Does it really matter that I am from Uttar Pradesh and I speak in Kannauji whenever I talk to my family members even when I am with my friends or colleagues?
And I don’t really care what the rest of India thinks about me, because its the same as a Tamilian speaking in Tamil or a person from Telangana speaking in Telugu or a Keralite speaking in Malayalam. It’s more of a mental block that the most Indians look down upon people who speak Kannauji.
I’ve have heard people stereotype men from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar as rapists. I hope you are not going to imply that men from U.P. and Bihar have migrated to all states in India for just this purpose.
All men are not rapists (but some are). A cruel and violent mentality is not specific to men from certain regions. Now, since there are fewer men from U.P., Bihar in the South-Indian states, it doesn’t mean that rapes do not happen there. We need to educate our boys to respect women but generalising and stereotyping men based on caste, creed, race, religion and region is not only unfair but inhuman too.
Irrespective of where they come from, no one is taught to be a rapist. The distinction between people from Bihar and U.P. are blurred to a great extent. We are collectively labelled as outsiders taking up jobs in other states. We are sometimes mentioned in a negative light as ‘U.P., Bihar ke log’. As far as my experience is concerned, it’s been overwhelmingly positive. I have found most people to be very accepting and open-minded.
Honestly, it is all about perception. How on this earth could a language be associated with illiteracy or vulgarity? People nowadays even look down upon the Hindi-speaking population. Language is just a medium to communicate and linking it with biases is baseless. So, next time if someone makes a comment related to being from a state or speaking a certain language, just ignore them as they are not worthy of your attention. Remember people are always judged by their actions, and not by where they come from or the language they speak. Try to avoid the company of people who resort to these region-based biases as they spread only negativity.
As George R.R Martin once said, “Never forget what you are, for surely the world will not. Make it your strength. Then it can never be your weakness. Armour yourself in it, and it will never be used to hurt you.”
What is the worst and the best thing about Uttar Pradesh?
For one, U.P. is not as bad as it is perceived to be. With the advancement of agriculture and service sector which comprises of Travel and Tourism, Hotel Industry, Real Estate etc., Uttar Pradesh is growing. When it comes to food, U.P. is extremely blessed. The Awadhi and Mughlai cuisine of Uttar Pradesh bears an influence of the Mughal rule. A blend of various cultural strains nurtured by centuries of Mughal and later Delhi Sultanate rule and the folk traditions produce a rich and complex mosaic of Indian culture.
In the last few decades, the condition of U.P. has been quite deplorable, that no government could improve overnight with a magic wand. Akhilesh Yadav has done a lot of good work for people. Keeping in view the fast-growing Lucknow city, the state govt. has commenced the work on Metro Rail Project in a big way. With a view to redressing problems, faced by the Non-Resident Indians, they constituted UP NRI Department in July 2014, which is benefiting from the knowledge, skills and global experiences of the NRIs and bringing NRIs closer to their roots.
Moreover, the women power line telephone service 1090 was started on November 15, 2012, to prevent crimes against women. Apart from these, Skill Development Mission, Kisan Pension Yojna, Four Lane link to district headquarters, Lohia Gramin Avas Yojna, 108 Samajwadi Ambulance Service etc. are some successful schemes which are being talked about all over the country. The State Govt. has also come up with schemes in a transparent manner which will benefit minority communities, women, children, youth and farmers.
So, next time before stereotyping anyone – Apne Girebaan Mein Jhankna.
Aur Bhaiya, Hum Hum hain, Baki Sab Pani Kam hain !
Shukriyaan.
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