Bangaloreans are awesome people
I am a North Indian. I hope this answer will be helpful to people who have a feeling of being hated in Bangalore. Please only read further if you believe or want to believe that “Bangaloreans are awesome people”.
Do you hate Traffic in Bangalore?
I was newly born baby when I went to Bangalore for the first time with Mom and Dad. After 20 years, we again went to Bangalore and my Mom & Dad were dumbstruck to see how much it has changed in last 20 years. Ask a local and they would tell you more about it. Bangalore was a peaceful place which was less crowded. Now, due to the IT Revolution, people from other states moved in and hence you have traffic. It will ease in future as many developmental projects are on the cards to reduce traffic. If you hate traffic then curse yourself that you have added headcount in Bangalore. Respect locals for tolerating the traffic without complaining. They were never used to traffic. We brought it with us.
Perception
There is no hatred in Bangalore for people from North India. I repeat, “There is no hatred in Bangalore for people from North India”. It is at best a perception that few people have due to their preconceived notions or a few bad experiences.
Few locals might have grudge against people from North India. In case you have some bitter experience, sit down and think why they hate you. Remember they don’t hate you but if they have offended you in some way. Then, it might be retaliation. Have you offended the locals, their culture, their values and/or their language? If we mock Bangaloreans then we have to face the music. You will also do the same if they come to your home and mock you. Am I right? Trust me, my cousins and brother who stay in Bangalore tell a different story. They tell me “How Bangalore is so friendly? People are warm, kind, courteous in general”.
Some tips that can make your stay memorable at Bangalore or anywhere
Every place has something unique. So, rather than comparing the customs of locals with our own, we should learn more about them. The more we know them, the better we feel about them. When you give respect to others, you will get respect from them. People don’t expect you to offer any monetary gifts. Only a smile, few encouraging words, genuine appreciation will go a long way in building relationship.
Learn at least a little about the local language rather that cribbing that the locals don’t understand our language. If you are going to Germany or France, you need to learn German and French respectively to experience their beautiful country.
Similarly, we can learn a little about the local language to interact with people. It will make you feel the togetherness with the place where you are living. If you speak even imperfectly then also locals will feel proud that you are taking initiative to learn their language. Don’t you feel happy to see a foreigner speak Hindi in a funny way? I just love when they speak in Hindi. Speaking in someone’s mother tongue is a way of showing respect to them. My roommate is a south Indian and we feel proud when he speaks in Hindi. When he can learn Hindi when in Mumbai, others can also learn Kananda if they are in Bangalore.
Learn to respectfully disagree- Difference of Opinion doesn’t lead to argument or hatred. I don’t like cooking done in coconut oil but love cooking done in Mustard oil. My roommate is from Mangalore and he just loves cooking in coconut oil but dislike Mustard Oil. So, we use sunflower oil for cooking. I would never criticize and humiliate him that “How you could eat coconut oil. We use it for our hairs.”There is always a two way effort to build friendship or relationship of any kind.
When in Rome, Be a Roman-Don’t do it to please someone else but to truly soak in the experience you get in life. Don’t be a Tourist but a native and feel the bliss. I am a Marathi in Mumbai, was an Oriya in Bhubaneswar and a Rajasthani in Kota. When you feel like that then you would be in a better position to appreciate the locals. People complain in and around me against Marathi people thinking of gaining support from me. Sadly, they end up getting some free lecture from me. And, there are no arguments as I know how to avoid it. You need to attack the key issues not people to create an impact. (Please don’t check it through your comments, I don’t reply to negative comments :P)
Make Friends who are Locals, Be courteous. Walk the extra mile. Respect local people, their culture, festival, cuisines and language. It will make you experience with them memorable. People reciprocate what we give them. So, always offer good things. Also, take care of the impression you give to others. You represent not only yourself but your culture, heritage and family values. Don’t earn a bad reputation. Some people will be always there to create trouble; they are not north Indian or south Indian but just miscreants.
Bangalore is a beautiful place. Bangalore is the gateway to a dream world. My cousin was jobless after graduating from a college in UP. He got a less paying job and within 2 years, he got a big switch to one of the best Product Based companies. He is leading a respectable life in Bangalore and I have always heard good things about locals from him.
They love to celebrate. My brother told me that Ganesh Puja is celebrated on a grand scale in Bangalore. But, one friend told me that he didn’t feel that bangaloreans celebrate Ganesh Puja. He ends up comparing as he expects the locals to celebrate a festival like he does. You can see the difference in opinion. People need to know the local festivals, cuisines, and culture else they end up cribbing.
The locals are your host. Be a good guest and they will amaze you with their love, care, affection and hospitality. They are also Indians and follow the same principal of “ Atithi Devo Bhava” ( Guests are God).
PS- Always feel that every nook and corner in India is your Home, we are a guest when we visit our relatives and loved ones. Be worthy of a Guest who can be admired. There is always a perfect way to give back to the place that hosted you.
Love you Bangaloreans… Someday I would move to Bangalore and this answer is dedicated to the place which I would love to call my Home.
When someone calls me good, it doesn’t means that I am good but it certainly means they are good!
When I call someone bad, it doesn’t means that they are bad but it certainly means that I am bad!!
