Maana ki bohot shokh
hai Nepal ke log
Sach hai ki bohot
khoob hai Bangaal ke log
duniya ko khangala to
ye maloom hua
bemisaal zamaane me
hain Bhopal ke log
The best way to
feel the pulse of a city is to learn about its people and their ways of life. This
‘rubai’ (poetic genre of two couplets) by Sadequain beautifully describe
Bhopalis and their idiosyncrasies. No wonder the red building of the Central
Library or the Minars of Taj Ul Masajid visible when you enter the city from
the station declares you are in the ‘city of Nawab’, the actual Bhopal lies even
beyond these monuments and the lakes. The real substance of the city can be felt through a
set of activities or some delectable delicacies that have been practiced so
much over the years that they have inadvertently become unwritten salient
features of Bhopal. Here's what makes you feel you are in Bhopal
Riding with panache
When you see
jeeps from Willys to Ford, Kaiser or even modified ones plying liberally on the
street, you know you are in Bhopal. From the adventure of diving their vehicles
into murky water, to meandering on muddy tracks during mud-rallies, weekend got
(family outing) or just evening jaunts, jeeps are the obvious answer for most
Bhopalis. Born with a command on the road, Bhopalis have their own ways with
these muscular vehicles, something you will not witness in any other city of
India. Interestingly, many Bollywood stalwarts have imported modified version
of the vehicle from the city, a fact that bears testimony to the importance of
jeep in Bhopal.
Fishing out the perfect time pass
A leisure
activity for people across India means either watching a movie, dining at a
restaurant, shopping at a mall or going for a long drive. Although Bhopal is
not bereft of any of the aforesaid, when it comes to time pass, Bhopalis love
going old school. So, while the rest of the world enjoy the marvels of human
invention, people of the city seek resort in the lap of nature, angling their
time out. Be it the Upper Lakes or Lower, irrespective of season, people of
every age can be spotted all set with their fishing rods and bait.
Quintessential Bhopali talks
Interested in
knowing the fate of Barrack Obama in the next elections of United States of
America or the gadgets that are likely to get launched in 2050? Sit with a
bunch of Bhopalis and you could get an answer to all. In an era of technical
advancement when dissemination of information is mostly executed through
high-end technologies, Bhopal is perhaps only one of the few cities where
people still prefer sitting and talking with each other and exchange
information in the process. However, these discussions never take place in
coffee shops but at roadside pavement. Not to forget, it is an unending process
that starting from the noon can continue till the wee hours.
Anything for this cup of tea
All who say Darjeeling tea is the best in the country have most certainly not tasted the
essentially ‘Namak wala chai’ of
Bhopal. From discussions to debates, a lot can happen in the city over a cup of
this ‘chai’. The aroma of tea leaves boiling ceaselessly in a container
enamelled with brass is just enough to tantalize the olfactory senses of
gourmand and compel them to revitalize their taste-bud. Although few in number,
almost all shops serving Samover (namak wali chai) are choc-a-bloc round
the clock.
Who says bikes are meant only for riding?
Ever wondered
why all vehicle stunt shows unfailingly witness participation of youngsters from
Bhopal? The answer is quite obvious actually. Just like driving open jeeps,
performing wonders with motorcycles runs in the veins of Bhopal. Manoeuvring the
two-wheelers to perform wheelies, stoppies or burnouts can give unmatched joys
and young Bhopalis have proved it every time. So, the next time you happen to
see someone stunting on their bikes and feel the adrenaline rush, don’t forget
to remind yourself you are in Bhopal.
