Sunday 5 July, 2009

Mumbai Uncorked...

Everyone who has lived for a considerable time in Mumbai knows that it is one of those things thats almost impossible to define. The feelings and the emotions that Mumbai arouses will never be felt elsewhere. It is these that bind all Mumbaikars well beyond the need of any geographical borders - Mumbai is open country.

No one is ever an outsider to Mumbai for too long. Mumbai accommodates. In its motley of local trains, in its numerous skyscrapers, in its share market rallies, in its Udipi restaurants and on its Chowpatties and Bandstands. Everyone is welcome. They always have been. An urban spectacle, conspicuous by its huge contribution to government revenues and by the miniscule amount that comes back, Mumbai carries on.

Sometimes, this treatment is humiliating, frustrating, even revolting. But, as Roark Howard would have said, '...the pain goes down only to a certain point, and then it stops...', Mumbai keeps at it. In the long run, the only competition will be with itself.

The rains lash Mumbai like a jealous mistress. She keeps coming back. Year after year, the monsoon keeps its date with Mumbai. And Mumbai welcomes it. Even though it hurts, Mumbai adores her. Amidst flooded roads and dank winds, aartis and pujas welcome the reunion. Even in the wake of life brought to a standstill, the tumultous relationship endures - welcomed and respected.

Mumbai may not be the most modern city, neither the most well-planned. But its magnificence lies not in what others did with it. It lies in what Mumbai does to itself every single day. Day after day. Without respite or let-back. Taking all in its stride. Mumbai goes on. Mumbai rocks.

5 comments:

  1. And so, no words can explain Mumbai, it can only be felt. Mumbai Rocks. I appreciate my rivals. :P

    ReplyDelete
  2. Mumbai sucks dude.. its one of the worst city i have ever been to. by this blog i can see that u have never thought about the lower strata of the people(typical capitalist thinking)living there. The worrying part is the level of disparity that exists. It is really horrible to see huge number of slums on one side and posh ferraris and bungalows on the other end.Also many uncourteous mumbaikars and those taxi wallas, they really sux.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Dear Mr. Anonymous..

    There is a lotta difference in residing in Mumbai & Living in Mumbai..
    I am assuming, u are the one who has been or was Residing in Mumbai..

    Mumbai is made of people who love it..we live in Mumbai & we Live MUMBAI...

    M sorry but you really need to understand that Mumbai is not just a place to stay its a feeling to be lived!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. its just upon ur perception... isnt it? if u want to hate mumbai, u will get enuf reasons... but if u want to love it, u will get millions..! I for one wld love to be in Mumbai for as long as i can!!!

    Mumbaikars are said to be selfish.. or unhelpful... I cant disagree more... They r said to be too materialistic, or maybe to mechanistic... If u say so, u hvnt known mumbai at all!

    ReplyDelete
  5. @ mitsu, my aim is not to disparage the blog first of all. I just wanted you guys to think from everyones point of view while you write about a city and not the ppl who live there. Remember, you can term a city as good when it appeals to both permanant and occasional dwellers.
    @Sanyam, U say mumbaikars are not materialistic, the i cant accept your arguments. I and many of my friends personnaly feel that mumbaikars are the materialistic perople ever they have met. Its all relative dude. It shows u havent been exposed to what real world is. Come out of it and think please.

    ReplyDelete