A key characteristic of Delhites (I mean people of Delhi and its satellite towns like Noida) is their penchant for calling people “uncle”, even when they are calling people who are at most 10-15 years older than them.
Now I am in my mid-30s. I came to Delhi around 8 years back, and soon found myself to be an “uncle” for people in the age group of 18-30. I understand that I already looked much older thanks to my (then) bulky physique and baldness. Nevertheless, it was shocking to find how smartly people of even 30 years of age were calling me “uncle”.
As my age increased, it also resulted in the “expansion” of the age group of my “nephews”. Now I find even people apparently in their 40s (including the ones in late 40s) calling me “uncle”. And now I have stopped getting shocked, as now I am used to it.
But the other day I simply could not help getting shocked again. In fact I was dumbstruck.
I was traveling by Delhi Metro Rail, and was about to get down at the Rajib Chowk station. The train was crowded, and I had somehow managed some space to stand just in front of the gate. There were many other passengers standing there, with a gentleman leaning against the door. When the Rajib Chowk station was about to come, a passenger requested that gentleman to move a little, as he was about to get down at Rajib Chowk. The jolly looking gentleman readily agreed, when he noticed that I was also trying to approach the door. He immediately asked me, very politely, “Aapko bhi utarna hai, uncle”? (You will also get down, uncle?)
And how old was he? Well, a man with a number of grey hairs, he appeared to be at least in his early 50s.
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6 comments:
This is general thing in Delhi an it happens with almost every person who traveling in bus, metro, etc. This is all because of the look and appearance of the person. So it is good to take care of your health and give time for yourself.
Hi, thanks for ur suggestion. Yes, now I exercise regularly, and have shed lots of my weight. Of course I cannot regrow hair at my bald spot (LOL). Anyways, by no chance I think I appear to be an "uncle" for a 50 years old gentleman. But it is OK. I have taken it sportingly. After all, every city has a characteristic of its own, and we must appreciate it. And the issue that I hjave discussed here is certainly not a big deal. Btw, just for curiosity, may I know ur name please? R u the one who sent a beautiful and touching comment for my blog posting "I Wish I Could Die", which was basically a poem?
Ha ha. Well, I am officially a rubber-stamped uncle now, although I have not crossed 28 years yet. I have somehow learned to live with this in Delhi. But generally, people elsewhere also called me uncle frequently, I have noticed, even in other cities such as Bangalore and Kolkata. Maybe our sight is fixed at Delhi only.
That is funny! Strangely, I had the opposite experience (even though I lay no claim to looking young!) - I was addressed as "daughter" (beti" by all and sundry!
So I wouldn't take being called uncle personally.
For what it may be worth, there could be some consolation for you to know that this trend stretches across India and is a feature of life in Mumbai too. Unless it was the Delhi-walas in Mumbai who started this off?
I had written a post about this too. Take a look : http://chai-n-spice.blogspot.com/2009/09/ji-aunty-ji.html
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