Mix and
Match
‘Hey, where
are you from?’
A simple sentence; the introductory sentence which connects
strangers; simple & eloquent; a plain enquiry to know the person you are.
But not if you are a third generation Tam-Brahm from Mumbai!
Usually the response to this question is simple, but with my
response [or any similar individual who has experienced & undergone this
before] this is only the beginning of confusion.
Thus goeth my conversation:
‘Hey, where
are you from?’
‘Mumbai’ *Chamatthu
Kozhandey Smile*
‘But you
don’t seem Maharashtrian?’ *confusion begins*
‘No, I’m
not a Maharashtrian. I am a Tamil Brahmin.’ *yet another test of
patience*
‘So
Chennai?’ *tries to clarify*
‘No,
Kerala.’ *adamant & a little bit vain*
‘But you
said Tamil Brahmin, how are you from Kerala?’ *more
confusion*
‘We are
Tamil Brahmins settled in Kerala!!’ *exasperated sigh*
‘So how are
you from Mumbai then?’ *romba confused stranger*
*takes a deep breath and begins my standard explanation*
‘Basically
I am born and brought up in Mumbai. My grandparents & ancestors prior to
them hail from Kerala, but we are Tamil Brahmins.’
*random stranger visibly confused and thinks this is too
complicated & gives up*
Identity crisis? Well, one won’t be wrong in assuming that
this is what will happen if there are multiple states involved. But for me and
people from my generation of Tam Brahms who stay in Mumbai, this is normal! J We take as much pride in being a
Mumbaikar as we are a Tamil Brahmin. Luckily we have clarity even when others
are confused with regards to our origins.
People say best of both worlds. In our case, we have best of
all worlds!
- We love Maharashtrian Cuisine and vada pav as much as we
love Puliyodarai & Idli-Dosai!
- Our saddi chaapadu is relished with equal fervour as much
as a Maharashtrian Thali!
- We love Puran Poli as much as our Vella Payasam!!!
- We love our curd rice & narthangai as much as
Bakharwadi & Kothimbir Vadi!
- We love Sachin Tendulkar as much as Ravichandran
Ashwin!! (I speak for myself here J)
- We love Matunga as much as we love Madras! (To those
who have been at both places, they are very similar!!)
- We love dancing to the beats of the Puneri Dhol as
much as we love Sivamani’s apic percussion! (We can do our Ganpati Dance to any
Dumma-koothu song)
- We love Tamil cinema as much as we love Bollywood!!
(By extension Malayalam movies as well!) (And Bollywood still needs to come up
with a match for Kamal & Thalaivaa!!)
- We love A R Rehman’s tunes as much as Ajay-Atul’s!!
(Music Lovers basically!!)
- We love Marine Drive as much as Marina Beach! (See,
even the names are similar!)
- We love Siddhivinayak & Mahalakshmi as much as
Vadapalani or Mylapore kabali kovil! J (#ChamatthuKozhandey)
[I can keep adding various similar themes between both
places, but I seem to have made my point and will stop before saying anything
blasphemous and being blasted by both!!]
Bottomline: To those who feel we are not in touch with our roots
and have lost ourselves in this city of cross-cultures & cosmopolitan
society, that is not the case. We love our culture and tradition and are
equally proud to be part of other cultures & try our best to enjoy both.
Just like milk, sugar & coffee powder come together blending seamlessly to
make the divine filter kaapi, we take in best of everything while upholding our
roots with pride!!!
Aravind Krishnan
9th April 2016
