In my country there are many people who have travelled back to different places within india for their livelihood. But by heart they always belongs to their own hometown. My Dad is one of them, always used to travel back to his hometown during the festival. He was quite attached to his root and always value its presence, even though his commitment towards work and family made him to stay in far away cities. But by heart he purely belongs to his hometown. This might be the reason that he preferred to stay in hometown after his retirement rather than living with us in metropolitan cities. Like my Dad there are many people who are deeply attached to their hometowns because these places hold their early memories, lifelong social ties, and a strong sense of personal identity.
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With modernisation and rapid digitisation, many people have forgone the existence of their hometown. In Delhi region, I hardly find anyone that belongs to the state. There are people from Uttarakhand, Punjab, Bihar, Uttar pradesh and other indian states, who have travelled from away distances to the big city in search of job and then settled themselves in there. Trying to find solace in an alien environment. Even once I used to hesitate to visit my own hometown while trying to adapt to the cool life of big metropolitan cities. But thanks to my Dad, and his inclinations and attachment towards the hometown that I never get away from my original roots. I saw a different shades of my DAD whenever he used to be with his people. He used to b free, more happy, enjoying his farmland, always help the needy and many other things that easily differentiate him from what he used to in city. he was in ownself. It took me little time to understand that my Hometown is the place that shapes my values, culture, and sense of who we are.
Where my heart belongs, grounded in roots and surrounded by childhood memories.
The wheel of time has turned me toward my hometown. Last 8 years I have been living here. My hometown is nestled in midst of nature so enjoying some fresh healthy air all the time. Leaving back all the comfort of city was not easy, but some duty towards the family made me to shift. At first I faced little challenges, but now happily able to cope with the environment and the people. It was my Dad who made me to relocate here. The place is not new to me. I made certain trip to this place during my childhood, so I am familiar with the relatives existed in the hometown. When I arrived, I found myself in a an unfamiliar environment, the culture, the language, the people everything was different. But somewhere every people knew that this is my root too. so they were ready to help me rather creating trouble for me.
My hometown is small village offering a quieter, close knit environment with cleaner air and a slower pace of life compared to cities. Being a small rural setup the local news is just about a group chat and everyone knows our childhood embarrassments. Less crowd, minimal noise pollution, and a relaxing daily routine is what used to made up our day. There is Free parking, priceless gossip, and all important a social connection that I was lacking in the cities. Neighbors know one another well, fostering a sense of mutual aid, trust, and social support. A life that I never imagined, but once into it, I find it hard to get away.
Building my story one hometown sunset at a time.
There was a time, when my village lack all the basic amenities. There was no proper roads, no electricity, no nearby shops. The nearest railway station is 15Km away. I assume my Dad did lived a hard life then we can ever imagine. But now things have changed, electricity, internet, market everything has comes up. Making our life much easier. I still find lots of people around during festival season and then empty roads after the festival. People visit the hometown, enjoy their time with families and elders and then again go away to their destination in search of their livelihood. The pattern remain same every years.
I believe the emotions and feeling attached to our hometown never let people to go away easily.
In good faith - Peace!!