Life, Ideals and the City!

The idea of the influence of a city that you spent your childhood, growing up, on you ideals and values never crossed my mind before. Not before I came across a certain university application my cousin was filling. It appeared relatively simple : Please tell us about where you have grown up. How has it contributed to the way you hope to influence the world?
But, when I sat and thought about it... I remembered that what appears on the surface is not necessarily true. This was one the most difficult things that my mind strives to simplify.

I was lost! Totally in a no mans' land. I had no idea as to how much of myself reflected the city. Coming from a family which considerably shifted base, I couldn't really point to one particular city. I had lived in four cities over a period of 18 years. Legally speaking - my childhood! So I adopted an alternative, to identify as to how much my culture and my state affected me.

I belong to a state which is one of the most advanced regions in the world. The socio-economic index is arguably one the best worldwide. The best literacy rates, the best health care infrastructure and a not so bad economy. As my cousin rightly put it, the poorest of the poor had a bricked house as their shelter! The result, I never really comprehended poverty. I have never seen anybody struggle to get one times meal or cover their human self in a piece of fabric. Poverty in my terms meant not being able to secure materialistic luxuries! However, a sound education kept global reality in perspective.

Culture! One of the highly regarded, developed and most intricate, I grew up in society which treated women with highest regard. Fairly cosmopolitan with multi-religious and multi- ethnic people, tolerance and faith in faiths beyond self is something that I picked up. Being a matriarchal society, women has always been at the helm of affairs even before terms like feminism and women's right were coined. I cannot possibly imagine women not playing an active role in the society.

The high level of education in the society has imbibed in me a sense of high self respect and courage. Courage to stand up and speak for myself, my rights while not neglecting my duties. The peace and tranquility that surrounded helped me in solving crisis through brain rather than getting into physical rage.

It is interesting as to how much your city influences you. The ideals you uphold, the morality you carry, the work ethics, the approach to life, everything is evolved from the kind of upbringing you have had. And your upbringing is greatly influenced by the city.

Man makes the city and the city makes the man.