‘Chinese-Indians’ living in the country have blended well with the local culture and aspirations. They are as eager as any Indian for closer New Delhi-Beijing relations
It is said for the Chinese diaspora that, wherever the Chinese go, they make a ‘China town’. There is a China town even in Kolkata, better known as Tangra. But, though they have a good strength even in Delhi, they do not have any China town here. As Prime Minister Narendra Modi is visiting China to resolve outstanding issues, the people of Chinese origin in the capital are monitoring his visit very closely.
George Chiu, who owns a showroom of shoes in Connaught Place, also calls himself a pucca Dilliwala. He says that Mr Modi's trip to China has great significance. like any Indian, he hopes that both the countries will resolve their outstanding issues amicably. It is high time that both work in tandem and progress together. Chiu remarks that it is said in China: ‘Neighbours cannot live peacefully.’ Both the countries must prove this saying wrong.
Returning to China town, if we talk about the Chinese of ‘Saddi Dilli', they always prefer to live in or around lajpat Nagar. The capital has close to 50 families of people of Chinese origin. Over the years, many people from China and other countries also have been living here on assignments. Indian-Chinese are scattered in the capital and the NCR. If you talk to any of them, they will tell you their ties with lajpat Nagar.
It is said that the first Chinese to settle in Delhi was one Doctor Chen. He had a dental clinic on the main Paharganj. It is still there. Now, it is managed by his son, Dr Stephan Chen. He says that he has never considered moving out from Pahar Ganj. “I was born and brought up here. I have all my friends here. So, it is not possible for me to leave this place”, the junior Dr Chen points out. His brother operates from south Delhi.
According to Delhi-based businessman Edwad Chiu, the people here of Chinese origin hail from Canton in south China. They came to India in the early part of the last century. They arrived Kolkata and then migrated to other parts of the country, seeking livelihood. They are in the business of manufacturing footwear. Others are engaged in various jobs. Chiu too expects that Mr Modi’s visit will turn out to be a successful trip and pave the way for a resolution of the major issues, including the border conflict, that has dogged the two neighbours.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, during his recent trip to Delhi, had reportedly met some Delhi-based Chinese during a reception that took place in the Chinese embassy. He had urged the Indian-Chinese community to work for the welfare and growth of India while retaining their identity. Meanwhile, it looks like all the Delhi-based Chinese have some connections with lajpat Nagar. Kim, who has a show showroom in Jor Bagh, says that part of his family used to live at lajpat Nagar earlier, before some members move to different areas of capital and Gurgaon. “lajpat Nagar used to have great place as it was very cheap compare to other South Delhi localities. That situation was really tailor-made for people like that of our community, who were not affluent”, Kim remarks.
SS lee, who used to play for Delhi in Ranji trophy in the 70s and the 80s, had once told this writer that he also lived in lajpat Nagar, “as most of our people live there”. He added, “Even though we are not very social in the sense that we do not meet our own people too often, yet we prefer to stay there as it is a great location. later, many families of our people shifted to other parts of Delhi and elsewhere, as the families grew in size”, lee informs.