INSIDE THE DELHI DREAM

ABANYA Dey, 27, from Kolkata, who works at the Triveni Kala Sangam, was overjoyed when she got a job in Delhi.

- AKASH CHATTERJEE

For her, it was an opportunity to stay close to her partner, with whom she had been in a long-distance relationship for a while. Dey is not alone in making a new home in Delhi.

According to the 2011 census data on migration released in 2019, India's capital comes second after Maharashtra in attracting a large number of inter-state migrants. An economic survey by the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi suggests that nearly 2.2 lakh people migrated to Delhi in 2020. And many of them left families, friends, partners, and more for upward mobility. Has the move been worth it? Has Delhi begun to feel like home and what did it take to make that happen?

Dey says she did it with flowers and colours. "I like warm and vibrant colours. From bed covers to crockery—they are all stocked in earthy colours. Warm-hued lamps also brighten up my room. Every time I go out, I gift myself flowers—in summer, you will find wild lilies in my vase. Being surrounded by flowers, bedsheets, books, and lamps is how I remember my home," she says. Delhi, however, can be a tough nut to crack for many people. From getting the right set of people and food to finding the right home, it throws many challenges at immigrants.

Food and loneliness