I’ve just arrived back in Mumbai after spending 5 days with two of my aunts and their families in Kanpur. Kanpur is a wretched city, I can’t lie. For the past 26 years, I’ve been visiting India intermittently and I’ve seen cities like Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore develop into huge metropolitans. I’ve also seen smaller cities, like the hill station Nainital and the famous Agra better their infrastructure by building new roads and services for the community. Kanpur has stayed the same since I was a child. Most of its roads aren’t really considered roads by any standards – they are merely lanes full of broken asphalt and deep craters ready to puncture car tires. In addition to the craters, one can find a huge cow taking a nap in the middle of the road or a stray dog practicing sprints as it runs in between oncoming traffic. Kanpur is quite a big city, with a bustling population (like the rest of India) and several industries, most popular are its tanneries and leather goods. My dad’s sister and one of my mom’s sisters both live in Kanpur. My dad was also raised there. Both of my aunts live in very nice houses but their surroundings have yet to be developed. Don’t get me wrong, I love spending time with my family in Kanpur. They spoil me and cook my favourite meals and we go around the town visiting other relatives and before I know it, my trip to Kanpur is over. But, I do wish that the city would develop into something that is more attractive to those that come to visit and even those that call it home. I’m not saying it should become like Mumbai or Delhi, it’s just a shame to see a big city in the state of Uttar Pradesh (a city that my family has so many ties to) stay stagnant in terms of development.
My uncle in Kanpur told me a nice analogy. When he drives to work every morning, he sees flocks of birds in the city all leave for the surrounding lush forests for food. Before dark, the birds all return to the dust covered trees in the city. They actually leave the lush, green forests and come back to what they consider home. My uncle is right. It doesn’t really matter if the city is a bit backwards or if a village is without water and electricity – at the end of the day, anyone is glad to walk through the door of their home (or fly into their nest) and just relax. After touring the city of Kanpur in the day, the dusty air and bumpy roads make me want to pass out so I’m definitely glad to reach either of my aunt’s houses! But, to me, nothing compares to my Summerdale Place in Ancaster and to my uncle, nothing compares to his home in Kanpur.
I’m already missing my family in Kanpur. My cousin’s wife also came to see me from Delhi and we had a great time together. I also enjoyed some delicious mangoes which we can’t get here in Mumbai. One particular kind is called the ‘choosma’ mango. Me, being the amateur mango consumer didn’t know how to eat it. My grandfather’s brother instructed me to rip a hole in the skin on the top of the mango and suck all the juice out…but not too hard or a hole would rip in the bottom and all of the mango’s contents would pour out! It was quite an unconventional way to eat a mango but I must say – it was absolutely delicious. Now that I’m back in Bombay, I’ll get back to my favourite kulfi (Indian ice cream) store off Marine Drive and my favourite corn roaster at the Opera House. I miss my family in Kanpur but now I’m back at my aunt’s place in Mumbai and the homesick feeling is gone.
I have so many moms, dads, sisters and brothers here in India. It’s amazing how all of my aunts, uncles and cousins take me into their homes, feed me amazing food, take me through the transit system to help me commute to CCDT and just in general make me feel at home. I was telling my aunt today that I feel kind of useless when I’m in India because in most houses, there are servants that take care of the cooking and cleaning so I can’t even contribute in the household chores! It’s too bad I hardly cook at home or at least I’d make a meal occasionally (my mom is shaking her head in disgust right now). I think I’ll try to make some pasta or lasagna before I go – and if it turns out to be a disaster, there’s always takeout!
For a while, I thought Mumbai was being extra nice to me and holding back on the torrential downpours. Wishful thinking. Today I got soaked. My aunt and I went out to a bridal show (not to find me a husband) to look at all the fancy jewelry and clothes. Then, we went to Churchgate, one of the main train stations in South Bombay and I got myself a monthly pass so that I can commute to CCDT. Similar to the GO train at home, this pass will take me to Bandra, a distance equivalent to that between Oakville and Toronto. My monthly pass cost me 350 Rupees – not even $10! Train travel is extremely cost efficient in Mumbai – possibly to make up for the extravagant cost of living. After getting my pass, my aunt and I decided to walk home which is usually just a 10 minute walk. Five minutes into our walk, it started to rain lightly again so we broke out the umbrellas. Within 2 minutes, it was a full on downpour and we quickly took shelter at a bus stop. With the wind and rain combined, my back got soaked and as we took 15 seconds to jump into a cab, the rest of my body, head to toe was drenched. Thank god it’s warm over here or I would be one damn cranky Priya. I’m glad to be back in Mumbai because I’m looking forward to working with CCDT. I feel like it’s my first day of school!
Mumbai trains can be quite scary. Since the population is so dense, it’s a mad race to get on the trains and an even crazier race to get off. With the recent bombings in Bangalore and Ahemdabad, I’m a little hesitant to travel on the trains in Mumbai considering the bombings that happened on them two years ago. But, in this day in age, unfortunately our every day lives are a game of luck. Crazy terrorists are all over the world and I know first hand that they can strike at any time. In the past 3 years, violence has followed me on most of my trips. In 2005, there were bombings the day I landed in London. There was an earthquake and bombings when I was in Delhi. Last year, Benazir Bhutto was assassinated the night I was leaving India and we were worried that there would be riots in the streets. And now, this past week, there were 9 bombs planted in Bangalore and they all blew within an hour. The next day a series of bombs blew in Ahemdabad. Now, I’m going to go pack my lunch for tomorrow…and get ready for the intense commute that will hopefully become routine within a few days and I’m going to try not to think of the latest violence that is circulating through the country.
