‘He was equal parts amazed and bewildered’: Shammi Narang’s grandson hears Dadu’s iconic Delhi Metro voice for the first time

Shammi Narang took his grandson Rushaan on his first Delhi Metro ride. The child was surprised to hear his grandfather’s familiar voice announcing inside the train. Narang’s post also brought back memories for social media users who grew up hearing his voice on Doordarshan and Metro journeys.

For most children, hearing a grandparent’s voice is part of everyday life. But for Shammi Narang’s grandson Rushaan, that familiar voice suddenly came from somewhere completely unexpected: a Delhi Metro train.Narang recently took Rushaan on his first Metro ride and captured the moment on video. The little boy heard the voice of his “Dadu” echoing through the train, creating a memory that was personal for the family and familiar to millions of commuters.

A voice Rushaan knew, but in a new place

Narang described Rushaan as “equal parts amazed and bewildered” after hearing his grandfather’s voice inside the Metro.The reaction makes the moment particularly charming. A child can recognise a familiar voice at home, but hearing the same voice in a public place can feel almost magical.Narang wrote that it was “a voice he knows, but in a place he had never heard it before.”That small difference turned an ordinary Metro journey into a family memory.

‘My voice will travel from one generation to another’

For Narang, the ride also carried a deeper meaning.“I may not travel on these Metro trains forever… but I take immense pride in knowing that my voice will travel from one generation to another,” he wrote.He imagined that journey continuing from him to Rushaan, and perhaps one day to Rushaan’s own grandchildren.It is a touching thought because voices can become part of family memories in ways photographs sometimes cannot. A child may remember how a grandparent sounded, spoke or called their name long after childhood has passed.

Why people connected with the moment

The post quickly brought back memories for many social media users who grew up hearing Narang on television and during Metro journeys.One user recalled Narang, JV Raman and other Doordarshan newsreaders for their “crystal clear diction”, adding that many children grew up learning Hindi and English grammar while listening to them.Another user remembered growing up in an era when Narang’s voice was closely associated with Doordarshan.There was also a funny confession: one person said they had always assumed the Metro voice was computerised.Others simply called it the “golden voice” of Delhi Metro and thanked Narang for being part of their everyday lives.

When a familiar voice becomes a childhood memory

The sweetest part of the story may be that Rushaan will experience Narang’s voice differently from the generations before him.For older listeners, it may bring back television news and childhood mornings. For commuters, it may be connected with stations, journeys and announcements.For Rushaan, it has now become something more personal: the voice of Dadu coming through the speakers during his very first Metro ride.Narang called it “a rather special moment for us”. It is easy to understand why. Some childhood memories are made during big celebrations. Others happen quietly, on an ordinary train ride, when a child suddenly discovers that the familiar person beside him is also the voice coming from above.Disclaimer: This article is based on Shammi Narang’s public X post and reactions shared by social media users. The comments reflect individual views and have not been independently verified.