Why we love Nagpur

Over a weekend chat with Dineshji we started reminiscing about Nagpur (as two Nagpuris usually do) and were trying to put our finger on this one question - What's so special about Nagpur?

Why do we all love Nagpur so much, when, for all practical purposes, and on all conventional parameters like development etc, it does not have a sterling record (at least relative to other tier-II cities)

In other words - 'Nagpur mein aisa kya hai'? I am sure, most of us have questioned this at some point or the other.

My initial instinct is to look at the question itself. Look at what language this question I put in. Yep. Hindi. I think there in lies our first clue. Nagpur, a Maharashtrian city, technically, has an overwhelming presence of non-Marathi folks, who have smoothly assimilated into the Nagpur culture. For all practical purposes, HINDI is Nagpur's lingua franca. In fact I have been told that Nagpur is the second most cosmopolitan city in India!!!

These two things clearly indicate Nagpur's embracing culture. To 'allow' and 'nourish' and not alienate something which might be considered 'foreign' in other places. The word really is FREEDOM. Nagpur allows us to be 'free' for most part. Allows us to choose what we want to do or not do. It does not have a sense of overbearing imposition of a certain culture, rammed down your throat. It just makes 'it Easy'.

I am sure, you'd think, that the above paragraph is loaded. But the fact of the matter is, Nagpur has been that kind of a city. Easy going and Simple and there has never been a strong will amongst natives to IMPOSE their ideas and views and way of life on others.

I have to share something from my personal experience on this.

College days are great learning experience , both academically and non-academically. And of course you end up making friends with diverse group of folks, from different cultures and sub-cultures. And now that I think in hindsight, I see that we had such a diverse group of people in our friend circle. Some from South India, some from North, some even from Assam/Nagaland etc. Over the period of time, I realized that all my non-Nagpuri friends, had gravitated to Nagpur in some ways or the other. They had, believe it or not, become Nagpur fans. The Nagpur-ness had rubbed on them in some ways and they would find some excuse or the other to visit Nagpur (even after Graduation). And enjoy.

One of my close friends, who never had any relation to Nagpur whatsoever, before living there for fours years, till date calls Nagpur his favourite city. In many ways Nagpur had converted him and he went native big time, in just a couple of years.

I am sure there are numerous similar examples. Where a non-Nagpuri went completely bonkers over Nagpur and in many ways became a Nagpuri.

Again, it's hard to put your finger on that exact pulse. That exact answer. Why Nagpur is attractive, even with all it's apparent drawbacks? Why it inspires such intense loyalty, even for non-Nagpuris in a few cases?

I am sure, if I was up for a PhD , I would have considered this for a thesis. :)

If some of you have any anecdotes , examples to share of people who you personally met, who became Nagpur fans, we would certainly like to read about them. If nothing else, it will at least give a sense of elation.


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Post Script : I remember a funny incident that happened some years back on a chowk of Nagpur. A guy riding motorcycle bumped into a bicycle guy on a chowk Signal ('Light' for the US walas). And the motorcycle guy immediately apologized - "Arey sorry Boss. Laga toh nahi". And the ever humble dude on the cycle, picking and gathering himself quickly from the downfall said.."Nahi.. per Thank you for your Sorry boss"..

And they both moved on. Memory of this incident still tickles me no ends.

Doesn't this tell us something about Nagpuris?