In search of home in Delhi, student tales part 2

Delhi is a land of many cultures and ethnicities. The quality of education and opportunities brings many to the national capital. Moving out of one's home is a challenging and rewarding experience. While we come across many hardships as we leave the familiar comforts of our hometown, it may also be an essential step in growing up.

For outstation students in Delhi, it's the first time that they had to take responsibility for themselves and find a way to overcome daily struggles. We talk to some of them to understand their experience-

Shabeeb Zafar From Hyderabad, Telangana

The weather in Delhi makes me miss Hyderabad. Summer or winter, everything is extreme here. AC is a basic need here but for students, surviving on a tight budget, it's difficult to afford it. Leaving our parents and home comes with its hurdles. I also miss home-cooked food. Here at the university, there are many affordable cheap food joints but nothing feels good after a while.

The commute is a challenge as distances are very far here. We get a limited amount for the month and travelling from one place to another is a big hassle for us. Had the metro not been there, travelling in a city like Delhi would be impossible. As we don't know the place, it is also difficult to find part-time jobs or internships. The rent is also high.

Most people show that they do not care about colour or which state one belongs to, but I have seen a visible difference in attitude when I tell them that I come from south India. I take it as a boon that I’m able to speak fluent Hindi, otherwise, I have seen many South Indians get trolled for their broken Hindi. Some of them even comment on how dark their complexion is. Although this point has not affected me directly, as a south Indian, I find it very distasteful.

Aditya Ashok from Trivandrum, Kerala

This was my first time staying away from my parents. I was both excited and nervous before coming here. My experience has been full of struggles until now. During Covid 19, I got so used to the isolation that when I first came to Noida, it got really difficult to get used to the crowd.

When I started going out to see places like Delhi and Noida, that’s when I realized Auto divers are taking advantage of me. You might think the language barrier isn’t an issue or I might be exaggerating, but I have lost hundreds of rupees to auto drivers. Signs on direction boards and menus in some restaurants are in Hindi, and we don't understand it. So, I make the wrong orders. I have felt left out in public among my Hindi-speaking friends. South Indian food being served is appalling. Using schezwan chutney for every south Indian dish is not funny.

I find Delhi too loud sometimes. Trivandrum is more peaceful with beaches, less crowd, and no traffic. In Noida, the air is polluted, people are rude and they use abusive language very often. Apart from this, I am tired of watching Tamil movies on websites, because theatres here only play Hindi movies.