“The Endless Puzzle of Indian Origins”

How are you???

This is not just a simple question; it carries many hidden queries. I will focus on just one of these underlying questions here. When two almost unfamiliar Indians meet, without waiting for an answer to “How are you?”, they immediately ask, “Where are you from?” This question is like opening a Pandora’s box. To cut the conversation short, you might say, “From India.” But in doing so, you’ve only made the conversation longer. A follow-up question is already born: “Where in India?”

If you are someone who has journeyed through multiple states or even different countries, you might find yourself scratching your head. This is where my story and my dilemma begin. My birth, my education, my work field, the joy of traveling with my children, and the political division of India’s states make it difficult to give a straightforward answer. So, I think to myself, “Let’s reveal the secret!” and say, “From Jharkhand.”

Now it’s their turn to scratch their head. The questioner says, “What country is that? Never heard of it before.” If you have a strong build, they assume you are Punjabi; if you are thin, you must be Gujarati, likely a Patel. If you speak eloquent Hindi, you must be from Uttar Pradesh. And if during the conversation, you use the word “Bhaiya” even once, then you are immediately labeled as coming from Bihar.

People from Haryana or Rajasthan, because of their habit of saying “khaana” (to eat), “peena” (to drink), or “soona” (to sleep), are often confused with Punjabis. How do I explain that I’m from Jharkhand? At this point, I remember MS Dhoni and say, “I come from the same state as Dhoni.” The questioner says, “Oh yes, Dhoni is from Ranchi, which is near Karachi, right?” At this point, I hurriedly respond, “I am from India, and I am in a rush. Please let me go, how much more are you going to bother me?” And then, I dash away.