In reply to my friend's blog - http://vijayendrad.blogspot.com
The character of a city is not determined and distinguished by just the media, but also by the people who live and experience it.
Imagine all cities as individuals. Each individual has its own identify, its own place, its own importance. So do cities. Each individual is a mixture of good and bad qualities but there are some qualities in the individual, good or bad, which tend to be more prominent and hence end up being the epitome of that personality. The same happens in case of cities. We look up to certain individuals and derive inspiration from them, but we dont end up aping them. We use their experiences as valuable lessons to us. The same applies to cities.
Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Mumbai are metro cities and been around for a very long time. They have survived for hundreds of years. The volume of problems that these cities experience is far beyond your imagination. You have to live in such a city and experience it to realise why it gets the importance.
Dont tell me that Mumbai acquired the status of being the commercial capital of our country just out of some bloated self created glittery image. Dont tell me that Mumbai was one of the first and probably only cities from India known to the foreign lands long long ago when probably Pune was still an upcoming town. And didnt Pune exist even when Mumbai was so popular years ago? Didnt it have its chances? Couldnt it have crossed all limits and been more progressive than Mumbai if it wanted to? What was stopping it? (Pune, Just an example) Check out Bangalore. My first reaction was 'bandar ke haath me sone ki chain', its true as of now. But then I feel atleast they have a dream of being the IT capital. Some day their attitudes will change and people here will gain Mumbai-like professionalism in every field. Good for them!
Again, Mumbai talks about its sore wounds like increasing population, slums, uncleanliness, violence, terrorists attacks, communally volatile status, etc, as much as it talks about its glossy, classy image, its revenue generating capacity, its professionalism and its 'resilience'...etc..Has anyone denied anything?
There has to be something in the city that is different than other cities. There is no aura of star and glitter. And if there is, it is earned over the years. ***The city works for its status.*** I would suggest you come and live in Mumbai for a couple of years and tell me then whether you agree with your own views in this blog.
My neighbour who is from Nagpur (Aunty) was so happy yesterday. She was gleeful while saying that Mumbai couldnt survive a day of highest ever rainfall in the entire indian history of 100 years! I couldnt believe she was smiling so much and i couldnt understand what made her so happy about the situation?! When Kanchan spoke about the goodness of Nagpur, my first reaction was, oh is it? Itni kyun taarif karte rehte ho tum log! I must visit your city, i want to see those roads. She has promised to take me some day. How many non-Mumbaikars give the same reaction towards Mumbai?
Have you heard the song 'Turn, turn, turn' by The Byrds? Mumbai has been used, abused and now people will slowly leave it for greener pastures. Its only then that the true mumbaikars will stay back and nurse her back to good health. Mumbai is in a complete different phase of her life, dont compare her with other cities. She has grown and matured over the years.
Lastly....Be proud of who you are but do not fail to appreciate the person in front of you. To do that you really need to keep aside your first opinions and experience the person in front of you, what the person has been through, the person's history, the person's reactions to events, seek those answers, dont believe what people say, dont take a bird's eye. And then decide for yourself. This applies to cities too!
We all have the potential to be a hero, we all have it in us to perform. Do it! Show it! Thats what seperates you from the hero. Only that.
Y
