The things I miss about Madras are pretty much what any Indian living abroad would miss. The generic list includes everything from roadside food to cheap bargains. But mostly its how the city “feels” – its emotions, which I miss.
Take for instance an early morning transit to work. The Madras experience starts off with frustration over the bus being late, the ordeal to get into the bus, the sharp reconnaissance and maneuvering skills needed to secure a seat, the joy and sense of accomplishment when one does manage to get one. The communication skills needed to buy a ticket from the conductor who is at the other end of the bus. The intrigue over someone else’s loud cell phone conversation where you let your mind do the filling in. The anger over the lady with large basket and children with humongous school bags. By the time you reach your destination you have gone through a spectrum of human emotions.
The Sydney experience starts off with buying ticket from a machine that says “Thank you”. Then another machine checks your ticket and lets you into the station, and a long and boring train ride punctuated by mechanized announcements. Even on crowded trains most people look at the floor or a book or out of the window, just in case they make accidental eye contact. Phone conversations are muffled so as not to disturb the person sitting next. Not to mention the Indian Embassy's directive asking Indian students not to talk loud in mother-tongue. Now even the otherwise chatty Punjabi and Telugu girls are talking in hush hush tone. Most people have iPods to deprive one more sense off the outside world. By the time you reach your destination, the journey was as eventless as butter on mashed potatoes. Unless of course if you come across some colourful aussies who would beat you up and steal your laptop.
Sydney definitely looks better, but Madras certainly feels great.
