10 Things which let you know you are in Small town India!

1.When there are very few or hardly one shopping mall and a number of SOPPING COMPLAX…you know you are in small town India.

2.When each and every wall is plastered/painted with slogans like – “dilli chalo! ABVP ka andolan hai!!” , “ Neem Hakim Baba Bengali se ilaaj karwayei..khoyi mardana takat wapas paayein” or “Learn English – join AMARICAN Institute”… you know you are in small town India.

3.When the local newspaper carries news like – “do bacchon ki maa chaar bacchon k baap sang bhaagi” , “ladki chedne k virodh mei do guto mei pathraav” , “Bhains ki current lagne se maut”… you know you are in small town India.

4.When electricity cuts and the subsequent public beating of the Junior Engineer or the lineman (“ o jee, sunte ho…fir bijli chali gai…zara Hydel k JE ko tight kare aao”) are a regular feature… you know you are in small town India. (And interestingly, people consider power theft as their birthright and then claim there’s a shortage of power)

5.When you hear words like “Bahut Rangbaaj bane firte ho” (Western UP), “Hum tumhe pel denge” (Jhansi), “Miyaan bhokaali ho rahe ho” (Lucknow) and not to forget “L*** fenk k maarunga, khaandaan C*** jaega” (Gwalior)… you know you are in small town India.

6.When the roads have more cows and dogs on them than cars…you know you are in small town India.

7.When the local administration declares a holiday for almost anything…be it rains, summers, winters and even university examinations…you know you are in small town India.

8. When the best place to hang out in the city happens to be a big garden maintained by the army cantt or a newly built maall…you know you are in small town India.

9.When people may not be able to commend on someone's job as a consultant in McKinsey or as a Bond Trader at Darashaw, but know what it is to be a Sales Exec for HUL and WCCLG…you know you are in small town India.

10.When the favorite pastime of people (read neighbours) is to poke your parents for your marriage (and you are only 24 and have just about start a job)…you know you are in small town India.


I come from this mofussil part of India which has probably been left out in the fast paced world of IT, SEZ, ICT, TechParks but maintains its own charm and has witnessed widespread exodus by young children to larger cities in search of the elusive “Great Indian Dream”. But look, sitting next to you in crisp clothes, toting a Blackberry and spewing flawless English is a person hailing from “Small Town India”. Cheerios :)