Some Interesting Experiences From My Delhi Life

Delhi is an age-old city. We could trace its history to ancient times. The revered headquarters of the Pandavas, the Indraprastha, is considered a part of Delhi. Since ancient times, it has been home to a wide spectrum of people. First, the Indian rulers reigned the regions. After this, the Mughals spent a fair share of their regime with Delhi as headquarters. Every dynasty that ever stayed here has left their imprints in the form of art, architecture, and monuments.

Today, this amalgam of cultures is evident in its streets as well as daily life. One can find every kind of person in its streets. If you have spent some time in the city, you can identify this.

I will share some of my experiences from Delhi.

The Faces of Delhi

Today, Delhi's residents come from all states of the country. There are even specific regions resided by different groups.

For instance, if you visit Majnu ki Tilla, you will feel like you are in a Tibetan settlement. Such is the vibe created by its streets and buildings. You can find prayer flags fluttering all above the streets and red-robed Buddhist Monks emerging from a monastery.

There are similar corners in the city for people from different corners of the country. So nobody feels left out or away from their homes here. Everyone can find their kind and make it their home.

Strangling streets of Delhi

Strange faces of Delhi

From the Sikhs to the North-easterners, from the richest CEOs to the nomadic street-dwellers, there are all kinds of people in Delhi. It is a melting pot of cultures.

There are street rickshaw pullers flocking the major bus stations, railway stations, ready to pull you into their vehicles at the slightest interest. 

The most dramatic of welcomes happen when you step out of one of the railway stations. The taxi chauffeurs surround you like media personnel covering a political prisoner upon receiving a controversial bail. Everyone is so desperate to score a ride. They may take drastic measures like carrying away your luggage in the blink of an eye. You may not realize that this might be the last time you are seeing your luggage. By this time, you remember you have to call your mom and you check your pocket only to realize your phone is vanished! Things like this are routine affairs in Delhi. Your senses have to be heightened and you need the concentration of a yogi to walk the streets of Delhi.

I would say you have to check all 8 directions and maybe look up for you never know where the vehicles may come from.

Delhiites are expert middlemen. Once I was traveling to Parvati Valley with a friend. We reached the Kashmere gate terminal where the buses to Himachal started. We were there for the first time, so we did not know where to look. Cluelessness was written all over our faces. This cannot be if you are in Delhi(mistake number 1).

People are always on a lookout to take advantage of clueless people in Delhi. If not someone, at least a street dog will take advantage. I will share that story later. Back to this story. By this time, someone realized we were newbies. He struck a conversation, not politely but like typical Delhites, all over the place. With efficient buttery words, he lulled us into believing that he had tickets to a bus leaving for Manali(mistake number 2). We even made a payment of 800 bucks. 

Later we smelled trouble when we were allotted a rickety bus to Chandigarh followed by a promise that we had to alight at Ambala and wait for their own bus to Kasol. We almost understood that we were doomed and confirmed it when we were asked to leave the bus at around 2 in the morning.

We were left in the middle of nowhere and had to walk to Ambala Railway Station to find our bearings from there.

So, Trust is the most precious commodity in Delhi. Do not trust anyone unless and until you are so damn sure.

Chillum? No problem.

One thing that does not require such trust in Delhi is Marijuana. Available in abundance across the city, you will find stoners of all ages from youngsters to aging grandfathers. Unlike Kerala, you will find stoners everywhere, from bus stops to street sides. It is common to see people well over 70s passing around chillums sitting together in merry circles in the foggy winters.

Besides, it is easy to find a company to get stoned. The best part is that we can trust these guys at least in matters of a joint. I have met many strangers over joints. They were all friendly and welcoming. Obviously, there are exceptions, and you have to keep your senses open all the time. My general experience has been pleasant anyway.

The Ever Busy Gallis

Delhi's roads are ruled by vehicles 24*7 for 365 days. The streets are always busy. Except for a slight relief around wee hours of the morning, there is always a flood of vehicles waiting to sweep you the moment a signal turns green.

But if you step into the infinite loops of its Gallis, the story is a bit different. There are thousands of electric wires passing overhead, dangerously close to each other. If something moves, the whole thing would appear to collapse. Then there are rows of vintage Chetaks, Royal Enfield bullets with block letters of “JATT” printed on them alongside the tattoo of thick a mustache. This is a common sight. 

Why so racist Delhi?

Gallis of Delhi

Then comes the endless honking.

Even if people have acres of space ahead of them on the road, they honk out of habit. Even if there is a sea of vehicles stuck in the red light, they obviously honk the sense out of you. Honking is in the genes of every Delhiite. It could be very irritating in the beginning. But, once you get used to it, you will revel at the beautiful harmony of multiple vehicles honking at once! Such a beautiful chorus..!

The Homeless Of Nizamudeen

Nizamuddin is a lively place in Delhi. Famous for the Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah, the place is worth visiting if you are in Delhi. It gives you a different cultural experience. The dargah is a nice place to see. Those who like street exploration will love the Gallis around the dargah.

However, what caught my attention was a group of people in Nizamuddin.

There are thousands of people sleeping on the streets. Most of them are daily wage workers or street vendors. Some people beg for a living. Their entire families are camped inside a park. The old building in the park has become their night shelter. The rest of them have made temporary shelters using tarps and other materials close to the walls. Makeshift homes with all their stuff inside lined the street.

The kids were playing, running around, fighting, shouting, pulling each other's unwashed hairs and what not. Their mothers probably watched from a distance or maybe not. These people belong to the lowest rung of this society. They are homeless, without an address, or any status. They are completely overlooked by the authorities. Barely surviving on a minimum, they scramble different religious places like gurdwaras and dargah for their daily food. At least someone provides them with food. 

They live on in neglect along the fringes of the privileged society that caters to the needs and worries of only the rich.

What a cruel world I live in. I could only watch on in pain as a walked past the shabby camps flooded with litter. I could only curse those who pride themselves as government and authority when such suffering is endured right under their noses. Offering a prayer was the least I could do for them.

The Notorious Dog Gangs

Delhi is famous for its notoriety. There are thieves and mafia gangs that could make someone disappear from under the noses of the authorities. There were thieves, I have heard who kill for petty sums of money and make you disappear forever.

It might be an influence of such people and such aggressive energies overall that the animals of the city seem to be very hostile. The dog gangs of Delhi are not the kind you might want to cuddle in your lap, Instead, you might as well run for your life if you spot one in the darkness.

One day, I was walking along a partially dark street beside a random park. I was surprised and scared shitless when a black evil-looking dog pounced upon me with an ear-blasting bark. I was shaking to my core but reacted promptly to dodge its vicious bite. It clenched its jaws and came at me again, but this time my football reflexes rescued me. I made a confident swipe with my feet, just like hitting a volley in football, just missing its ugly jaws by a whisker. It was forced to back off but announced its hate with a disapproving snarl. I walked away with my first encounter with the vicious dogs of Delhi.

The next encounter was even closer. This time, I was walking along in broad daylight when I was pounced upon by at least 6 dogs. I may have walked too close to one dog which upset them. With one sudden gesture, he jumped at me, with 5-6 dogs to his company. They were all sprinting towards me as I watched on in utter shock. Again, the footballer in me came to my rescue. With nothing to lose, I made the best move I could have made, which is to imagine that the dog's vicious jaw was a football and try to score a goal with a stunning volley. I did just that. It hit him in his jaw and the sheer force threw aside him. He accepted defeat and ran away alongside his comrades. I had to go search for my sandals two blocks away as I sent it flying as I hit the dog. The people around found instant entertainment and were all staring at me. From admiration or pity? You can guess :D. 

For them, this might be a daily occurrence, but it would be my last confrontation with these aggressive canines in Delhi. One word of advice: Stay away from these gangs. Period.