Identity?

Growing up, I was one of the millions of Army kids around the country. And I can safely say that we share one characteristic trait: A skewed sense of identity. I didn’t care if I was from a regular Tam-Brahm household. As far as I am concerned, I’m a nomad, an amalgamation of cultures. The question ‘Where are you from?’ has been the most difficult to answer. Well, I’m from a lot of places!

Each city I’ve lived in, I’ve fallen in love with it. There’s the initial adjustment issue..new people, new school, totally different atmosphere.. But then there become a few regular fixtures in my life. Soon, I can navigate the roads. The neighbourhood shopkeeper recognizes me. I know the specialties at the little bakery at the other end of the city. And I’m home again.

So, in me, I have a bit of Bangalore, Kolkata, Mumbai and Chennai. And also the influences of my friends who are from far flung places across the country. I can relate to all of them, see through their perspective. And this, by far, has been the most valuable lesson I’ve learnt in my life. Cultural empathy.

I’ve never been bothered by the fact that I’m not a true-blue Tamilian in the sense of the word. Now that I’m living in Chennai, that doesn’t really work to my favour. ‘What sort of Tamilian are you?’ is something I hear all day. Well, not a regular one, I guess!

But what the heck! Y’kno what I am? I’m Indian.

Of Things Quirkily Chennai

1. It’s the land of jasmine flowers. Even auntys who go for walks along the beach in the evening have the entire season’s flowers pinned to their hair.


2. There are two kinds of Tamilians. One, people who can understand what their maid says and reply to that. Two, people who search around for a translator(preferably the grandma next door).


3. The males expose more skin(read: flaunt their calves) than females. Why, oh why, would I want to see Mr. Hairy Legs, ride a motorcycle with his dhoti tied up above his knees?


4. The heroes in movies who resemble the vada pav sellers you see outside Ghatkopar station. Where are the Hrithiks and SRKs of Kollywood? And talking about movies……


5. The Rajinikanth Obsession. Where in the world would you see milk abhishek being done to a cutout? In the theatre lobby? I might get taken out to the streets and stoned for writing that, so incase you don’t hear from me for a while, you know what would have happened.

The Ax-Logic