'Et Aap, Brute?': 'Tu' vs 'Aap' memes have reignited Mumbai vs Delhi war

DISCLAIMER: This is a compilation of tweets being shared by netizens around the world. Times of India neither condones nor endorses any of the views shared in this article here.

A debate over the way people are addressed in Mumbai and Delhi has caused a stir on social media. It all started with a woman's tweet over the “rude” manner in which people in Mumbai address strangers in Hindi.


“Never engage with Bombay people in Hindi. You could be complete strangers and they’ll still feel free to address you with a ‘Tu’,” wrote Twitter user @PratPanc, calling it “unacceptable behaviour.”

The tweet triggered a serious discussion about linguistic differences between both the cities. Twitter users began calling out Mumbailkars for using 'tu' as they viewed it as a sign of disrespect. Netizens from Delhi and north India complained that they felt disrespected over strangers in Mumbai calling them “tu".


“I feel very uncomfortable when a total stranger addresses me as 'Tu',” tweeted a journalist.


Mumbaikars, on the other hand, defended themselves by quoting the influence of Marathi while speaking Hindi and also that addressing someone as ‘tu’ signifies relatability factor and affection. Delhiites remained unconvinced.



“Learn to understand the nuances of different cultures before exposing your ignorance,” argued musician Kaushal Inamdar from Mumbai.


Soon, the TU vs AAP debate has become a major talking point on social media. It quickly took a humorous turn, with netizens expressing their thoughts with humour, memes and jokes.






Actor Ayushmann Khurana too joined in.


Users started replacing the word "Tu" with "Aap" in popular Bollywood songs and film titles.








Ouch


Problem solved



It’s getting to nerves now


Despite the lighthearted discourse, it brought to light linguistic differences in our country.