Embracing a new ethos

Melting pot

When Harjinder Singh Chawla from Rudrapur, Uttarakhand moved to Bengaluru for a better job opportunity, he didn’t imagine he will end up calling it home. Strong friendships and a love for the city have made him and his family stay on and they feel that there is no better place to settle down. Harjinder, who is a software engineer with NTT Data, lives here with wife Dipti and children Sahib and Saachi.

The cultures are very different but the endearing nature of the people has made them feel welcome, says Harjinder. “After moving here, I was impressed at the mixed culture of the city. It opened me up to different experiences,” he says.

Talking about the accepting nature of the people here, he says, “People do not mind talking in other languages here. They are very broad-minded and willing to understand.”

Dipti pitches in and says that Bengalureans are well-educated and informed. “Their perspective is different. They do not show off but are very genuine,” she adds.

Hailing from a quieter place, the traffic has posed to be a challenge for the couple. “There is so much happening here, it keeps the city alive,” feels Dipti. She adds that she likes the city for being a safe space for women and men alike. “I can’t imagine travelling at night back home and I love this aspect of Bengaluru,” she says.

The people of a place reveal  its character and Harjinder finds Bengalureans to be an honest bunch. “If you have an issue with a service or product here, the provider goes out of his/her way to make sure that you get quality replacements,” he says. Recollecting the time when they were moving to their apartment, he says, “We invested in better furniture but there were some issues with the products. The dealer replaced it immediately. This, among many other happy moments, has helped build our trust in the people here.”

From bachelor life to having a family, Harjinder has experienced the best of both worlds here. “The places I used to hang out earlier might not be the same where I go today but Bengaluru has been an eventful ride,” he says.

The city’s geographical location is in proximity to many interesting places like Shivanasamudra Falls, Nandi Hills, Mysuru and Ooty, which the couple have explored. “Over the years, we have headed out to many of these destinations with friends since Bengaluru is a great connecting point. Within the city, Lalbagh Botanical Garden and Bannerghatta National Park have proved to be great places for a family outing,” says Harjinder.

In the city, the couple like to visit the malls and hang out at MG Road. “We like visiting the ‘Ji Hazoor Restaurant’, ‘Biryani Zone’, or the ‘Tiffin Box’ in Inorbit Mall,” he says.

The tryst with South Indian food has been an interesting one. “We have South Indian food twice a week. My wife has learnt to make ‘dosa’, ‘obbattu’, idli’ and ‘vada’, with a ‘chutney’ that doesn’t have tamarind, which I really like.”

“We have ‘parathas’, ‘puri’, ‘rajma’, ‘chole’ and even ‘sarson ka saag’ here too,” he says. From the ‘big fat Punjabi weddings’ to many other small things, the couple do miss home. “But Bengaluru has more than made up for our needs though. People have always respected us and cared for us. We couldn’t ask for more,” says Dipti happily.