The ‘emotional’ uniqueness of South Delhi remains unparalleled

Delhiwallas are rank and class-conscious people. For them, addresses matter greatly. They think that your class changes when you live in South Delhi even if it is some Central government employees’ residential area. Over the years, many posh areas have come up in places other than South Delhi and NCR. Yet, living in South Delhi gives the locals an extraordinary high. But none can challenge this obsessive possessiveness

South Delhi can boast of being the home for several prominent industrialists, businessmen and powerful bureaucrats of the country. In addition to having the best of residential areas, hotels, gardens and hospitals, it also boasts of the iconic Qutub Minar.

It is held in such a high esteem that your social status gets elevated if you live in south Delhi. On a more sentimental note vis-à-vis emotional bondage the general belief is that south Delhi residents, more often than not, marry within south Delhi in that they avoid looking for alliances beyond their exclusive zone.

Noted author and astrologer Dr. J.P. Sharma ‘Trikha’ puts the emotional connect in its right perspective, “South Delhi residents always look for a ‘bride’ or ‘groom’ from within the area. A unique thing is that even matrimonial advertisements flaunt their south Delhi addresses. Interestingly, during our study, we did not find a single advertisement in which the advertiser had mentioned about their west, north, NCR or east Delhi connections, where also are posh areas.”

Going further, ‘Trikha’ says, “Well, south Delhiwallas are not interested in you if are not from ‘their’ world. They don’t want to spend their energy in finding match outside of ‘their’ region.”

If you scan through matrimonial advertisements that are published in Hindi and English newspapers, you will come across a plethora of advertisements where the advertiser has ensured that ‘South Delhi’ is incorporated in the matrimonial ad as prominently as that of the bride/groom!

There is a clear cut announcement from them that they would only welcome proposals from south Delhi residents. This is also a subtle message that others may excuse them if their proposals are rejected because they are from elsewhere.

The locals feel comfortable with south Delhiwallas when it comes to marriage. In a significant change of heart, over the last couple of years, they have started considering Gurugram also as their native land. Hence, they are considering marriage proposals from Gurugram residents too.

It goes without saying that Gurugram is an upmarket area south of Delhi, though not in south Delhi. It is full of IT companies and thousands of expatriates live there.

Says social scientist Aroon Kumar, “By and large, Delhiwallas are rank and class-conscious people. For them, addresses matter greatly. They think that your class changes when you live in south Delhi even if it is some Central government employees’ residential area. It is not easy to change that mindset. Over the years, many posh areas have come up in places other than suth Delhi and NCR. Yet, living in south Delhi gives the locals an extraordinary high.”

But none can challenge this obsessive possessiveness.

Dr. Sharma is not sure whether south Delhi residents would consider others as their own while looking for a match for their kids in the near future.

According to him, “Some youngsters are breaking the rule and moving out of south Delhi though. However, that figure is very less.”

Interestingly, people of all castes and religions in south Delhi have similar thinking when it comes to finding a match.

This cannot be disputed. Notwithstanding huge parking issues and massive commercialisation, the temptation to live in the privileged area remains high.

They are convinced that a south Delhi address gives them an envious social status.

“If you live in any residential colony near or beyond Ring Road in south Delhi, then you would be considered as a special person. I was staying in IPEX in East Delhi before moving to south Delhi. When, I purchased a house in Safderjung Enclave, my friends told me ‘you have arrived. Now your class has changed’. That was something I was not expecting,” reveals S. Ajay, a well- known filmmaker. Sounding critical, he says that south Delhi people are very unsocial. They think it is a big thing that they don’t know their next door neighbour.

Dr. Sharma says that it is almost impossible for one to find an example of someone from south Delhi getting married in East Delhi.

For South Delhiwallas, East Delhi is like a third world country. And that is the bottom line.

(The author is Delhi-based senior journalist and writer. He is author of Gandhi's Delhi which has brought to the forth many hidden facts about Mahatma Gandhi)