This is something that my folks would never like me to do – To portray an image on the South Indian Community (Popularly ragged as the Idli-Dosa Community). I have nothing personal against them, rather us as I am one of them. But there are some things, which are conspicuous in our community, in particular, The Iyer Tam Bram community. The universal credentials for us are the traditional white dhoti for men and the unending red/maroon saree draped around women. They are very stringent against the different vices a man is exposed to during his younger days. If you are a smoker or if you have an occasional drink, you happen to be a disgrace to the whole legion of the high endowed, respected Brahmin community.
The first attribute that strikes me is the way they live on comparison. Comparison happens to be the way of life. The number of initials that they add after their name is the status symbol. If you would watch old Tamil movies, you would observe that, starting from the cameraman to the director everyone would add their qualification to their name when the titles are introduced. I know a man who introduces himself as ‘Ganapathi B.E.’ - you know what he means by ‘B.E.’. In the circle he got introduced, was a professor in IIT with a doctorate to his name. This is to say the least. These kinds of instances are best observed in any kind of gathering and we have enough functions and rituals in place to forcibly meet each other at-least thrice a year. As I am under qualified for my community, I explicitly expose my discomfort when these penetrating questions on qualifications arise. But they are smarter than you think. They already know what you are, but probably have this indeterminate gratification of hearing your miseries from the horses mouth. And the oldies wouldn’t leave till they get their answers. And then once you are done, they would map you against their sister’s mother in law’s brother’s uncle’s grandson who happens to be of your age. That jerk cracked IIT’s entrance exam in his very first attempt. I can imagine that nerd with big specs buried in a mound of books.
Let’s get into the professional aspects. I am kind of lucky to be placed in well reputed firm with infinitesimal list of qualifications. So, after they know bunch of papers that you carry in your qualification kit, the next topic would be your profession. With me it takes a different angle. The question that they perennially want to know is, ‘How the hell you made to that corporate at that level without enough qualifications?’ Why can’t a person be good enough to handle a job? Forget it – They would never understand that. You are not done yet. And then the worst part – What’s your take home salary? I still don’t understand what impact it would have if they come to know how much I earn a year. It’s my money and my life. They are best in scaling all the limits to interfere into your personal life without subjecting to the boundaries of ones personal existence. I have figured a way to tackle this. ‘Well, I am able to live a decent living with what I get’ is my standard reply. And they probe with the following statements – ‘But with 4 years of experience you wouldn’t be earning more than a Rs. 50,000/ a month – Right?’ God save me.
There is another trait that is singular here. Ones, who have seen this world for more than half-a-century voluntarily, take up the onus of mapping all the bachelors to the women worthy of getting married. They get this undefined amusement of getting to know your plans for marriage. And if you aren’t keen on getting married in the near future, then they run their ‘Self and marital importance orientation Program’ where you are enlightened with the nuances of married life. Would they ever stop? Where am I? Am I in an interrogation to answer the purpose of the existence? Am I really a part of these people? Do I want to end up like this when I am at their age? I think not. I plan to provide the younger generation a better life when we have a communal get together. For the time being, let me get off this place and enjoy a smoke.
