India, April 23 -- By Dr. R. Balasubramaniam

Being a South Indian in Delhi is an experience that oscillates between amusement and exasperation. From the moment I stepped into the city a few years ago, I remember being greeted with the warm hospitality of North Indians - by which I mean their generous confusion about my origins.

To them, I am a Madrasi, because, of course, every South Indian must be from Madras (current Chennai, but then they may not be knowing this either). The idea that there exist four distinct South Indian States, each with its own language, cuisine and culture, is simply too much to process. In their mental map, India consists of Delhi, Punjab, UP, and a vast, undifferentiated landmass labelled Madras below the Vind...