'People respect each other here'

The warm people, their accepting nature and places bustling with energy entice many to Bengaluru. Being the land of opportunities, it sees many who come here, settle in and never wish to go back. Similar is the story of Rasna and Jagdish Joshi, who came from their respective hometowns and made Bengaluru home.

Rasna hails from Tinsukia, Assam while Jagdish belongs to Solapur in Maharashtra. She works with Odyssey Technologies Ltd as a business analyst and Jagdish works with ACC Limited as an assistant manager.

Though the couple has their roots in Rajasthan, they are deeply influenced by the places they grew up in. Rasna loves Tinsukia for the traditions that the place holds close to it. “It is known as the economic hub of Assam. Being a small town, festivals are celebrated in full grandeur there,” she says.

Being a close-knit community, everyone knows each other which requires people to be at their best behaviour, recollects Rasna with a smile. Celebrating all festivals from ‘Bihu’ to ‘Holi’ is a big part of the tradition. “People are very closely connected there. Everything is celebrated as a community,” she says.

After her schooling till the 8th standard in her hometown, Rasna completed her education in Lakshmangarh, Rajasthan, before she moved to Bengaluru for her graduation and post-graduation. “I then got a campus placement and since then, it has been like a dream. My parents wanted me to move to Delhi, but I wanted to move to a place with pleasant weather and ample opportunities. I had some friends here and thus, Bengaluru topped my list,” she says. 

Jagdish, who did his schooling in Solapur and graduation from Pune, holds fond memories of his stay in Maharashtra. “Solapur is known as the ‘Manchester of the East’, because of the number of textile mills there. The city is growing fast. Despite people from all over coming and staying there, the traditions are still intact. People are very religious and a bit conservative,” details Jagdish.

He moved to Kalaburagi following which he came to Bengaluru two years back. “Rasna had a good job here and she wasn’t able to find anything equivalent to that closer home. So I looked for a job here and moved to the city,” he says.

Jagdish often visited Bengaluru and liked its potpourri of cultures. “I love so many things about the city. The people here are so accepting and loving,” he says. Rasna adds that the lifestyle is a big advantage here. “People mind their own business and one doesn’t need to worry about what people will think when doing something,” she says.

The mixed culture back home helped Jagdish, be it with the cuisine or the people. “Though we were used to having ‘chapati’, ‘gatte ki sabzi’ and ‘dal bati churma’, we also had rice. We relished spicy food and enjoyed all flavours,” he adds. While Rasna fondly remembers the ‘kheer’, ‘peda’ and ‘pita’ from her childhood, she also enjoys South Indian cuisine. “I like ‘dosa’ and ‘idli’ occasionally as they are both tasty and healthy,” she adds.

The couple loves the greenery in the city and the calmness that comes with it. “There are so many parks and green spaces here and one can’t really ask for more,” says Rasna.

Jagdish adds that every locality has a small park, which adds the charm to the city. “I also like the many lakes here,” he adds.

Civic sense is a blessing in the city, observes the couple. “Most people understand the importance of the city,” vouches Jagdish to which Rasna agrees, “You can walk up to anyone here and ask them to not litter and they will listen. People are very cordial here.”

When the two have some time to spare, they visit pubs and restaurants across the city. “The best part about Bengaluru is that it offers elaborate lung space for nature lovers and fun places for party enthusiasts. There is something for everyone here,” says Rasna.

From ‘Once Upon a Flame’ to  ‘Pappu Chaiwalla’, the couple likes hanging out at interesting new places. They love their stay here and cannot think of being elsewhere.

“We love the city for everything it is. People respect each other here and always refer to each other as ‘sir’ or ‘madam’. There are people from everywhere and the way they get along is very encouraging,” sums up Jagdish.