DELHI
Lealyan Thawmte

D elhi, the capital of India with a population of approximately 15 million plus squeezed in 1483 square kilometers of land is the prime destination for people from the NE regions, including many from other parts of the country. Never mind if that amounts to more that a 100 thousand per square kilometer. For the people from the NE India, it is partly because of lack of job opportunities in their respective states, turmoil and the debilitating insurgency mailaise, rampant corruption and security concerns that continued to grip the region.

Globalisation, inter-dependency on enconomies of the the world and the outsourcing of job my many western countries to third world countries for cheaper labour, and where knowledge is plenty is a boon for many. India leads the market in the outsourcing business primarily for knowledge of the English language by its young and enthusiasctic workforce. Many brilliant minds from the NE states, with impressive qualifications in computers, software and IT, have joined the bandwagon. Still, more work at call centers and even though the working hours are different, the paycheck compensates.Looking back 10 years ago, its hard to imagine a college graduate making Rs.15 thousand a month at a private company. Even in Delhi, the only stable employer then was the Central Government. The SSC and the UPSC were some of the organs that allowed many people from the NE India, and particularly from Lamka to come and stay in the capital in the late '80s early '90s and still today, I hope.. Delhi is nothing like the place and land they came from. But as adaptable and fast learners that we are. We integrated fast.

Too fast, to some extend and too much in many cases especially when compared to our mundane, hospitality, generousity and altruism nature of the so-called tribal people's customs and traditions of the NE. Nothing personal, but being thrown in there too, I'd soon realised that the people I knew, while I was in Delhi for 5 years plus, were more Delhiites than the locals themselves. In ways more than one.

For example, I'd observed that:-
* They buy their vegetables only after 8:00 p.m.

* Waits for the Bus for 35 mins., to go from Munirka to JNU.

* Goes all the way from Munirka to Gandhinagar, to buy a table cloth.

* The Sunday Market, behind the Red Fort is a pre-Christmas must.

* Favourite haunts: shops with 50% discounts.

* Chews a Rs.4 'paan' to get a rupee coin for church offering.

* Sometimes splits that into two fifty-paise coins.

* Always forgets to carry his/her 'khaini' with him/her.

* Be the last one to reach for the wallet at a group 'paan'.

* Eats rationed rice though he/she can afford basmati.

* Meetings/get togethers with meals is like high school maths- compulsory.

* Never misses the after-church tea, if served.

* Says non-veg doesn't appeal much. Dec.25 proved otherwise.

* Never carries a wallet/purse during Fresher's Meets.

* Membership to societies, committees - standing or sittting, is a must.

* Is a wizard at organising 'Marups'.

* Dreams of walking in front of Priya with a Coke & Nokia on hand, helmet shoulder slung.

* Doesn't really matter if he has a Motorbike or not.

* Offers steaming tea to visitors under 40 degrees plus heat.

* Is often the conductor at prayer meetings.

* Has a garden stretching from Sector 3 to 13, R.K.Puram.

* Can survive on 'daals' for 27 days a month, nevertheless.

* Knows the name of the scrap-dealer paying highest price for old newspaper.

* Is an active internet user during workdays.

* And uses net groups/forums to chat with friends in the city.

* Loves discussings issues/topics over and over and over again.

* Miscalled friends instead of actually calling them.

* And like many, really contemplates buying the TATA Nano.