“I’m TamPunj and I wouldn’t live anywhere else but Chennai”

Ramesh Lamba, General Secretary, The Punjab Association (Madras) | Photo credit: Special arrangement

I was born in 1946 in the part of Punjab that is now in Pakistan. My family moved to Coonoor before partition. In the 1960s we needed to move out for work and educational requirements and looked for opportunities in other places in the country but chose Madras because we had people in the city at that time. In 1965 we moved to Madras.

The people were so kind, gentle and very helpful. When I was new here, I didn’t know my way around, so when I asked for an address, people would come with me and show me the place – even if it was two streets away. The city used to be so quiet, no traffic. On a Sunday afternoon we could walk down Mount Road. Now traffic is everywhere. The city has grown, Gen Z is here.

But the city still has many goodies in its heart. During COVID-19, when we had to prepare food for people traveling home by train, shopkeepers opened their shops when we said we were from the Punjab Association, even though they didn’t know us. When they found out why we wanted provisions, they volunteered to give some things for free.

Chennai is relatively safer than most other cities and is also more affordable. Some time ago I went to Nagpur and a friend gave his car for local use but I could not drive on these roads. You can still drive comfortably in Chennai. Over the years we have all learned Tamil and our friends have learned Hindi and Punjabi. I am TamPunj and I wouldn’t live anywhere but Chennai.

(As told to Deepa H. Ramakrishnan)

Published – 16 Sep 2026 09:01 IST