Chennai: A Conservative City adorning the cloak of a Metropolitan City!
I am well aware that the title may sound preposterous for everyone who has come to love Madras but this is my story and it is rather different to everyone else’s experience in this culture drenched ocean clad town. So request you to hear me out before the hatred pours in.
Chennai, the first thought that comes to mind when you think about this ‘Vandarai Vazha Vaikum Oorru’ are beaches, weather, food, sightseeing, DMK/AIADMK, and the cultural & classical programs. But to me, the first thoughts that engorged while moving to this city were the conservative mindsets that I would have to endure, the restriction on freedom and the lack of privacy. I shall certainly provide examples and explain the scenarios for you as we scroll through this blog.
A little insight into where I come from; Bangalore born and raised girl. A one may be quite well aware, Bangalore is a town that welcomes every culture and adapts to the changing climate. I grew up in a very forward-thinking town where a girl wearing a sleeveless top was never ogled over, the party hub of the south with people out and about on the streets at 1am in the night. But Chennai turned out to be a stark contrast to the atmosphere I was brought up in. Now do not get me wrong, I love the city’s culture and am a regular presence during the December month’s culture festival, but that is where the exposure to the city ends.
I was to move to the city as my new job demanded this and I was excited, a new company that would offer ample exposure and great new learnings and I was headstrong to the hundreds of doubts thrown at me on how I shall manage in the Tamil Naidu’s capital city. I brushed all these comments off and told them off with sheer confidence that I can adapt and I will adapt Period. But I might have been a little off-track back then, cause what I endured was not a metropolitan city but rather the old conservative town.
The first absurd observation of mine was at a city mall, the minute I entered I noticed the crazy difference. The fashion and the people in the mall were not the same people out and about in the city. I noticed girls wearing skirts, shorts, dress and men wore bright colours and seemed more comfortable in there rather than out in the open in the city. I realized that the reason I do not see them walking out there in the city, is because they dress and leave the house in the safety net of a car and leave this safety net only when they are under the umbrella of the mall’s parking lot. When they are out and about in the city, they dress up to match the invisible/unsaid rules and regulations of this town and its people.
During my first week in the town, I was on a bike with my father after work on a house hunt. I was wearing formal pant with a tucked-in sleeveless top. This is a very normal thing in Bangalore but I realized this was not true for Chennai. I received multiple judgmental looks from every rider on a bike, people in autos, buses and even from people sitting in corner shops just watching the city move on, all for wearing a sleeveless top. This made me extremely uncomfortable and made me realize that the town may be safe but it certainly does not make you feel safe when out on the road. The ogling, lusting and judgmental eyes would make you check on whether something is slipping or if you’re showing skin. I mean, what are they looking at? Do they not see this in movies adorned by actors?
Well, who was I kidding this is true for most cities and town in this country and rather than evolving people are just getting worse. I would not be able to wear dresses on public transport as this would gather immense judgement from all corners of the city and from every person on these roads. It got me thinking that if this is the scenario in a metropolitan city of the World’s second-largest country. A country whose economy and prosperity is gradually rising to join the world leaders.
Now, this was not just men who turned to be judgmental but the women as well, the middle-aged housewives (not generalising) who have not adapted to the changing atmosphere out there. The two ladies in my apartment seemed to be extremely interested in my every move that those of their own. I would catch them peeping out the windows and doors everything they heard we lock and leave the house. They would also constantly interrogate me on the whereabouts of my father who had not returned from his trip to Bangalore as they were not comfortable with me living alone. You see the fact of a single woman living alone in the apartment is a threat to their existence!
They state that this is one of the safest cities in India due to its culture. But if the culture is to judge and dismiss anyone who is in their own element, is it safe after all? It is alright to dress however in the entertainment business but it not alright to do so when not on screen. I know that there is more to this city but this is one aspect that affected me the most. I have visited this city many times and every time this is something that has me worried. I have to live in this city for a couple of years for I have come to like the job. So let’s see if I can get myself to like the city as well and exist among these conservative minds.
Well, that’s all for now Folks!!
Nandri to those who made it this far and thank you for reading my rant.
