Thursday, March 11, 2010

No More...

Guess it's getting bore out there, simply publishing the published matter, nothing really constructive on the blog.
I have been waiting to write something about my native place, where I am born, brought-up, educated, lived and....still living. And the sad part is still living...here. True, I don't like this place called Raipur. I feel sorry to mention this because not more than three years ago I adored it. I loved it with its each corner.
I have observed drastic change since it has become the capital of Chhattisgarh. I have keenly noted the change in attitude of people here. They were never so rude or selfish or 'thugs'. Not only the infrastructure of Raipur but also the minds of people had a makeover. The infrastructure, I mean there was so much of space while walking or driving that has been suddenly filled up with a crowd like that of Mumbai. It's scary! Believe me, it feels like...where this humongous crowd takes birth from, suddenly people have started shifting here! Raipur was never so thickly populated. And while typing this, I can figure out the frown of concern on my face.
Years ago when I learnt driving two wheeler as a teenager, citizens co-operated through non-verbal communication and gave sides to the learner. And now, the no-traffic sense, people racing in haste, honking ugly horns, rickshaw, cycle walah, trucks, city buses, autos, cars and modified bikes and stray cattle, everyone is struggling to save their life walking on the same lane. It’s like, anything can happen to you any moment! It's so depressing and it really is…I have heard people saying this and self-experienced it. Then I challenged myself to learn driving four-wheeler, though I succeeded but only after three long sessions from different driving schools. I don't feel ashamed on mentioning it because it was a huge challenge and now I believe I can drive confidently on any kaccha-pukka or bhid bhara ilaka.
Atleast Raipur has gifted me with this skill- driving confidently.
I recollect the time when a word against Raipur triggered up a fight and today it's the same me puking everything against it. Sad. Not only it has a constantly increasing population but also the mindset of people dejects me. I believed, it exclusively irritates me-the mindset of people, but later I realised that my irritation matches to those who are guests here or have recently shifted. They too crib about same problems. You talk in English, they call you ‘angrez’, you travel to gupchupwalah in rickshaw or auto, they mock at you and the gupchupwalah hardly consider you as a customer but stepping out from a car gets you attention from everyone making you feel important (saying this because I have tried on both). I know it’s not new but believe me the expression on their faces, you wouldn’t find anywhere else.
Then talk about work and ‘they’ will be off for the next 3 days or more? Yes, they don’t want to work. Life here doesn’t starts before 11 am! If you are a workaholic, prefer working from home because anyway the shutters are closed and the clients/customers/staff wouldn’t answer your calls. Besides if it’s a festival, be prepared to work more for next few days (almost 10 days) because the labour/staff/driver/maid would be holidaying in Hawaii. They don’t care about money but rest. Chhattisgarh state once known for its abundant labour is suddenly facing deficiency. Strange! A drastic change has been observed in the attitude of labour class since the state has become ‘independent’. Because ‘they’ get 30 kgs of rice for just Rs3 per month with free salt and other necessities, they have grown incredibly lethargic. And the extra rice (30 kgs is too much already) is sold to poorer people on higher rates. How clever! Men prefer to sit home and booze while the ladies of the house go out to work. What more on this?
Might be I criticise more about this place because I have started hating it terribly. I hate the people here, their attitude, the pollution (Raipur is most polluted city of the country) that has gifted me with forever dandruff to my silky hair, the sun here (48 degrees in summer!) tans my skin within 2 minutes if am out without shade, the surrounding that gives me nothing substantial to learn and develop, ofcourse the insane traffic, the piercing eyes of people when I am out with my fiancé or even alone and almost everything about this place pisses me off. I really wanna get out of this place ASAP.
Amen!

12 comments:

mystupendoussalvation said...

At least, this place has given you words to write rather I will say critize about it....

every city has its boon and banes... A very positive person is seeing all odds is something I cann not digest....
However,I am noone to spill water on ur anger.. U can very well go ahead and write watever u feel for your city as ultimately those were ur experience and I know how terrible u must felt....

I just want to make one point.... there should be

Some More with NO More....

Regards
Stupendous

Abhi said...

will take you u to the jungle ohk... ;) its waiting for u

Shreya said...

well raipur has definitely changed and it has come up on a sudden ..i remember when i came into this city some 13 years back there were hardly any restaurants around 2- 3 may be see now ...its turned into a lavish city now lost the charm of what i once thought was kind of "malgudi days" but its a tragic affair of almost all small cities ...
I'm afraid by the time i grow old there would hardly be any city left in India where one can live in peace and tranquility.

May be then like abhi suggested will meet you in jungle ;)
haha :)

good article

P.S enjoying all your articles being published kudos :)

Anonymous said...

its not only about your city as most of the small cites which are really not prepared for big expansions are facing the same problem.There are so many cities in my part of the world which where so happy and peace full in the past are now suffering with the over development problem.

best regards

G.suresh

Anonymous said...

how can some one criticize so much to home place..i completely dis agree with the your point i love my raipur very much and you should also do that.

Rashmi Drolia said...

Why don't we both stick to our own points and agree with self?

Anonymous said...

u know every coin has 2 faces so there is always a chance that when ur moving out 2 be known as one of fastest growing city of central india.u must be prepared for al these cons.i think its more important that mindset of people should develop in ratio with the development of city.than only we can say it to be REAL DEVELOPMENT.U ROCK.KEEP IT UP REGARDS RAIPURIAN

Rashmi Drolia said...

Yeah ofcourse I can see the ratio of mindset in this RAIPURIAN who isn;t courageous enough to mention his name and criticizing anonymously. Kool. Keep it up. Regards, Another Raipurian, unfortunately.

Anonymous said...

i love my raipur,and its climate is wonderful.how come u dont lyk the such a soothing climate.i think u have never gone out of raipur.so my suggestion to u is jst go out to mentros lyk banglore and mumbai than only u wil feel the real peace of this place...raipurian

Rashmi Drolia said...

Sure, that is what m praying for...need to go out of this place in order to realise the worth of your Raipur. Thanks fo rthe suggestion anyway. Goodbye!

Anonymous said...

u r continously deleting my real good comments..is it that u dont want me to comment or my comments r not up to the mark with ur post.wana meet? Raipurian

Chandana Patnaik said...

EK NAJAR IDHAR BHI…

Ye hai apke awful RAIPUR ki shaan…

Wo phool chowk pe hamesha lagta jam,

Wo devendra nagar me gup-chup khana,

Wo Shankar nagar me tuition ka environment banana,

Wo Akashwani kalimandir me xam k pehle jaana,

Wo gaurav path par rides ka bahana.

Wo couples ka Archies me gifts select karna,

Aur Squareinn me Birthday parties manana.

Wo teenage ki baatein aur masti bhari raatein,

Aise kuch hai hamare RAIPUR ki baatien.

Rassshhmii ji… Aisa bhi hai aapka RAIPUR!!!