Mumbai Musings

I've known this city to an extent that I feel I belong here...ya the Aamchi Mumbai kinda spirit! Though a long-term resident of Bengaluru (thats wat they call it these days!), I have a special attachment to this place. I graduated, had my share of first love, discovered my passion for lifesciences ....all of this and more at this very city! So its not surprising the way I feel for it!

Not long ago I was exchanging emails with an acquaintance (I can refer to him as my friend now...) that I live in Mumbai and there came the response...
Mumbai?? Seriously, I have never liked Bombay!! I mean I have never been there, but then I see the humongous number of people there, and I go!! No way!! I can never survive in the place with SO many people!!

Actually thinking about it..the response isnt one bit exagerrated or for that matter a surprising one...I still remember the first day I boarded the local train to CST (then it was to collect college application forms!) man...It was nothing but Darwin's Theory in action...Only the fittest survive... Just that mumbai...or rather its people help u get to that mark..with their support and camaraderie (The fish vendors threatening to spill stinking fish extracts/juices on you if you dont create way for them in the teeming CST station arent included in this category!)

College days as always was fun here...From weekly visits to fashion street, linking road (these were monthly!), to the amul sandwich wala at Xaviers college, the Amraas at Haji Ali, the chinese dosawala at Ghatkopar...I've savoured it all. The cultural extravaganza at College festivals (Malhar/Hooner) still are still fresh in my memory. There used to be this diary farm my special friend and me used to visit for early morning chais...and samosas almost every other day.Recently (thats almost after 10 years) I had a peek look at that very place and boy...It now serves exotic flavours of icecreams and the delivery bhaiyas use paper gloves while handling the samosas.Its all done up and has the Works man! (as they call it!). I am sure to an extent that we are stake holders of this establishment...(having had hundreds of samosas and a thousand cups of chai...)

Now those were the fantastic fantasy days of college. Cutting back to reality...the Present.


I have had to cope with monsoon evenings wherein the entire system (nearly) collapses. People rushing from work to reach their homes safely; this 'rainophobia' mainly trigerred by the July 26, 2005 fury. People still are open to sharing their rickshaws and vehicles with other stranded co-passengers. Its a time when sex, creed or age matter the least!

I have been spared of getting on to the very train that had a bomb planted on it, thanks to a cancelled meeting. We've had to walk long distances to reach home in the midst of rain and anxiety over the serial bomb blasts.

We are not alien to the never-ending traffic woes; we have seen the rain fury, witnessed the deafening bomb blasts, still somewhere deep in our hearts we refuse to accept defeat. Thats a hard to find sensibility of the human spirit... the true legacy of Mumbai!

Saalam Mumbai!