Be Positive. Positivity thrives. B+ (Wit & Humour).
I have been coming in to Kanpur from 1987 and always my visit used to be not more than, 2 days.
The extreme hot and cold climate and the dirtiness of the City those days, with pan masala spit around all places never made it an interesting visit.
After 2000, my stays started increasing up to 4-5 days per visit, as I was bent upon to create some opportunity from this City.
With the pandemic halting the total Universe in March 2020, i even had to shift my gears and priorities.
From 22nd May, 2021 decided to take up assignments at Kanpur and now it is one year. This is the longest time, i have lived in Kanpur for nearly 250 days or more.
As known to everyone, Kanpur though used to be called the “Manchester of India” and though being a “Leather City” got referred as Pan Parag City.
Amazing characters & features of Kanpur and its people. Living here for a major part of the last one year, made me compile this information.
1. People over here, have a mentality of half full rather than, half empty.
2. Manage with whatever be the situation and never make any fuss about anything.
3. Be it the Power situation, Internal Roads, Traffic Jam on the highway, public talk about the positivity and not negative. Always appreciative from where to where have they reached.
4. Driving in Kanpur and its surrounding is an art. You need to have eyes at all sides and all 4 directions. The speed at which everyone drives and without hitting against each other, is simply amazing.
5. God is blessing Kanpur always and the proof is the traffic at Naya Chungi, Jajmau. Even at these crossing, nothing slows down.
The Ganges flowing through blessing the City with good water and serenity.
6. People here have a smart mechanical brain and could repair anything and everything. The juggad what they have for every situation makes them survive successfully.
7. Patience and perseverance is a character. No one shouts or yells even if someone drives down from opposite direction.
8. Interestingly, honking is the birth right of many of the drivers.
9. On the food, the taste from the cheapest to the topmost restaurant, is well maintained. No compromise. People love eating good food and available everywhere, to suit the pocket.
10. There are challenges on a day to day basis and no qualms made about it. I have given my best and whatever has to happen, is fine. This is the overall mentality.
11. Coming in 5 minutes never happens, excuses are there for every late arrival but still, taken in the right spirit and work moves on.
Everything is accepted and delays are accepted as part of process and hence, no commotion.
12. I have learnt to accept whatever comes in my way with happiness, being here for the last one year.
Though, initially I used to talk to them, about the short-comings. Now, I have learnt to live with it.
13. The bhaiya sound everywhere, a sense of warmth and taking everything easily, witty in receiving and giving back.
14. Tasty food, variety in Chaat items, Fruit Vendors, Vegetable Vendors, Petrol Pumps, Wheel puncture shops, Medical Shops, Provision Stores, there is life everywhere.
For every type of food or snack there is a special place and people dont mind to go there and eat.
Tagoo ka laddu, Ladies Paan, Moong Dal ki Mangodi, Baba Briyani, Choka Bhatti, Cream Bun, Lassi, Matta, Kulad Chai, Samosa, Khasta Poori, Khasta Kachori, variety of sweets from Pandits, Budhsen, Tiwari and many more.
The e-rickshaw, auto-wallas, tela-wallas, goda-gaadi, two wheelers, BMW, Mercedes, MG, Audi, Hyundai, Maruti everyone knows how to negotiate the pot holes on the road and managing the traffic jams, compromising on traffic rules, live together comfortably.
The Bani Breakfast on the highway to Lucknow, The Nawabganj Snacks & Sweets all are to be enjoyed.
15. Though wanted to change something in Kanpur, after one year happy to say that, I have changed myself to be in Kanpur.
16. Everytime you hear Bhagwan Bharosa, Inshaallah, God Bless, Waheguru, there is a great sense of positivity. There is a communal harmony and no difference, whatsoever.
17. Some places you like at the first look and some you start liking, over a period of time. Kanpur is the second type.
God Bless! Kanpur & Kanpuriya.