The influence that Mumbai commands over the economy of India, creates a strange aura about the place. Strangely, its only visible to people who have just heard and never visited/lived here at some point of time in their lives. With an aura comes the enigma which cahoots to further that mystique.
Outsiders (i use a dictionary different to Raj Thackreys') are in total awe of the city. Each city has its own charm. The old city charm of Delhi and the political clout of New Delhi staying together as mistresses in a single home. The idyllic romanticism of Kolkata, wherein nothing less than international issues are debated over a cup of coffee. The Dravidian pride of Chennai lingers on too long for a new comer. But, put all of this together and still the flavour that Mumbai is, is still as elusive as the Phoenix.
The first thing that any person just moving to Mumbai should know is this. Dont fret thinking about how you are going to manage living in Mumbai. How are you going to survive thost myriad battles that an average Mumbaikar has to go through everyday?
Mumbai is selfless. As selfless as only a mother can be. And as any mother would, she herself would be by your side when you need her the most. She shall be there to teach you those baby steps in the new city. As you grow confident in this world you would depend less on her. And before you know it, you are on your own.
Thats it!! really. If you are under the presumption that you need to learn to live in Mumbai, you are really missing the point. Its the other way round actually. As soon as you enter Mumbai, you change Mumbai's flavour. The city is learning to help you survive instead! Thats what is different in this city.
Its for your dreams that you get paid for here. You can survive only on your dreams provided you believe in them. But its upto you to realise your dreams cos just surviving would be of little good to you in this city of maximums.
You need to learn to see the road ahead, so that you dont topple, while keeping your eyes on your dreams. Those are the people that are the true Mumbaikars.
more posts here
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Mumbai Meri Jaan
Nothing captures, more beautifully, the idiosyncrasy of Mumbai than the song
"E Dil mushkil jeena yahaan... zaraa haske zara bach ke .. Yeh hai Mumbai Meri Jaan".
The lyrics transcend anything a person can experience in an entire lifetime living in mumbai. Though written in the 60s when mumbai was more about mills, trams and burgeoning lower middle class rather than swanky malls,never ending discos and constipated affluence, its as relevant as it was then. More so now since Mumbai is fighting for an identity of its own. Nothing better to remind it what Mumbai is all about.
Mumbai since long has been the financial capital of India. Its the place where business barons, seated in the costliest office spaces in the world at Nariman Point, hold multi-million deals and shape the Indian economy. Its here that the galaxy of Bollywood superstars go about creating a parallel universe of sorts daily. Its here that the rich and famous like to hang out and get an approval of their status in society. But this is the glamorized aspect of the city.
Mumbai is not just about all glamour. Thank GOD! its not. Otherwise it wouldnt have been the good old Mumbai .. "Meri Jaan". So begins my journey of exploring Mumbai through the eyes of a person as passionate about Mumbai as anything else.
Having lived all my life in Mumbai, i still romanticize about living in the Mumbai of the 60's. Just like the song above, I wonder how would it have been like living in the Mumbai during the British.( Probably influenced more by the tales from my grand father and father about their early days in Mumbai). The Mumbai uncrowded, undisturbed and importantly uncomplicated. A Mumbai untouched by the vagaries of these times, times when the winds of globalization hadn't even touched its shores.
When you felt down and out, was the long stroll along "Marine Drive" even more soothing than it is today? The conversation that you had with the sea all along and the sea as omnipresent as ever listening to every word and acknowledging every question with a wave striking the embankment.
Did time fly even more faster when you sat facing the sea along with a loved one? Was the time spent with family on chowpatty beach more enjoyable than todays family vacation in singapore?
Life was a struggle even then. But was life more purposeful then than its today with all the complications that we have added to out lives? Did the simple joys of life back then still outclass the "expensive" joys we treat ourselves with?
Was traveling in the Mumbai local train any less riskier than its now? Were the roads as bad as they are now? Were the rains more enjoyable then? Were festivals revered back then rather than commercialized like now?
And most importantly were the people back then any different than the people of this generation?
The answer to all these questions cant be answered unless i land a Time Machine for myself. Until then i can do what i CAN do! DREAM SOME MORE!!!
more posts here
"E Dil mushkil jeena yahaan... zaraa haske zara bach ke .. Yeh hai Mumbai Meri Jaan".
The lyrics transcend anything a person can experience in an entire lifetime living in mumbai. Though written in the 60s when mumbai was more about mills, trams and burgeoning lower middle class rather than swanky malls,never ending discos and constipated affluence, its as relevant as it was then. More so now since Mumbai is fighting for an identity of its own. Nothing better to remind it what Mumbai is all about.
Mumbai since long has been the financial capital of India. Its the place where business barons, seated in the costliest office spaces in the world at Nariman Point, hold multi-million deals and shape the Indian economy. Its here that the galaxy of Bollywood superstars go about creating a parallel universe of sorts daily. Its here that the rich and famous like to hang out and get an approval of their status in society. But this is the glamorized aspect of the city.
Mumbai is not just about all glamour. Thank GOD! its not. Otherwise it wouldnt have been the good old Mumbai .. "Meri Jaan". So begins my journey of exploring Mumbai through the eyes of a person as passionate about Mumbai as anything else.
Having lived all my life in Mumbai, i still romanticize about living in the Mumbai of the 60's. Just like the song above, I wonder how would it have been like living in the Mumbai during the British.( Probably influenced more by the tales from my grand father and father about their early days in Mumbai). The Mumbai uncrowded, undisturbed and importantly uncomplicated. A Mumbai untouched by the vagaries of these times, times when the winds of globalization hadn't even touched its shores.
When you felt down and out, was the long stroll along "Marine Drive" even more soothing than it is today? The conversation that you had with the sea all along and the sea as omnipresent as ever listening to every word and acknowledging every question with a wave striking the embankment.
Did time fly even more faster when you sat facing the sea along with a loved one? Was the time spent with family on chowpatty beach more enjoyable than todays family vacation in singapore?
Life was a struggle even then. But was life more purposeful then than its today with all the complications that we have added to out lives? Did the simple joys of life back then still outclass the "expensive" joys we treat ourselves with?
Was traveling in the Mumbai local train any less riskier than its now? Were the roads as bad as they are now? Were the rains more enjoyable then? Were festivals revered back then rather than commercialized like now?
And most importantly were the people back then any different than the people of this generation?
The answer to all these questions cant be answered unless i land a Time Machine for myself. Until then i can do what i CAN do! DREAM SOME MORE!!!
more posts here
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