02 March,2010 09:20 AM IST | | Dilip Cherian
For years Dilliwalas have grudgingly acquiesced to their city being dubbed as a soulless metropolis and even "provincial", lacking the cosmopolitan charge of a Mumbai or a Bangalore or the distinct cultural character of a Kolkata or a Chennai. But in the light of recent events, Dilliwalas have begun to feel that Mumbai's present identity crisis is something that the capital is better without.
With Mumbai's fabled progressive image under increasing strain, Dilli has quietly becoming home to anyone from anywhere who arrived and pitched his or her tents. So, yes Delhi may be power-obsessed and hierarchical, but no one can claim to own itu00a0-- at least yet!
Power nuptials
Dilli buzzed before the budget with reports of not one, but two power weddings. One of the young ministers in Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's Cabinet, Jitin Prasada tied the knot with Neha Seth. It is not every day that a Union Minister gets married while in office!
The inheritor of a quiet political lineage, Jitin Prasada's marriage to the gorgeous Neha was naturally a high voltage affair with both Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi spending time charming guests who included the young parliamentarian brigade in full attendance, besides politicians of various states, media barons and industrialists.
The other Member of Parliament who tied the knot within the same week of Jitin Prasada's wedding was Deepender Hooda. In Delhi, father Hooda, the Chief Minister of Haryana, and his graceful wife Asha, hosted a rather exclusive but traditional sangeet evening for only very close friends and family at their residence in Delhi.
Bhupinder Hooda did not make this a show of strength or power in the capital where it was more or less a family affair, with a sprinkling of close friends. The throngs at events in the constituency and Jaipur, caught the media eye but tastefully were too far away for Dilli to bat an eyelid.
Widely regarded as Indias "Image Guru", Dilip Cherian is a lobbyist, celebrity creator and tycoon watcher. He currently parties on a 24/7 schedule that mixes cities nixes bores, and analyses Dilli. Follow him on Twitter @ dilipthecherian
