Chom or Gult

These are the BITSian slangs for the north Indians (CHapati Oriented Men) and people from Andhra Pradesh (Telugu read backwards sounds similar to gults).
The all important question here is ‘where do I belong’? Whenever I try to force this question on me, I tend to get utterly confused. This is because I was born in Bihar, spent my very early years in Uttar Pradesh and then moved to Andhra Pradesh at the age of 8. Most of my schooling was done in this southern state yet I am not a native of the state. When one talks of the history, traditions and cultures associated with this part of the country, my knowledge is a big zilch. I don’t speak very good Telugu neither do I have much idea of the telugu film industry or age old politics. To some extent, the fault lies with me. When one spends such a lot of time in some place, one ought to know these things. But then, at home there is hardly anything I can learn on this front. My kins have never been to the south and so newspapers are all I have!
I can call myself ‘gult’ only because most of my close associations and my very close friends in school and BITS have been with gults. I am a ‘chom’ because essentially I belong to Uttar Pradesh. On a personal level, I don’t mind being called either to the extent where someone doesn’t abuse the other community on my face for no reason. I believe in treating people on merit, be it chom or gult. Someone deserves to be praised, I’ll go and pat him on this back and if someone has to be lambasted for his mistakes I surely will not refrain from doing that as well.
There are flip sides to everything. A dual status at BITS has its own share of pros and cons. The most unique advantage is that one gets to know these two very different wonderful communities from very close. I feel proud that I don’t find trouble bonding with either. No one’s perfect and so if one can adopt the good things, such a status is a real great help. On the contrary, sometimes a few harsh comments hit you directly in your face. No one like’s to be lectured or shown one’s mistakes. So, when someone talks ill of either gults or choms, it feels like I am being scolded. I prefer staying mum during these encounters.
One may feel that I am exaggerating this a tad bit more. But, what would anyone else do being in my position? I don’t blame you for not understanding me, because from where I am standing this question is totally valid and besetting. I have seen people generalize things about the other regional association which to me doesn’t sound right. I have heard people say that some community boasts of ghotus, misers and self-centered people, I can show you a million examples on the contrary. I have heard people say that a particular community is full of people who are lazy, laid back and very loud in expressing thoughts. Again there are examples to prove one false.
My point is don’t see a segment or a few souls doing something and start to take that as the character of the community. One can find all kinds of people in that very community; after all, god didn’t create us keeping in mind this faux split of regions. It is true that culture adds a lot to one’s behavior and attitude, but then again it is how one interprets ones culture or traditions. Particularly in BITS, I find people take pride in being a part of the split. It is not wrong to be proud of your region, your community or your folks but trying to gain superiority by making all the wrong assumptions about the other group is just not right. When we think of the bigger picture, it is the first step to degrade a nation. The educated lot should understand this. Someone at fault should be pitied for not having the understanding to get it right and not humiliated. Only then can we, as a nation, move forward.
After all is said and done, I feel proud and privileged to have been associated with ‘gults’. Whatever I am today is because of this great state and my great friends. But again, I would request everyone to ponder upon this!
Cheers,
Piyush.