The Great Indian divide

Where I come from, 'South Indian' is widely acceptable, 'Madrasi' too for that matter, unpleasantries added.u00a0

The north-south divide evades differences of culture and sinks deeper, into conscience. My decision to move to this part of the country was seen with much susceptibility initially. Greetings exchanged many years hence included scattered mentions of idli, sambar and lungis, much like uninitiated cousins in other parts of the world inquiring about cows and snake charmers.

Very little about the similarities or differences amongst the four southern states ufffd Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh ufffd was discussed with a sense of being regarded forbidden region. Sambar was no more than adventurous vegetarianism on a Sunday afternoon when the biryani was being given a pass and Chidambaram just another South Indian.

Initial shockers came when despite repeated mentions of Gujarat I would be easily tagged 'North Indian'.u00a0 The divide and the generalisations came cultured both ways I realised.

With a good half of my life spent in two of the four states, things changed considerably. Sambar rice turned comfort food, timelessness was more easily associated with Ilayaraja than Burman and my caste came right at the top of any form I filled. The modest filter coffee in turn had emerged a clear winner in front of the sassily laced lattes. I learnt of the vast cultural differences between the four states, something my history books had rather conveniently skipped. Also, I learnt the derogatory names that were used to address those from the other three states, not in their presence of course.

Life at large remained unchanged. Nightclubs and western outfits were as prevalent and acceptable as long as the occasional cigarette was kept out of public eye. A feeling of belonging had quietly but steadily crept in and emphasis was soon clearly laid on Gujarat, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu as opposed to directionalu00a0 generalisations.
Hearing 'North India' or 'South India in passing conversations was beginning to make me cringe. The divide by no standards was diminishing in practice despite information sweeping from across the subcontinent.
The divide remains, the north and the south of the country, but so does a lot in between and within these frail categories. Caught somewhere in between I am still trying to reach the closest shore.