Thanks JP Jagdev and Srimanta Panda for a well spent couple of hours in the evening. At the end I requested JP to understand an OLA cab for me (transliteration of Odia phrase cab BUJHI DIA). It took them just couple of seconds to catch the humor. Not everyone are as smart as them. I have told this joke to others, but it usually takes them a little longer to get it.
OLA and UBER cab service is arguably the best things to happen to the city in the recent past. I was the 8th ride for the OLA driver at 9 PM and he said he will drive till midnight. A late immigrant to Bhubaneswar from Anugul, like many job seekers from the hinterland of Odisha he came to the capital city, his city of neon lights and opportunity, before landing up as a driver for UBERE (Uber pronounced in Odia accent). Then he shifted to OLA.
He shared his frustrations of handling occasional fastidious, recalcitrant passengers, last minute cancellation et all. He dreads trips to Cuttack, for its a challenge for him to drive to the labyrinth of lanes in the old city which prides itself on its 52 Bazaars and 53 Streets (BOUN BAZAAR, TEPAN GALI).
At a bank, the person in front of me was talking in Hindi with a girl inside the teller counter. Both of them, apparently pure bred Odias were conversing in PAKHALA KHIA HINDI (Hindi spoken after eating stomachful of water soaked rice, a popular Odia summer dish). Done with their chit chat, they took a break. The man was talking in pure, unadulterated Odia to someone over phone. The girl leaned over her side and started talking in Odia to her coworker. Could hardly make out what made two Odias, living in the heartland of Odisha made talk to each other in Hindi. Real nationalists !!!
Not to mention, Hindi accented Odia is a craze which is slowly turning from rampant to epidemic. I observe this in every visit - a la a person who sees you after a while can tell you if you have gone fatter, skimmer or taller. Emperor Ashok faced stiff resistance inside Kalinga before being able to conquere it. Ekta Kapoor, the producer of the popular Hindi TV soap operas did not face any such resistance. She was welcomed with open hand and culturally conquered Kalinga and infused Hindi and Punjabi culture into them.
The Plumbers, Electricians, Air Conditioning Mechanics thrive well in the city and make decent money due to the city's explosive growth. I could make it when I chatted with the electrician who came to fix the motor which got fried due to the fluctuating voltage. He has no complaints against money but whines that the dignity of labor hasn't quite matched up to his earnings, hoping to see that happen during his life time. More later....
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