The Omniscient Gentleman!

Dear Viji
In my school days, I lived in a big colony where there were ten families. As there was no TV those days, our main entertainment used to be getting together in the evenings at the big courtyard playing , singing and talking. Though there may some occasional skirmishes, the relationship among the neighbours used to be very strong.

But the modern life style has robbed us of good neighbourly relationship. Every one minds his business. We know nothing of our neighbours. We interact so much with our friends in IL but not with our neighbours!
Sri

 

Dear Veda
For a man who grew up in a densely populated residential locality of Triplicane, I find the latest situation as painted by you quite depressing. Of course, I do agree that the modern life style gives us very little opportunity to interact with our neighbours. You are even right in saying that if we show more than ordinary interest in our neighbours' lives, we are condemned as being too snoopy!

This probably explains the enormous popularity of communities such as IndusLadies. Here we are able to develop intense camaraderie with other members without being branded snoopy. What would be considered a great taboo in our interactions with our neighbours is just passed off as normal in internet communities. There may be a few cases of aberrations even here but they are very very few!
Sri

 

Dear jaijui
A hearty welcome to participate in my ramblings!
Let me tell you a story. Stop me if you have heard it before!
Two sardarjis were travelling in a long distance train bound for Delhi. A short while after the train started moving, one of the Sardarjis asked the other if he too was going to Delhi. This is how the conversation went.
"Do you live in Delhi?"
"Yes of course! What about you?"
"I too live in Delhi"
"Oh, that's nice! Where in Delhi?"
"Karol Bagh. And you?"
"Oh really? I live there too! Where in Karol Bagh?"
"999,WEA"
"Oh my God! I too live in 999 WEA.Which floor?"
"Third Floor! And before you ask, flat number 312"
"My God! You can beat me down with a feather! I live in the same flat!"

A third person who was sitting opposite to them could not stomach it any more and asked them how they could be living in the same flat and not knowing each other. One of them then replied that they were actually brothers but they were just making conversation to beat the drudgery of the long journey!

What is travel if you can't have a free chat with your fellow travellers? There is no point in being stuck up about it and lose all the fun in life! I am all with chatterboxes like you. May your tribe increase!
Sri

 

Dear Jaya
First things first.
You still seem to feel a bit diffident about writing to me. Why do you need 'guts' to write to me? My ramblings are not the Booker Prize variety. They are just as plain and ordinary as we see in letters to the Editor of any popular newspaper. Maybe I have a greater range of subjects to talk about but then it is only to be expected of my age! Don't you think that a man of 66 who has worked in the country's largest Bank for 25 years would have a lot of personal experience to share? That is what I do. I write about the real people that I had come across in my life. I am otherwise just a plain, happy go lucky man who just loves to be transparent and honest with everyone that he encounters. Please treat me as a peer as we all write for the same site and hence are equal.

Your mention of that scene in Vasool Raja is excellent. That particular scene was very profound. I have experienced it myself in school and college. On the second day of going to a new class and a new teacher called me by name, I used to swell with pride that he knew my name on day two itself! Nothing can be as motivating than by being called by name!

I agree with you that the distance that we feel with our neighbours is something that is handed down from the top to bottom. I have seen parents who feel very concerned about their children if they become too friendly with the neighbours. This apprehension is probably due to children's indiscretion in communicating with the neighbours.

I am not for total alienation with the neighbours. It will be in our interest if we keep a healthy relationship with our neighbours.
Sri

 

Dear jaijui
Do we need greater proof than Manmohan Singh and Montek Singh Ahluwalia for Sardarjis' intellectual capabilities? It is because of their intelligence, Sardarjis have the equanimity to take the jokes on themselves in the right spirit. There is also another community that is the butt of many jokes. They are the Nambudiris of Kerala. They are also equally brainy.
Sri