I have always been surprised with the differences in people from big cities versus people from small cities. The "term" big and "small" is not only in terms of the size of the city but also in terms of the broad mindsets. I grew up in Lucknow which cannot be called a very small city but a medium city. I did have the best education available in Lucknow but had little exposure to the world outside Lucknow till the age of 22. I was lucky enough that I went to Delhi for further education and from there have traveled to several cities within the country. However, "painful" is how I will describe my first few months in the so called big city. I did learn a lot and now 4 years later having traversed such a long distance from there I cant seem to recognize the person who started from home, but that is a different story entirely and I will keep it for a dfferent post someday. Coming back to the point at hand, some of the key differences which I noticed across the small and big citites were like this:
Horizon: The opportunities which are available in big cities and the general exposure people have there results in higher awareness, bigger dreams and a better understanding of the worldly ways (namely handling people and situations).
Conformance: Generally I found that the pressure to conform to peers and to be "liked" and "accepted" is much higher in bigger cities. Though this is a broad generalisation, usually this is a specific trait I have seen in Delhi as against Mumbai. However at a broad level when comparing, small town people who make it to big cities have a lower need to conform. This could be because usually they reach big cities only due to their non conformance attitude to small city pressures.
Simplicity: Small cities have these small thing about them and small wonders about them which the big city people miss out on. I wonder how many people when growing up in big cities would have slept in the open in summers without the AC. Pulled water from hand pump. Attended those home grown spontaneous "geet sangeet" sessions, lit "angithis" in the winters and roasted potatoes, helped mom knit sweaters or make wool balls out of "lacchis"and yes had rabri other than in shaadis and yes been involved in the papad, chips and sewai making sessions over different festivals. Spontaneous visits from neighbours and endless chai sessions are usually the norm, even as strangers are offered tea and coffee. Everybody talk to almost everybody in the colony and everyone is an "aunty" and "uncle".
The point I am making is that I am a little struck by the coldness and calculatedness of the big city minds. Where relatives are unwelcome, life is busy you call before you visit, you would rather meet at a coffeeshop or restaurant rather than invite people home. You visit somebody and it will take ages before water is offered.
Pace of life: The pace of life however in a small city will put you to sleep. Only after moving out did I realize what the term hectic meant and Mumbai taught me the concept of "long" distance. Big cities with their sheer pace add a zest to one's life. Where the day automatically moves from 16 hours to 18-20 hours. The concept of day and night almost exist on the peripherals where your personal life begins once you come back from office at 10 at night, when you socialise go out and party. The passion to live life even in middle aged and senior citizens amazes me and I just love this aspect about the big cities.
I don't blame the big cities for what they are I love them because of their sheer pace of life, opportunities and the horizons they offer but yes sometimes I do feel like caught in a time warp.........
