The city of Chennai brings to mind the tamil language fanatics, with whom I’ve grown up, studied together, worked and interacted with all through my life, in Chennai.
Everybody used to talk only in Tamil and Tamil alone. Of course, there are various slangs, in different parts of the city.
In and around Mylapore, are the Saivaites, conversing in their specialistic Iyer dialect.
Around Triplicane, are the Vaishnavites, with their Iyengar styled dialogues.
The Royapuram side are known for their Hindi speaking crowd who are desperately trying to talk in Tamil. But it will be only Tamil.
The fisherman clan of this city have their own slang of tamil and the working class of people, another slang.
Beyond all these are the tamil fanatic people, who speak in wonderful old classical tamil. Its a treat to hear such speeches in classical tamil. The younger generation of today are finding it difficult to understand this classical tamil. But, once you put in your mind and learn it, the joy derived in listening to such wonderful tamil, is like music to ears.
But, now, after I’ve comeback from the urdu-telugu speaking Hyderabad, I am in for a pleasant surprise.
I had been to the nearby electrical shop to buy some CFL for my home. The salesman was from Rajasthan, speaking in wonderful tamil. And the moment, he came to know that I can speak to Hindi, he was very happy to converse in Hindi with me.
Same situation at Adayar Anadha Bhavan – the wonderful place for snacks, tiffins and sorts. But, surprise of surprises – all the sales people were from Bihar and starting conversing with me in Hindi. Actually I got super service, there.
The other day, I had been to a nearby branch of Ratna Cafe. This Ratna Cafe is one of the oldest hotels in Chennai, started first in Triplicane. I’ve heard stories of ppl buying Sambhar only in buckets to drink it – even though you think its an exaggeration, its the truth. Such is the taste of sambhar, here.
And at Ratna Cafe too, I met a few ppl who are from North India and working there at servers. My God, they were awesome pleased to hear me talk to them in Hindi.
It is certain that those ppl from the Northern India have learnt tamil, to be a survivor in Chennai.
But one thing hit me straight – Arre !!!! Chennai mein hindi chalta hai, yaar !!!!!
Thats a great step forward for the city of Chennai and it can be the advantageous side effects of the booming IT industry and a great moving crowd.
Reminds me of my college days in Stella English and Hindi were the only known ways to communicate…..got so carried away that for the longest time I used to say “dosa” instead of “dosai” until the rajini fanatic changed me…..maybe rajini lingo is also a language in itself
I still say ‘dosa’.
Dosa or Dosai – its the super taste of Chennai Dosai and Sambhar that makes all the difference, right ????
OH HO !!! Totally forgot abt that Rajini Lingo !!! Yeah, that too is quite prevalent in Chennai.
But for some “Tamizh” pitching fanatics, pronounciation is more important than the taste….
I am yet to learn hindi… I think sooner or later i will fine difficulty in conversing… But then its wonderful change… And i always wonder how every people comes to Chennai was able to converse well in tamil..
Its amazing Kanagu, while the North Indians have learnt to speak tamil so well, so are the Tamilian counterparts who speak quite a gud hindi, now.
Actually, I was amazed at the Bihari trying to sell the seedai, murukku, kuzhi paniyaram – pronounced so well in tamil !!!!
Chennai is one of the most beautiful places I have lived. By beautiful I mean the people of Chennai because except for few places, it is not that clean. But the people are so friendly, helpful at any time of the hour. I have lived in many states/places and out of all Chennai people ranks the highest. My bestest friend is a Tamizh Iyer.
3 Cheers to the city of Chennai and the wonderful and the friendly ppl !!!
Woohoo! Thatz so nice Uma
NJaay maadi 
Nw, I feel like drinking sambhar LOL
Thanks, Swaram.
BTW, I can send u some sambhar, if u want
LOL .. I hd just finished eating my Sambar+rice when I read this one
@Swaram,
did that mean u don’t want Uma to send sambhar to you???
[...] with someone, I am searching ppl in Chennai to converse in Hindi !!! I’ve actually found a lot of ppl, who make life easier for the Hindi speaking crowd in Chennai. Thats the irony of the human mind [...]
[...] And also, the present trend is people from Northern parts come here searching for jobs, as this is a really good place to settle. So, I see hindi speaking people wherever I go and its a welcome change for many. Suddenly we see a lot of Chaat shops in the city, with these many North Indians trying to make this, their city. If we people, Tamilians, are not accommodative or not Cosmo in their thinking, how the hell that the… [...]
so liked the place when i visited it