Regional followings
Some months ago there was a sudden spike in the number of people following me on twitter, all on the same day. They were all Tamilians, and mostly male. I tweeted my confusion and discovered via one of my new followers that I had been put on a list of Tamilian bloggers/tweeters to make it easier for other Tamilians to find and follow Tamilians.
This probably happened because I write on Carnatic music and I like Tamil film songs.
I explained to the originator of the list and my new list of followers that I wasn’t Tamilian, so that they wouldn’t be disappointed later.
It was certainly very flattering to be thought of as Tamilian (as I love the language, food and culture), though I must admit to being perturbed by people following someone solely on the basis of their ethnic origins (I must add, it doesn’t seem to have made a difference to quite a few of the followers that I am not Tam and they’re still on my list. Although I don’t know if they’re still there to avoid my ego being punctured by their departure).
I once went to an Ajoy Chakraborty concert in London. He is a famous Hindustani musician. At this concert, the audience was jam packed with Bongs. I was mistaken for a Bong there. I was annoyed because these people hadn’t turned up when other very good people sang, and that led me to the conclusion they were only there because Ajoy is a Bong (and they were hugely proud of that fact) and not because they care for Hindustani music per se.
Which leads me to think, quite morosely, that if I announce I am a Sindhi, and start blogging on Sindhi music, language and literature, whatever I write/tweet may be almost unread.
bad enough you are not tamil, you were almost bong, and now you say you are sindhi? i am unfollowing you!
ummon, didn’t you know I’m actually Maharashtrian
Marathi is the Indian language I’m most comfortable in after Hindi-someone once assumed it was my mother tongue and IT IS-one of them
Nice write up.
I have read about some one who stopped enjoying the voice of MS Subulakshmi, just because she was not from the background that he had assumed.
Eswar, more fool that person. His loss totally.
hahaha! don’t i know a few who ‘unfollowed’ ms cos she didn’t have the right creds.
Maybe the title of the list was misleading but there is some merit to having a list of bloggers that write about a certain topic ex: life in a certain city or humor or food or in this case tamil songs.
first time on your blog ! saw it on Desipundit.
So dont feel offended
Anon, not offended at all-was flattered. I am flattered to be thought of as belonging to any of India’s communities.
This list wasn’t limited to a topic, just Tamilians. But questions do arise when people follow something purely on the grounds of regional commonality. Indeed, if I did that myself I would not have been mistaken for being Tamilian (or Bengali or Maharashtrian) because then I would have no interest in, say, Carnatic music, and would have been much the poorer for it.
Though we talk a lot bout “UNITY IN DIVERSITY”, the under currents of regionalism are always there. . . Let’s hope that the our generation and the next generation keep aside such petty issues
Does it not look like its getting worse to you? What with the Senas and all?
i’d follow you even if you spoke icelandic
Chox, thanks
But vis-a vis you, at the moment I just wish you’d get the damn parcel!
Sad, isn’t it? I find that people get even more insular when they live abroad, seeking out people they probably would have nothing to do with back at home, based only on where they came from. Never mind their interests, opinions, likes, dislikes, personality….As a matter of principle I refuse to join any groups that are formed along linguistic, ethnic or religious lines.
I know…it’s really depressing.
you no tamil? me no follow.
I shall, however, remain a loyal follower of you!
I’m just few months old on twitter but I see this trend too. There is no indication anywhere of my native language so when suddenly someone learns that my roots are in Kerala, they are surprised. I don’t know why and how people form images and then group themselves according to region.
Some might argue that you follow people who share similar ideas or with whom you like to discuss certain topics then why not group based on the language too.
Hello! I have much to do with Mallus too!
Hi Uttara,
I really relate to this, as these kind of questions have often left me wondering where I belong. If I go by the usual standards, nowhere, I guess!
I wonder if those who like a certain culture only because it comes from their region really appreciate it.
We can both be from nowhere or everywhere!
Or the number of Parsees who turn up everytime Zubin Mehta conducts in the city. No doubt he is great and no doubt some of them actually follow symphony orchestra but I have my doubts as to how many of them are there truly for his art.
Aapro dikro
I love him! Yes, they are probably very proud of him, but as you said a lot of Parsis do listen to western music anyway!
That’s quite bizarre but for some weird reason I can believe that. I often see that the only people who attend Carnatic Music concerts around my neck of the woods is Tamilian and is the same for other events as well. Always baffles me though!
btw, thanks for the picture clue
Sands, its really sad. There is so much in Carnatic concerts for non-Tams as well!
Are you not accepting comments on your blog?