Delhi is the “mathe-ki-bindiya” of India. The Historical place that it is, reflects and symbolises the History of India. The monuments, buildings, places, and ruins constantly speak to you about the history of India right from the time of Pandavaas, to Mughals, to Britishers, Freedom struggle, Birth of the republic, and post-independence period of upheavals and significant events.This article is not a typical tourist guide, but an insider’s account of what Delhi is all about.
Delhi is not just the capital of India, but also of corruption, unabated persuit of power, power brokers, ostentation, riches, pollution, unbridled consumerism and hardcore materialism. Delhi symbolises an average Indian, all facets, the good, the bad and the ugly. Blind ambition, contempt for law, unscrupulousness, opportunism, greed, self-glorification, pseudo-religiosity, sham-courtesies, influence- peddling, , but also: initiative, drive, bonhomie, camraderie, hospitality, good-living, lavish life style etc. Delhite’s life style, value system, philosophy and view of life, behavioral characteristics, personality traits, etc, are quite different from what I see here in south. There is much more to Delhi than Delhites !<p>
A Shoppers paradise: The concept of departmental store perhaps emanated from Delhi, because the whole city is organised like a huge departmental store! You have specialisation everywhere; Tilak Bazar: chemicals,
Lawrence Road; plastic raw materials, Bhagirath place; Electrical goods, pharmaceuticals, medical supplies, Gandhi bazar: garments, Naisarak: Books, paper&stationery, Dariba kalan: Jewelery, GB road: machinery &equipment, Chawri bazar: hardware, Kharibaoli: food grains, LalKuan: opthalmic goods, Gaffar market:imported stuff, Jhandewalan:bicyles and parts, Kharak Singh marg: State emporia, Janpath: handicrafts and objects-de-art, Kamla market: Coolers, etc. <p>
For personal shopping you can choose from Connaught place, Karol Bagh, Southex, GK-I, Sarojini Nagar, Lajpat Nagar many markets and shopping centres as per your budget. If you are a snob, and want some exclusive stuff (price-no consideration) then you have many outlets like; Ravissant, Heritage, Exquisite, Studio Janak, Hauz Khas village, Khazana-Taj, Cottage , etc.
If you need specific advice, consult me when you plan to visit Delhi next.
Another specialty is distribution of specific communities: Gulmohar park: journalists, Neeti Bagh: lawyers, Punjabi Bagh; punjabis, Tilak Nagar; sikhs, Mayfair garden: sindhis, Friends colony : industrialists, Sainik farms :shady millionaires and the connected ones, Chhatarpur-Mehrauli farms houses: rich and/or powerful, powerbrokers, Sarojini nagar & RK Puram: Government servants, etc. etc.<p>
If you are fond of eating and are a connosieur of good food, there is no place like Delhi. Delhites live to eat and eat as if there is no tomorrow. Delhi’s climate which is lakkad-hajam-patthar hajm ( can digest anything) makes you feel hungry all the day, so the spicy, oily, and rich food no doubt makes many Delhites obscenely obese.<p>
Eateries and restaurants galore all over! Can’t list all of them, some specialties: Butter chicken: Moti Mahal, Tandoori Chicken:Kake-da, Kandhari rann: Nizam’s, Bedami Alu: Sunder nagar, Samosa –Chholey: Panchkuin road, Chhat: Bengali mkt/shahjahan road(supply), Rabri falooda: Fatehpuri, Kulfi&chana bhature: Roshan di hatti, Paranthas: Chandni chowk, Poorie-chhoey: Wig, Jalebi: Madan (sadar), 100 varieties of pakodas: Netaji Nagar, mutton samosa: Kwality, Cottage cheese balls: united coffee house, Sizzlers: The host, Mutton korma –rice: Al Kauser, ….the list is endless! To visit all these joints and savour the specialties will take you couple of years.<p>
Delhi once was derided as an overgrown village by bombaywallas, but today’s Delhi is lot different and is the most happening place. Highest per-capita income in India, fashion, glamour, models, designers, advertising, MNCs, software geeks, financial services, dot-coms, you name it Delhi has it. Many Delhites, Ritu Beri, Rohit Bal, Shahrukh khan, Sonu nigam, Gulshan Kumar etc. have made it big!<p>
Delhi has been a pioneer in many things: First TVStation(1956), first Disco( Cellars), first Chinese restaurant: Fujiya, first catering van to bring chinese food to common man (Hungry Hop), first 70mm cinema(Shiela), first multiplex(PVR), first bhangra pop (Gurdas Mann), oh God how many more should I list?
To day’s Delhi is lot different from the Delhi of good old days upto 1985, to day the massive traffic, highest vehicle population, choked roads, pollution, breaking law&order situation, endless water & power problems, utter failure of inadequate public transport system, fleecing scooterwalas(auto rik as known in Delhi) etc. have all made life very diffciult and one feels like running away from it all.
But still, Delhi is Delhi, there is no other place like it anywhere. I miss Delhi very much, everyday.