and there by Delhiites 'How they hate Bangalis'. Talks on how 'Bengalis' are know-it-alls' and how most Bengalis they have seen are 'dark' and how am I so fair are more common than I would like to admit. 'Don't the guys do a middle parting? (snigger, snigger)' is another popular one. not to mention the blatant stereotyping of the North Easterns, those from the South and the 'Biharis'.
Im not saying the whole of Delhi is like this.Im just stating that stereotypes exist. And many things mentioned on her blog hit the spot..quite exactly. Are we sure we have never insulted anyone for being 'different'? We have never made fun of anyone in any way, shape, or form? Was her crime that she wrote a blog about it rather than laughing with her friends about it?
Over-reacting and getting over enthusiastic about something is a problem we as a nation must really get over. A blog was written by a girl, you agree, or disagree, that is absolutely OK, going on and on about how she is a 1000 things( all very 'stereotypical' themselves), when you don't even know her, is ridiculous. I will go as much as saying it is cyber-bullying. We all are constantly badgering her, her personally, not an imaginary person she has attacked, all of us are attacking "HER". Its not right. Grow up, get lives. leave her alone.
Thank you.
can you give a link of her blog?
ReplyDeletehttp://raagshahana.blogspot.com/2011/09/open-letter-to-delhi-boy.html
ReplyDeleteI did read her blog, and now i read yours.
ReplyDeleteI didn't abuse or verbally thrash her like others, not to say that i didn't wanted to, but the effect comes out better when you do it face to face, if you write the other person actually enjoys it instead of feeling bad. But the thing is, stereotyping is evil no doubt and she herself did it. Taking out on an entire community/state, isn't right either. For if a northie goes to bengal he too will be treated like a bengali in north.
What she did was touch areas close to people's individuality, making fun of people who migrated from pakistan, their culture, language customs, festivals etc doesn't make her different from those she despises.
You like living in delhi coz despite of all the bull crap you said you went through, still you were able to find happiness in its culture and diversity it offers and coz you found people worth living with here, no one is forcing her or you to stay here.
What is blasphemous is making fun of the very language to whose tunes you dance at every discotheque, the very food you enjoy.
Delhi Rocks !
I have read her post and feel that if a person is criticizing someone then a person should expect the same. The whole idea about writing a blog is to have dialogue, arguments. What do you expect, if you write something bad about the community or people, will they appreciate it?
ReplyDeleteAlso, it is more based on the individual's personality. That fat heroine from South cannot adjust with northies doesn't mean that these punjabi guys or any other guy from north are that bad. You have come from North East, you have adjusted here well, you have find Delhi as best to live. So tell me where is the problem. The problem is with that lady who does not have manners. She is a negative personality and one should avoid such company.
And I cannot believe a person supporting her who likes the city.
I am not a North Eastern. I am from Kolkata.
ReplyDelete