When it comes to choosing the best city my choice would
always and absolutely be ONLY DELHI! I was born in Pune but have lived 19 out of
the 23 years of my life in Delhi. Which city in the world has a magnificent
road like Delhi’s Rajpath? Which city can boast of a Parade as fabulous as that
of India’s Republic day parade which left Mr. Barak Obama, POTUS, so gob- smacked
that he sat through the whole programme in pelting rain? No other city I’m
sure which is made of great like Delhi!
The design of this city cannot be surpassed by any other. It
has been the seat of many kingdoms from time immemorial-from the days of the
Pandavas when it was known as Hastinapur, to the time of the Mughals and even
the British rulers made it their summer capital. Every ruler seems to have been
very fascinated by this glorious city so much so that Mohamad Bin Tughlak, who
wanted to shift his kingdom to the Deccan plateau, decided soon that he could
not stay away from Delhi and came back to Delhi (Tughlakabad) once again to make
it his capital. Each ruler added his touch to the magnificence of the city-You
can see Mughal monuments juxtaposed with the architecture left behind by the
British rulers –Lutyens Delhi is a living example of this. The Indian
politicians have added their bit too- sometimes good (like the 13 statues at
Mother Teresa’s Crescent) sometimes boring (like in the many government staff
houses dotting the city).
Delhi has numerous shopping paradises unique to itself which
cannot be matched by any other city. Which other city can boast of a
second-hand book bazaar like the one held at Daryaganj every Sunday which is a
treasure trove for any book-lover? Delhi has a weekly market for each day of
the week like Shani Bazar (Saturday Market) or Som Bazar (Monday Market) which is
a delight for the freshest vegetables and fruit as well as other household
requirements and that too at dirt cheap rates!
And the drive of those who have
become Delhi-ites by choice is to be seen to be believed! Often the saree
salesman will drape a saree and pose to entice the customer to buy his ware.
There is no question of a siesta time for the shopkeeper or
businessman-everything will be kept aside to attend to the customer. Truly the
customer is King here.
This Drive in those belonging to Delhi is seen in all
spheres of life-everyone is an entrepreneur-from the ‘”doorstep” beauty parlour
lady to others like drycleaners, chemists, grocers who are just a phone call
away.
This must be the only city which welcomes outsiders from all
states and even other cities of the world with such warmth and hospitality that
all who come here find some strange connection with the city to such an extent
that they never want to go back. Every family is connected to another by some
long-winded relationship which binds the people together. Being the seat of
governance of the Central Government too results in deep connections of the
city with all others in the remotest corners of the country which makes it
amazing to be a part of this city. I wouldn’t like to stay in any other city of
the world.
