The Quintessential Small Town

Mahatma Gandhi said India lives in its villages . Some would say India lives in its cities. I feel India lies in the bracket between these villages and cities – the quintessential small towns – long out of the shadow of villages they used to be but still far from being identified as cities. The bulk of our future working population resides in such towns.

All these small towns have the same inherent characteristics no matter which region of the country one picks to focus upon.

A famous “chauraha” which is the hub of all social activities in the town, A famous eatery which the locals would swear by serves the best food, A famous “English Medium” school where people aspire to send their children because English is the key to success in today’s world (isn’t it), A “Civil Lines” area where the “Adhikaris” or “Officers” live – Almost always the most spacious and well planned part of the town which is held in great respect by the Locals and a legacy of British era and A famous “coaching centre” promising everything from IIT to AIIMS to IAS – though these are the poor cousins of their city counterparts just like these towns themselves.

These towns are like portals in time transporting one to an era when life was simple, no one was in a hurry, and tea breaks ran into hours discussing anything and everything. An era when any function in a house was a joint effort by the whole “Mohalla” and success was not measured in the steps of corporate ladders scaled but in living a healthy and fulfilling life with your family & friends.

However “development” has started making its inherent mutations to these towns by changing their basic DNA and bringing them more and more closer to their rich cousins everytime you revisit them.The first Domino’s, The first McDonald’s, The first Mall which is the new favorite hang out spot -replacing the much older “chauraha”, A new eating joint dishing out the Indian versions of latest global cuisines, A new mobile store selling the latest models, A new saloon which uses branded products of high end brands … all marks of materialistic life that cities have long been familiar with.. and the list goes on.

It’s not long before such towns only become a wistful memory invoking nostalgia whenever someone talks about them or passes through them. That’s the price you pay for development but who can say what’s better.