By Rashi Wadhera
One of the most interesting things about our Capital is the stark, more often than not contrasting side of it we get to see, as opposed to incoming tourists. It makes us think about sites we've seen when we travel; how much do we really know? What's more interesting, in spite of all Delhi's infamous white man or 'firangi' cons, is the unadulterated love some of them have for the city and its colour. What's annoying to us, is culture to them, what's frustrating to us, is bemusing to them, and what we spend hours avoiding, they'll spend hours studying. There's nothing like a little perspective on the city we supposedly call home, and giving us that and so much more, are the incredible American couple behind the American Indian-a video series documenting life in the big Capital, aimed at helping incoming white traffic.
Having called Delhi home for over three years, they're candid in their admission of their love for the history, culture and chaos of Delhi. Originally from Florida, they moved here, had their second child here, and having been drawn in by the history, monuments, diversity in types of neighbourhoods {we know}, the street food culture and the wide diaspora of communities, they started making video logs of their Delhi adventures. As part of these videos, they capture hacks, and tips and tricks of Delhi we locals remain blissfully unaware of, and there ain't no Lonely Planet telling you any of this. So, expect neighborhood walks, guided tours of monuments, videos explaining the history of Indian beverages, and anything else they want you to know. They seek to be the best source of cross cultural web videos, for the next generations of Americans and Indians to promote mutual understanding and discovery.
To start with, their experience with the age old Railway Con, where touts posing as Government of India Tourism officials managed to convince them that their train to Agra crashed the night before, put them in taxis to the supposed 'DTTDC' {which only happened to share the same name as the legit office-which isn't meant for tourists at all}, and advised them to buy new tickets. Far cry from us showing up twenty minutes before a train, and hopping on with no said hindrances, all after some family travel agent somewhere booked us our tickets. Where we did agree with them, is on the super reputation of the Delhi Schedule. They find themselves often juggling schedules, meetings and appointments with sudden deaths, festivals and chronic illnesses. See. Perspective. We didn't flinch when they brought up time, and it seems like we're all on running on some alternate, Delhi enforced time schedule. Take that Interstellar. We call it DST or Delhi Standard Time.
When conversing about our experiences, what really stands out for a crew dedicated to the city and its musings, is the experiences we'll never have or even get to witness, given that we're 'locals'. It's fascinating, but most times shameful, that white people get singled out the way they do. In spite of all this and the blatant agenda pushing on our part, what they did leave with us is hope. They managed to identify {don't ask us how}, Delhi's bright future, and remain staunch supporters of Delhi being a place that fosters optimism.
Do we need outsider perspective to get us to see everything we have to offer? Or has the smog, groping and traffic not allowed us to reach hope. We'll tell you, right after we celebrate Republic Day, Holi and Easter. Oh, only if no one falls sick.
To learn more about the Surfing Violinist, check out his Youtube channel, here.
Support the Seeuws Family's regional web series American Indian here.
Like and support them on Facebook {they're doing it for Delhi}, here.