Five Things North Indians Absolutely Need to Know About “Madrasis”!

[P.J.]

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Five Things North Indians Absolutely Need to Know About “Madrasis”!

An interesting Article which is posted by one of my Friend in FB

Thought of Sharing it here with you all.


Please read

Five Things North Indians Absolutely Need to Know About "Madrasis"! | JunkTechie!

 

[renuka]

Dear PJ sir,


I cant stop laughing..it is so funny and absolutely true.

When I was a student in Manipal I remember we had a patient from New Delhi who came all the way to get surgery done by a top surgeon in Manipal.

Ok then this patient asked me "what religion are South Indians?"

I was "what??? Just like rest of India majority are Hindus and there are Muslims and Christians too etc"

Then he asked "Do South Indians pray to Shiva also?"

I was thinking "what a nut case he is..how come he did not know anything"


Then this is another story.

There was a student from New Delhi who was a Nortie and looked like one too but later we came to know that its only her dad who is a Nortie and her mum is a Tamilian.

But even then she also was confused she asked me "what God's do South Indians pray too"

So me and another friend told her "ask you mum she will tell you"

Then she said "I see my mum praying to Shiva etc but I thought that was becos she married my father"

Believe me PJ sir..some from North really do not know anything about us South Indians.

BTW I can say much about the rest of us South Indians too..once I was working in a Private clinic here where the owner was a South Indian lady who had also studied in Manipal(many years my senior)

Ok her nurse was a Tamilian and I noticed that her nurse wore a Mangalsutra that is usually worn but Orissa community.

Then I asked her "are you married to an Oriya?"

She said "yes doctor..how did you know?"

I said by our Thali..then she said "doctor how come you know about Orissa"

I told her "didnt we all study Geography in school and also I had seen friends in India who had the Oriya Thali"

Then the owner Doctor walked in and asked me "where is Orissa? Which country is it in?"

So I kept quiet cos I was wondering how come she did not know!LOL


Note: I used the word Orissa and not Odisha cos when this conversation took place in 1997.. the state was still known as Orissa.

 

[P.J.]

Really Funny Renukaji

When i was working in a Jute mill in Howrah District, i was called MADRASI.. even others from Kerala working there also called Madrasi.. actually many from North India club all south Indians and call them "MARDASI"

 

[krish44]

Interesting posts.
As a madrasi born and brought up in north I have a few observations
In my younger days when I studied in bangalore ,I was not accepted by my south indian class mates due to my north upringing and manners
it was the height of anti hindi agitation in tamil nadu. My comfort in talking in hindi made them identify me with hated north indians
so I ended up with north indian friends instead of south.and rated as good madrasi by north indians and bad madrasi by south indians
But northies took long to adjust to my dhothi figure and liking tamil film music,reading tamil novels. some of the northis wanted to learn tamil gaalis from me
in recent years , northis are facing the heat in south. there is a very large influx for education as tamilnadu and bangalore have become edn. hubs It and management jobs are in south in chennai and bangalore. Construction and security jobs are taken up by people from jharkand,biharand other poor states. these people are the hate figures in chennai instead of brahmins. They are cheated by auto.cab drivers. they cannot get houses on rent. some of them were killed in encounter while committing a theft in ATM . they could have been arrested easily. there was a exodus recently of people from north east, bihar due to some rumour mongering in chennai and bangalore
I have given my flat in chennai on rent to north indian engg graduate girls seeing their pitiable conditions due to gender,singlestatus and language. they feel uncomfortable in chennai. as they are not welcome in housing societies ,. Their food preferences, their inability to communicate in tamil makes them outcastes.They ring me up frequetly and I communicate on their behalf in tamil when needed. This happening when country belongs to all is shameful

 

[vgane]

Dear Krish,

There are many Marwari, Gujju and Sardarjis in Chennai and other cities of Tamil Nadu...Every second street in Chennai there is a Marwari Pawn broker shop..They are called Settu

Most of them speak Tamil but maintain their unique identity...I used to think why the Marwaris are decorating the house in the evenings when we celebrate Diwali in the mornings..This question was answered when I moved to North

Can you speak in Tamil with an auto rickshaw driver in Delhi?

No doubt regionalism is strong in TN but it has not impacted the North Indian business in the state much..

The Settus are the financial backbone for the Kazhagams!

 

[vsubbu48]

Marwaris and Gujjus are mostly pawn brokers. Tamils always need them for money and there is a symbiotic relationship.

 

[Brahmanyan]

: Five Things North Indians Absolutely Need to Know About “Madrasis”!

Interesting Post. I would like to add sixth to this.
Husband's/Father's name is not family surname of South Indians. The north Indian media use Natarajan as Surname for Jayanthi Natarajan, and Seetharaman for Nirmala Seetharaman, while reporting.

Brahmanyan,
Bangalore.

 

[CHANDRU1849]

Interesting posts.
As a madrasi born and brought up in north I have a few observations
In my younger days when I studied in bangalore ,I was not accepted by my south indian class mates due to my north upringing and manners
it was the height of anti hindi agitation in tamil nadu. My comfort in talking in hindi made them identify me with hated north indians
so I ended up with north indian friends instead of south.and rated as good madrasi by north indians and bad madrasi by south indians
But northies took long to adjust to my dhothi figure and liking tamil film music,reading tamil novels. some of the northis wanted to learn tamil gaalis from me
in recent years , northis are facing the heat in south. there is a very large influx for education as tamilnadu and bangalore have become edn. hubs It and management jobs are in south in chennai and bangalore. Construction and security jobs are taken up by people from jharkand,biharand other poor states. these people are the hate figures in chennai instead of brahmins. They are cheated by auto.cab drivers. they cannot get houses on rent. some of them were killed in encounter while committing a theft in ATM . they could have been arrested easily. there was a exodus recently of people from north east, bihar due to some rumour mongering in chennai and bangalore
I have given my flat in chennai on rent to north indian engg graduate girls seeing their pitiable conditions due to gender,singlestatus and language. they feel uncomfortable in chennai. as they are not welcome in housing societies ,. Their food preferences, their inability to communicate in tamil makes them outcastes.They ring me up frequetly and I communicate on their behalf in tamil when needed. This happening when country belongs to all is shameful

My daughter is working in an MNC in Mumbai. The Company provided quarters and she is staying with another three girls of Marati and Hindi origins. All the three are not co-operative and they think people from Chennai are inferior. She has been finding it very difficult; but anyhow she has to pull on.

It is there everywhere.

 

[sangom]

I have had some exposure to some north indian states and north indians during my working life. Generally I have found that person from any one of the south group is unwelcome in most north indian areas. The northis, particularly the non-sikh Punjabis, the hard core hindiwallas from UP, Bihar, MP, etc., do not like any "Madrasi" and look down upon them. Similarly a Bengali is outright disliked in Assam and most of NE as well as by the Oriya people. Maharshtrians especially the north Karnatakites-turned Maharashtrians greatly dislike all Madrasis coming into Mumbai. Even Kannadigas in Karnataka have no love lost for malayalis or Tamilians and, in the privacy of their groups, denote them by abusive terms for the people of the other three states.

In short there is no "Indian" feeling in most parts of our country but only regional parochialism rules.

 

[Vaagmi]

I have had some exposure to some north indian states and north indians during my working life. Generally I have found that person from any one of the south group is unwelcome in most north indian areas. The northis, particularly the non-sikh Punjabis, the hard core hindiwallas from UP, Bihar, MP, etc., do not like any "Madrasi" and look down upon them. Similarly a Bengali is outright disliked in Assam and most of NE as well as by the Oriya people. Maharshtrians especially the north Karnatakites-turned Maharashtrians greatly dislike all Madrasis coming into Mumbai. Even Kannadigas in Karnataka have no love lost for malayalis or Tamilians and, in the privacy of their groups, denote them by abusive terms for the people of the other three states.

In short there is no "Indian" feeling in most parts of our country but only regional parochialism rules.

And what about the derisive malayalaththaan and golti freely used in Tamilnadu?

 

[prasad1]

I understand this is a Tamil site so mostly Tamil viewpoints. But like Vaagmiji says it is not uncommon to speak ill of other communities even in Tamilnadu itself.

The northis, particularly the non-sikh Punjabis, the hard core hindiwallas from UP, Bihar, MP, etc., do not like any "Madrasi" and look down upon them.

That statement is without any basis. I have been born and brought up in that community, Madrasis were always treated as the brainy ones. In Industries mostly Tamilians were preferred. There was a resentment in the general populace against Tamilians as they were portrayed as talking the local jobs. But that was there in Bombay and other parts too.

 

[vgane]

Look at the habit of drinking..In Chennai drinking is taboo for traditional households..But in North, it is quite common even in so called traditional house holds..Brandy is quite commonly fed to kids for common cough! They will laugh at you if you do not drink in social circles when there is a party or any other occasion to celebrate..Such behavior is not seen in Chennai..We do not force any one to drink...Especially Punjabis are rabidly aggressive in this!

 

[tks]

I think a sense of Indian feeling exists much more (not fully) among most first generation immigrants and NRI who live outside India !

Regardless there is unification of food. During 1960-70 time period it was hard to get chappathhi and roti in South India which was looked down upon by many 'Madrasis' .. Today they are available in most restaurants. Similarly Idli, Dosai, Vadai etc are seemingly available in most part of India including many remote corners in North India based on my minimal trips.

Even in the 1970s the 'Madrasi' பொறுக்கி fellows have started integrating Punjabi and North Indian profanities with their usual poetry of Tamil profanities and name calling .. I almost did not understand what one Auto Rikshaw fellow was shouting at another back in 1979 when I was visiting India. I realized the integration of India as one India is in full swing !

 

[krish44]

Look at the habit of drinking..In Chennai drinking is taboo for traditional households..But in North, it is quite common even in so called traditional house holds..Brandy is quite commonly fed to kids for common cough! They will laugh at you if you do not drink in social circles when there is a party or any other occasion to celebrate..Such behavior is not seen in Chennai..We do not force any one to drink...Especially Punjabis are rabidly aggressive in this!

northis take to drink because of weather conditions in north. very hot in summer calling for crates of beer and very cold in winter leading to thirst for rum,whiskey and brandy. in office parties of even govt companies ,one finds south brahmins hogging hard drinks and making a beeline for chicken dishes.There is no sense in adopting a holier than thou attitude towards this.

 

[vgane]

northis take to drink because of weather conditions in north. very hot in summer calling for crates of beer and very cold in winter leading to thirst for rum,whiskey and brandy. in office parties of even govt companies ,one finds south brahmins hogging hard drinks and making a beeline for chicken dishes.There is no sense in adopting a holier than thou attitude towards this.

I am not talking of drinking habit per se in North but about the nasty behavior of shoving the drink on a teetotaler or mixing non veg food in veg just to taunt a veggie guy from South...Most of this is done by the Punjus who think the whole world is at their feat! They are the most indisciplined among the crowd!

 

[Raji Ram]

FYI, Vaagmi Sir! While 'golti' remains unchanged the other one is now 'mallu'!

 

[ashwin_ash]

During my previous visit to India (Bangalore), I traveled in my relative's car. The road was fairly devoid of vehicles and my relative took a turn into the road. Some mini van guy who was like 300 m away from us waved his hands and yelled obscenities and called us "North Indian some profanity". My relative let loose a volley of invectives in the local language and this guy realized we are "south Indians". Mayawati once proposed that the old "Zamindari" system might be the answer to India's woes, what with an overkill of "multiculturalism".

There is only disunity in diversity. What struck me as especially bad was Bangaloreans' attitude. We ate at some restaurant named "Maiyas" and some random guy hurled abuses at some elderly tamilians. I noticed this all over Bangalore, Chennai was better in many respects.

 

[krish44]

I am not talking of drinking habit per se in North but about the nasty behavior of shoving the drink on a teetotaler or mixing non veg food in veg just to taunt a veggie guy from South...Most of this is done by the Punjus who think the whole world is at their feat! They are the most indisciplined among the crowd!

Vgane ji
Partition in 1947 has lead to this overbearing and callous attitude towards others. they have lost everything and nothing to hold on to . They have become totally materialistic and lost all sense of right and wrong. they have become violent and profane in behaviour. use gaalis in every sentence and show their hostility to all except punjabis.

 

[krish44]

During my previous visit to India (Bangalore), I traveled in my relative's car. The road was fairly devoid of vehicles and my relative took a turn into the road. Some mini van guy who was like 300 m away from us waved his hands and yelled obscenities and called us "North Indian some profanity". My relative let loose a volley of invectives in the local language and this guy realized we are "south Indians". Mayawati once proposed that the old "Zamindari" system might be the answer to India's woes, what with an overkill of "multiculturalism".

There is only disunity in diversity. What struck me as especially bad was Bangaloreans' attitude. We ate at some restaurant named "Maiyas" and some random guy hurled abuses at some elderly tamilians. I noticed this all over Bangalore, Chennai was better in many respects.

ash
deep inside there is a feeling that tamils have taken away their livelihood . in their own capital in sixties no kannada films were shown in kempegowda circle where there were more than 15 picture houses. there was a violent agitation against tamils and others. tamil is still spoken in IT and other MNCs dominated by tamils. Even the lower level jobs have been taken up by northeast biharis and jharkand fellows. locals can do nothing other than hurl profanities

 

[CHANDRU1849]

ash
deep inside there is a feeling that tamils have taken away their livelihood . in their own capital in sixties no kannada films were shown in kempegowda circle where there were more than 15 picture houses. there was a violent agitation against tamils and others. tamil is still spoken in IT and other MNCs dominated by tamils. Even the lower level jobs have been taken up by northeast biharis and jharkand fellows. locals can do nothing other than hurl profanities

The above is applicable to Tamil Nadu also, where Keralities and Andhraites are dominating. I have come across an article which says 56 MLAs in Tamil Nadu belong to Telugu category (I don't know how far it is true).

Do you come across any other State like this?

Tamil cinema is being dominated by Actress from Kerala and North India; and producers from AP.

 

[indianassault]

The above is applicable to Tamil Nadu also, where Keralities and Andhraites are dominating. I have come across an article which says 56 MLAs in Tamil Nadu belong to Telugu category (I don't know how far it is true).

Do you come across any other State like this?

Tamil cinema is being dominated by Actress from Kerala and North India; and producers from AP.

ULtimately it will come down to caste and we Tamils are the worst hit due to it. Where ever I go , i am being discriminated by teh NB's. If you see in Houston area, which is famous for temples , there is Swaminarayan, there is Durga Bari, there is Guruvayurappan, there is Gurudwara and even a sangam for the dokku Kannada guys. But we tamils do not have an indigenous Tamil temple which is completely "Tamil" . The Meenakshi temple is good, but its still a Tamil/Telugu temple . Why?? I suspect the Iyer Iyengar divide would have come there also.

The Northies are hypocrites. Simple example is no one would question Pawar when he loots, but if its done by Srini, they do not digest it. They dont learn any other language other than Hindi but expect an auto wallah or poor bus conductor to speak in HIndi .

 

[prasad1]

I used to live in Houston in the 1980's. The Meenakshi temple was not built and we used to have a shed with Ganesh as the moorty. The money came from Tamilians. We used to cook, and used to do all work. Slowly it gathered enough patronage, andra people joined and used to work with us. The 82's were bad and lot of Tamilians had to leave for jobs. The Telegu people had a cohesive group and slowly took over the activities. The tamilians were not a group that joins together easily. The Meenakshi Temple of Madurai sent us their priest and the idol. The tamilians could not keep it. Hats of to the telegu people who work together.

The same thing is happening in my new place as well.

 

[CHANDRU1849]

ULtimately it will come down to caste and we Tamils are the worst hit due to it. Where ever I go , i am being discriminated by teh NB's. If you see in Houston area, which is famous for temples , there is Swaminarayan, there is Durga Bari, there is Guruvayurappan, there is Gurudwara and even a sangam for the dokku Kannada guys. But we tamils do not have an indigenous Tamil temple which is completely "Tamil" . The Meenakshi temple is good, but its still a Tamil/Telugu temple . Why?? I suspect the Iyer Iyengar divide would have come there also.

The Northies are hypocrites. Simple example is no one would question Pawar when he loots, but if its done by Srini, they do not digest it. They dont learn any other language other than Hindi but expect an auto wallah or poor bus conductor to speak in HIndi .

The fact is Tamilians were cleverly and virtually divided as Bs and NBs by straight forward rationalists (?), which paved the way for smooth sailing of others, especially Andhraites and Keralities. Still Tamilians, both Bs and NBs, have not learned lessons.

As Iyers and Iyengars have two different distinct systems, unity becomes a distant dream, which is not possible.

I have a feeling that Tamilians cannot be united, whether in India or outside, unless a Tamil Social Reformer with compassion, like Vallalar, who has faith in religion as well as the welfare of Tamilians, can only bring unity among Tamilians. Alternatively, the liberal minded Bs and NBs join together and educate the people the need of unity.

But, I doubt very much that this will happen.

 

[krish44]

The fact is Tamilians were cleverly and virtually divided as Bs and NBs by straight forward rationalists (?), which paved the way for smooth sailing of others, especially Andhraites and Keralities. Still Tamilians, both Bs and NBs, have not learned lessons.

As Iyers and Iyengars have two different distinct systems, unity becomes a distant dream, which is not possible.

I have a feeling that Tamilians cannot be united, whether in India or outside, unless a Tamil Social Reformer with compassion, like Vallalar, who has faith in religion as well as the welfare of Tamilians, can only bring unity among Tamilians. Alternatively, the liberal minded Bs and NBs join together and educate the people the need of unity.

But, I doubt very much that this will happen.

reservations have caused the disunity. integration can take place if there is a crying need for it . the haves have to sacrifice for have not. this is easier said than done. a natural process will integrate people and make them come together for a good cause. no gurus can facilitate this.

 

[shastibrata]

Perhaps it became derisive of late! When I was in school, a long, long time ago, these were terms of endearment. I still remember us calling a classmate 'dai golti' and a malayalee telling another malayalee classmate "malayalathanallam oora vittu verataranga". It was all in good humor and was never with any rancor. Of course, everyone spoke perfect Madras tamizh and looked the same as everyone else.