The Homo sapien has a Sub-Species...

...and I'm naming it Homo sapien pedestrianis.

Found in various pockets around the world, you can see the H. sapien pedestrainis right outside your window. Just look for a road or a sidewalk or the pavement. Any humanoid figure that is walking by is a H. sapien pedestrianis. I am one too.

I know that it isn't taxonomically correct, or even biologically, as there is no change in the genetic structure of a H. sapien pedestrianis, but for the sake of this piece, I am going to be biologically incorrect. 

A common name for this sub-species is 'pedestrian', or someone who walks rather than travels by a vehicle. Of course this means that they are more susceptible to accidents on the road due to a sub-species of impatient drivers. It's quite the challenge to stay alive, what with Herbert Spencer's phrase 'survival of the fittest' putting so much pressure on the pedestrian to compete with moving machinery.

I should now add that when I started writing this a few years ago (in 2016 it would seem), I was only thinking of my experiences at home. Now that I've lived in or visited places outside the country, my perspective has widened a fair bit. 

The social order in some other parts of the world places the H. sapien pedestrianis near the top, where there is almost no need to make survival checks on a sidewalk. It's an experience being able to walk down the pavement or to cross the road like you're royalty. That is, till the odd bicycle or electric scooter goes whizzing past you. There's no sticking out your hand in the desperate and unsure hopes that the vehicles will stop for you and let you cross — my friend says they call this the "hand of god" as she too recalls similar differences between here and her home-country — because when you do stick your hand out to a vehicle, it will be to signal a thank you for stopping and waiting. 

Though I have to say, as a pedestrian nothing beats the rush of being able to stroll slowly in front of a line of motorcyclists as they honk incessantly at you to move out of their way, despite them riding on the sidewalk. Not even the thrill of getting the right of way in other parts of the world.

An Uprooted Being

Just like plants, humans have roots too. And just like a plant's roots, human roots play an important role in our growth as individuals.

This piece stems from a common question and an attempt to understand my missing self.

"So, where are you from?"

I've been asked this question so many times in college. Everyone asks this to every other one. In a way, it's a question of curiosity. Do you fit the stereotypes that exist around your place of origin? Are you one of those nomads, meaning someone in your family is either a diplomat or serves in the armed forces? Or are you simply an NRI?

I've said different answers to different people. 

Sometimes it's just 'Delhi', assuming they're asking where my 'hometown' is, which generally translates to "Where do you end up every summer to visit family?"

Sometimes it's 'Bangalore', referring to my city of residence and where I've spent most of my life so far.

Most of the times though I end up answering with this: "I was born in Delhi, but I've never lived there. Then before I was one we moved to the States. I lived there for 7 years. After that we moved to Bangalore. And we're still here. So, you can figure out for yourself where I'm from."

There are times I go into a rambling story about my ancestors and where they're from, but that's only when people are asking for it.

Although people say it's quite clear where I'm from, all the while failing to mention the place they think so, I really don't feel the same.

In college, culture plays an important role in your work. A lot of motifs and illustrative styles emerge from the culture you would have immersed yourself into. This holds true even for patterns you weave into textiles, your choice of colours, even the look and feel of a product/piece of furniture you might create.

Culturally I've never been rooted to anything in particular. I've read about different cultures from across the world, spanning various time periods. While they're all really interesting, I didn't find myself wanting to follow any of them. I should be following my own culture, whatever that is supposed to be, but with my formative years being spent in one place and the rest of my life elsewhere, I've kind of gotten lost. Not to mention my parents are more spiritual and disciplinarian, with Western ideologies but Indian upbringing. Culture did not take up a very big part in my growing years. Maybe if I'd spent more time with my grandparents, I might have known more about 'my culture', but that's all pointless speculation.

Although I walk around like a lost soul with a part of my identity completely missing, it's not like I know nothing about my cultural ways. I just can't seem to associate myself with it. I'm not sure I ever will.