It was around nine months back that I left Mumbai...hopefully for good. I am ecstatic that I do not need to spend any more days nudging people around to get to work, the way I used to. I am thankful that I do not have to soak myself wet in the godforsaken Mumbai humidity and sit in front of the AC of my office for 15 minutes for the clothes to dry. I am thrilled at the fact that I do not end up smelling like the person I stood next to in the Bus or Train after the journey. I am euphoric that after 10 years, finally, I am out of the place that calls itself the "City of Dreams", "City that never sleeps" and God knows what other self-proclaimed names. I can describe it by a single word though- A Dump - A dump of languid people, A dump of drab, aesthetically repulsive architecture , A dump of all those Indian's aspirations who think that they will make it big here, A dump of Intellectually or Artistically challenged robots - what else would people end up as if their daily routine is getting up at 5:30Am, catching the 6:30AM Local reaching work at 9:00 AM & at the end of the day reaching back home at 10:00 PM at night?
All that said, I am visiting Mumbai this week.
Why? - Just some things to take care of [otherwise, why would I visit a place which is marked by a big red "X" in my Map, the other "X"'s have been put on Antarctica (I hate being cold), Sub-saharan Africa (I hate being bitten by the black Mamba) and the Gaza Strip (I would hate being evaporated in one of those stray bombs that go off once very often)]
So what do I expect? - That there will be a horde of people waiting there to welcome me back after the nine month long gap? I wish! But I am no Bollywood star, no political figure, no cricketer - Who else get garlanded? - Oh yes, I aint a dead body either!... forget about a "famous" dead body.
Or do I expect a bit of nostalgia about visiting Mumbai once again after a long gap (10 years Vs 9 months - would that Qualify as a long Gap?). Honestly, I half expect it! My flight lands in Mumbai - I think the nostalgia will hit me now...nothing!. I take a cab to the nearest railway station - I see the sights and sounds around, I smell the putrid air - this should surely see a rush of old memories....nothing!!. I reach my friends place, I meet all my old friends, I have dinner at my favorite old-hangout consisting of Rawas tandoori - this should definitely hit the nostalgia button...but...nothing!!!
Today its the second day here, yet I am waiting for the reminscence of my life and times in Mumbai...NOTHING! I can therefore conclude that only three possibilities:
1. I Havent stayed in Mumbai long enough
OR
2. Even though I have stayed there long enough my memory power isnt too strong enough to recollect events that happened before 9 months
OR
3. 10 Years Vs 9 months is too short a gap
Any takes on which of them is the correct answer?
All that said, I am visiting Mumbai this week.
Why? - Just some things to take care of [otherwise, why would I visit a place which is marked by a big red "X" in my Map, the other "X"'s have been put on Antarctica (I hate being cold), Sub-saharan Africa (I hate being bitten by the black Mamba) and the Gaza Strip (I would hate being evaporated in one of those stray bombs that go off once very often)]
So what do I expect? - That there will be a horde of people waiting there to welcome me back after the nine month long gap? I wish! But I am no Bollywood star, no political figure, no cricketer - Who else get garlanded? - Oh yes, I aint a dead body either!... forget about a "famous" dead body.
Or do I expect a bit of nostalgia about visiting Mumbai once again after a long gap (10 years Vs 9 months - would that Qualify as a long Gap?). Honestly, I half expect it! My flight lands in Mumbai - I think the nostalgia will hit me now...nothing!. I take a cab to the nearest railway station - I see the sights and sounds around, I smell the putrid air - this should surely see a rush of old memories....nothing!!. I reach my friends place, I meet all my old friends, I have dinner at my favorite old-hangout consisting of Rawas tandoori - this should definitely hit the nostalgia button...but...nothing!!!
Today its the second day here, yet I am waiting for the reminscence of my life and times in Mumbai...NOTHING! I can therefore conclude that only three possibilities:
1. I Havent stayed in Mumbai long enough
OR
2. Even though I have stayed there long enough my memory power isnt too strong enough to recollect events that happened before 9 months
OR
3. 10 Years Vs 9 months is too short a gap
Any takes on which of them is the correct answer?
2 comments:
Although you are entitled to have your own opinions and i respect them, i would like to put forth a slightly different facet about Mumbai.
Lets take an objective approach to Mumbai...when lakhs of people from all over the country come into Mumbai and every day there are a few thousand immigrants then the city is hardly to be blamed for the number of people who throng it...infact i would say the city is pulling its strings to sustain the oozing population.
You have spoken about how you sweated it out to reach ur office and then sat down in an airconditioned cabin but you have missed the veracity that there are lakhs who stay in the city for days, months and years together maybe on pavements or 10 * 10 spaces just with a hope that they can strike gold.
It is a matter of perception after all...i am not trying to put forth a pro mumbai or anti mumbai approach...all i have tried to do is put you through another aspect which may help you crystallise your thoughts!
Wish you luck
Yes, I have my own opinions, but you seem to have taken this personally and surely have missed the entire gist of the post, which brings me to the next point of asking "What are you doing writing comments on blogs which you havent even read properly?". I have an option of deleting this comment and replying on this personally. But since you have taken so much care to "hide" your profile, I am posting this here:
If you would have read this post correctly, I have never put forth any of my opinions regarding whether or not Mumbai cannot help its own self because of people pouring over from all parts of the country.
Moreover, I have spoken about how I sweated it out to reach my office, not considering the "pavement dwellers" because, honestly, I do not know why they are there or what they are doing there!
All I have tried to point out is the fact that people have a choice - A choice between leading a miserable existence or a decent one. Healthy Civic amenities and social surroundings help in the overall development of the quality of your life and Mumbai simply cannot offer that. Maybe Mumbai cant help itself, but we can help ourselves. And I am glad that I have made a choice to move out of Mumbai.
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