THE HEAVEN I LIVE IN....
M ADRAS! There is something about
return and wave at me. It was always
about trust, faith and sharing. Have you
ever had one of those moments when
you felt true patriotism for your city
and beamed with pride? Well, I have,
on several occasions. My first encounter
with this feeling was when I was
touring around North India with my
family.
that name that gives me goosebumps,
every single time. All the 2K kids know
Chennai, a city filled with big shopping
malls and fancy hangout spots. But I
come from the 90’s and to me, it will
always be Madras. A land filled with the
aroma of Mylapore filter coffee and auto
drivers who find their way to every
nook and corner of the city. A city
where everybody is filled with pride
and eternal love for the ‘Tamizh’ culture.
We were staying at a hotel, where I met
a girl who was roughly about my age.
We engaged in a conversation, where
we spoke about where we both came
from. When I told her that I was from
Chennai, her instant response was “Oh,
Madrasi?”.
Growing up, I’ve always admired my
city. I stayed in the warmth and love
shared among the people. You may ask,
what was so different about the people
of this city. From my lovely neighbours
who made sure that I never left their
homes without eating, to the charming
elders who narrate their childhood tales
and teach life lessons, the people are
special
in
their
own
ways.
Not to forget the shopkeepers who let
me buy chocolates, even if I didn’t have
enough money to pay. I remember the
times when I screamed “Anna!
Account”, and they would smile in
Now, most people would probably take
offense to that. But I was truly amazed.
To me, it was not a racial slur. Rather, it
was
an
acknowledgement
from
someone from a remote location who
knew about my city. I answered her
question with a simple nod and told her
that the city had been renamed to
Chennai. She paid keen attention to me,
as I bragged about Madras.
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