Mumbai Rains

The skies are gray. The trees and leaves are clean and ridden of their dusty summer trails whatsoever.

The first anticipation of the rain is our annual invitation to visiting treasure troves of memories collected over years of getting wet in the first rain, dancing on the the terrace with other kids, being towel dried by mom and warned about the perils of getting wet in rain to the beautiful walks in the rain with buddies in our teen years to walking and crying in the rain after your first breakup to leisurely walks in the rain holding hands with the one you love to watching our new born being terrified of the claps of thunder to leading them into their first rains!

I have yet to come across someone who has not floated paper boats in muddy puddles or jumped strategically through puddles enjoying the brown splatter on white uniforms.

If childhood is so strongly linked with the onset and splash of rain, what changes when we grow up?

After the initial euphoria surrounding the first pitter-patter of raindrops, hot spicy bhajiyas, roadside bhuttas and reveling in cutting chais, most Mumbaikars are back to blaming everything from God to BMC and everything in between. The rains are blamed for the high humidity, the trains / buses running late, traffic jams on the road, potholes - and if life has been uncannily kind to you so far, you blame the rains as the lesser privileged have lesser dry space to sleep in.

While I do not trivialize these issues and understand that it is important for the parent with young kid to return home on time and roads being free of car breakers aka potholes and one's need to be comfortable; what I am really hinting at is our attitude towards rain.

There is definitely still ecstasy and aura around it. I have seen people steal glances at the windows with a clear anticipatory question in the eyes... Is it raining outside? I have seen craned necks catching a purgatory glance at the heavy showers outside with a glint in the eye that dies when the eyes return to the computer monitor.

Then why not embrace and enjoy it wholeheartedly? If this is what growing old is all about then I am glad I choose not to grow up. Which makes me think some more.

I have seen the most sane people go totally philosophical just by spending a few minutes by the sea or ocean or any water body? Just as if by sitting upon its shore and pondering it sucks you in and with its gentle warm currents washes the pains and tribulations of everyday life and fills you with a deep sense of fulfilment and understanding instead. No wonder you see people, spending some time by a Marine drive, gazing as the sun goes down and city lights go up and just walk off with an inner sense of zen the coolly reflects on their face.

And yet again, the same does not seem to transcend too far beyond the first few showers. Maybe then it is about growing up from loving the first drops of rain to falling in love with the deep and infinite ocean. Or maybe its something more.

I hold my steaming cuppa by the window with the rain splattering my face and wonder on, "What is it really about the rains?"

Kasab or Raj Thackrey - what is the difference?

Greetings Earthlings!

It's been quite some time since I was last here. Since then, a lot has been happening in the world around us.

Good News : Barack Hussein Obama is now the President of USA. Bad News : Gaza Strip still knows no peace. Expected News : MNS activists rampaged a 5-star hotel & Mumbai University. More Good News : Slumdog Millionaire and A. R. Rehman are going places and getting famous there!

So much for providing news on the go... Time to ramble on.

Quite a few things have been said by a lot of different people that have left me so restless - with all negative vibes. For starters, the Chief Justice of India said that since terrorists should not be allowed human rights. Moreover, he detests people who represent these terrorists. Yeah right. In that case, Mr. Chief Justice, it's high time you first made a few changes in the Constitution. It's the Constitution that allows such terrorists to live. Not the lawyers alone.

Then, there is this whole new dimension about women going to pubs. Some mad-cap guy in Mangalore wakes up one morning and go about rampaging pubs and women. The newspapers think he is some big, long forgotten hero, decorate him on the front page will huge smiling images. It later on turned out that the mad-cap guy and his mad-cap gang meant to overthrow the government and set up their own king. Ram Rajya or something similar. Yeah right. They forgot one vital detail - India is still a democracy, & the largest one at that! To get things complicated, all the political parties have now joined the fray - there is a whole debate on which party should take what stand!!!

What I don't understand is why has there been no uprising about men going to bars, getting drunk and/or beating up their wives... Why has no one ever vandalized men who drink??? I never knew Rama or Krishna drank Kingfishers, Budweiser's and Old Monks?? Or did they??

As is expected, MNS is back to their rampaging ways again. First it was a 5-star hotel. I am still clueless as to why did they have to break glasses and destroy furniture of a 5-star hotel. Apart from that, when they were not allowed to meet the head of the University of Mumbai, they rampaged the place. The reason why they wanted to meet : Marathi should be compulsory.

Before I proceed, a quick flashback. This is an incident that happened a few months back. While I was waiting in the immigration queue at the Tehran airport, I happened to chit chat with the guy standing in the line behind me. He was an Iranian. As the flight was from Tehran to Mumbai, I asked him why was he flying to Mumbai of all places. He said he studied at the University of Mumbai. When I gave a puzzled expression he explained that there were definitely Universities in Iran, but none were as good as Mumbai University. The standard and syllabus of Mumbai University was quite high. That, coming from a foreigner, made me feel very proud of our Mumbai University and of being a Mumbaikar.

Return from flashback and I realize this is the same Alma Mater we are talking about here. It's such a sad thing - it takes years to build a good name and an even better reputation - but it takes only a few vandalizing MNS activists to destroy it all. I fervently hope and pray, the authorities at Mumbai University do not give in to their demands.

The Maharashtra State Government chooses to grin away at all these illegal vandalizing activities. If the MNS ONLY indulges in illegal, illicit & vandalizing activities, why is the government taking so long to declare MNS to be a terrorist outfit. What purpose does their existence serve apart from breaking bones, breaking news and disrupting life for the common man? I believe none whatsoever. If MNS is allowed to continue - it just means the government really does not care who does what. Kasab or Raj Thackeray - what is the difference. I am just reminded of a board that I had seen on the walls of Wipro. It said "There is black and there is white - there is no gray". So true. The gray area that the government chooses to stand behind does not exist. If the government does nothing to curb the menace, then our governments sides with MNS.

What options does a common man have in such circumstances? Very few.

There is another more surprisingly aspect. Whenever there is any such activity happening, the media fraternity reaches the place and gets live coverage of the incident. But Mumbai Police always manages to reach after the incident is over and most of the miscreants have escaped. So much like a Hindi movie. Simple question - how does the media find out what the police does not? And more importantly, if and when media finds out, why do they not inform the police so that the hooligans can be stopped before damage is caused? Very clearly, to create "Breaking News" media no longer cares what it has to break down. When the media has gone to the dogs, it only deserves to be curbed. It should be restricted.

To Dr. Manmohan Singh - I believe you are the ablest of Prime Minister my country has had for years. I believe in you and your policies. But is there nothing you can do to save the common hard working man of Mumbai? Please help us.

War With Pakistan....Is it worth it?

Napoleon said "Men are moved by two levers only : fear and self interest." When Mr.Bush attacked Iraq we know there was no fear in that, only self-interest. That kind of self-interest is called Saddam-Hussain-is-sitting-on-millions-of-dollars-worth-of-oil.But then, why get into a worthless discussion of how Mr.Bush is highly selfish. India is angry. Angry because we have been attacked. The carnage is the worth ever in the history of humanity, or so they say. We caught a Pakistani terrorist, Kasab, alive. Since the terrorist is Pakistani, politicos in India and abroad want Pakistan to come clean off its terrorists this time. Pakistan, as usual is shrugging it off saying there are as many terrorist attacks happening in Pakistan as elsewhere in the world. Condemnation of the terrorist attacks is slowly fading and people moving back to their routines again. This is where the angry India steps in. We don't want the world only condemning Pakistan. We want something concrete. Since its our "internal" matter we will take care of it ourself - a similar statement was issued by Mr.Pranav Mukherjee yesterday. What does Mr.Mukherjee plan to do? I presume military action is strongly on his mind. Global pressurizing is obviously not working. And, miliary action would be directly imply war with Pakistan. War with Pakistan. The very first need of war is money. Money for arms. Money to pay your men. And money for a lot of other things as well - like sustaining a positive economy.Anger is a good thing - in a way. It helps take our minds off more important things. While we have been busy getting angry at Pakistan, most of us have almost forgotten the global recession. We have very nearly forgotten that people all over the world are getting pink slips. However (and so far!) the Indian economy is doing really well for itself. If we go to war, our economy will no longer remain stable. Prices of commodities with go way over the top. The GDP that we have been able to stablilize at, will shoot off the roof. A war will pull us down as a nation - economically. However, for all of those who think, this kind of war is necessary to upkeep our "national honour". Think again. If we go for this war, what is going to be the difference between Mr.Bush and us. None whatsoever.Now, temperorily let's forget about the local implications and assume we go to war with Pakistan. We attack their borders, bomb their cities, towns and villages. They retreat and admit defeat. Then what?We will have defeated Pakistan. The Mumbai Carnage is now avenged. And we will also have added to our liablilities. Pakistan is a liability. Nothing less, nothing more. At this moment, I will not divulge into how they are liabilites.But more importantly, do we want this liability in such times? I don't think so. As an answer to that, I quote Napoleon again, "Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake".

Mohallah Committees - An Answer???

Greetings!

It's time.

Time to stop staring.

Time to not let go anymore.

Time to stop shrugging our shoulders helplessly.

Mumbai has never been limited to it's Mumbaikars. We have always been a cosmopolitan culture. We blend onto those around us and they blend into us. For a very long time now this fusion and diffusion has created this beautiful and exquisite kaleidoscope that is a part of us.

This 26/11 has changed more than a few things. It is said that destruction of such epic proportions has never been encountered elsewhere in the world. This scar on Mumbai's face shall remain with us forever. But, I believe, like all great men who have walked this planet, such scars have always made them more humane, more powerful, more unbreakable. I am sure this is true of Mumbai.

Terrorists will come and go. Mumbai is forever. Terrorists surprisingly look like human beings. Really, if they had, may be horns on their heads, they would be so much easier to spot and isolate. But unfortunately they don't.

Now, that we have been hurt, let's not shrug our shoulders and wait for the next one to strike. It's time to take things in our own hands.

There are two important things that go into prevent such catastrophes' - firstly, its our government and security agencies, and secondly and most importantly - ourselves. Even more importantly, both of these can be controlled by us. There is a lot we can do, if we really want to do it.

As far as the government is concerned, the answer is painstakingly simple - use your rights. VOTE. We have the power to ensure who gets control over our security agencies. We have the power to vote for no one. All we lack is the willingness to get up and vote. Most of us feel - what difference does one vote make - it makes a difference. It makes a big difference. It is difference of life and death. Even at the risk of sounding cliche, I must say this - a lot of drops make the ocean. With approximately 40% of the population not voting, what bigger example can one give. If you are wondering about the how-to of elections, it's time to visit www.jaagore.com

Moving to the second most important thing that we can do.

It's called self-empowerment. You cannot always control what the government does, what the army, navy and other security agencies are doing, what the terrorists do, what other countries are planning. However, we can control what is happening around us. We have to keep our eyes and ears open. We have to stay alert. We need to keep a tab on what is happening in our surroundings. We need to stop saying, "Why should I bother?" & "It has always happened this way. Why should I ask?".

Technically, a lot of things can be done. I can leave that to your thoughtfulness and creativity. However I would just like to put forth an example. After the '92 riots, one very important initiative that Mumbai Police had taken to ensure peace in the city was that of "Mohallah Committees". A lot of people may remember what it used to be, many of you may have been active members of such local committees. However, for those you are not sure what it was - here it goes. A mohallah ommittee was constituted of a few prominent people living in building or vicinity. The people in committee were usually those who knew the people living in the building, colony or society or regularly interacted with them.

The purpose here was to create local vigilance groups. Any unusual or suspicious activities could be reported to the members who could look into it. Serious issues could be easily forwarded to the police. This is doubly effective. One the police is actually looking at authentic complains and suspicions. Also, unnecessary rumors can be nipped in the bud. The members can hold monthly or weekly meetings in their respective areas as a method of face-to-face interaction for those who fall in the area.

If we really think about it, such a method is highly effective. Self awareness and self-security aside being a part of such activities will also give us a sense of fulfillment and contributing back to the society.

Since ancient times, we Indians have always have had local self governance. In today's times, we need to take steps to secure our own safety. We cannot endlessly wait for the government to come down and do something for us. It's time to take our own security in our hands. It's time to stand up and do our duties. The rights will follow automatically.

What else do you think we could do??

Life of a Feline

Welcome! It's the saddest of all times. Maya Dolas passed away today morning. I am still mourning her death. She came into our lives as a surprise. Or more like shock. We should have known. In fact, we should have expected it. It was bound to happen. There is no real immunity from such things. Moments like these appear from nowhere and leave your hearts and minds touched forever. There was something about her eyes. They were ablaze with fire. The kind of eyes you cannot help but stare into, yet they are so powerful they cannot be stared into for long. They don't ask questions. They just force you to look within yourself. They force you to look at the world from their viewpoint. That is why I named her Maya....the eternal enchanter....

Later the kitten ventured out into the big wide world. The world allured her. She roamed like a tigress on the prowl. She walked like a royal. Nope. She was not exactly hunting. She was just taking in her new surroundings. The kids loved her. They fed her and played with her. At least that is what most of them did. A few vicious ones pelted stones at her, tied a string around her neck and tried to drag her around the place. The dogs attacked her. At night she stayed out alone. Keeping warm within her own fur.

The next day she was rediscovered by the kids. The next day she was brought back home. But now she limped from where the dogs had bit her. But the fragile body had a very strong spirit within her. She did not lay still. She kept dragging herself all over the place.

But the eyes revealed the pain withheld in her soul. But amidst the pain the strong, resolute spirit could not be broken. I will never forget those eyes. She knew she was going to die. Her spirit will live for eternity beyond.

The night passed. As the early morning sun touched the city of Mumbai she whimpered, sighed and then passed away with the passing night.

I will never forget the day she came.

The night was a night of terror for the city of Mumbai. And with the evil shadows had passed by Mumbai ... so had Maya Dolas. The memory will remain etched within me forever. Of light and of shadow. Of days and of nights. The memory shall not be allowed to die.

The stray cat that my brother brought home that day. I called her Maya Dolas.

Mee Mumbaikar...Silent Spectators!!

Warmest season's greetings!! I have been away. Busy. Too busy to look at myself carefully. No no no... not busy as in the socialite types or anything like that..... Before you call me a hypocrite, give me a chance to justify myself. I have been a silent spectator...all this while. Now I am not talking about a week, a month or a year. I am taking into leverage the entire duration of my life. More importantly, i realize i am not alone. It seems like a sad, lonely thing to do. To do nothing but stare. To just watch what is happening without ever raising a finger or moving a limb to change a thing. Surprisingly, that is what most of us actually do. Take for example the recent uprising by the MNS activists. There is no point discussing how those brainwashed individuals held a whole bustling city to ransom - they already have had more than their fair share of media frenzy. How a bunch of brainwashed idiots managed make mockery of the democracy that we boast of. Those people whose businesses were affected, shops looted, damaged, destroyed or burnt down can do nothing but look at the heavens above and try to pick up the strands of life all over again. Whereas, the perpetrators of such evil thoughts still roams freely in his A/C car... Arrests are usually not made in such cases because it is the mob that attacks. Even when arrests are made, most of them usually get out on bail very easily. Sometimes one wonders why the police needs to intervene if all they do is capture and then let them go. Enough said about the people who are trying to drive us back into the stone age. Mumbai, says Wikipedia, has a population around about nineteen million, a total potpourri of cultures, religions and trades. Also, the city has been inhabited since the stone age. (Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mumbai). When the rains poured over Mumbai, we Mumbaikars stood by each other, bringing strangers into our home. Many stood on the roads and provided food, water or if nothing else showed them the way home. That is the Spirit of Mumbai - undying. Anyone who dreams of being a someone is drawn to this city. There is something about the very air of this city, it makes you want to dream. And if you already have a dream it fans that spark within you, till the little amber turns to a full fledged roaring blazing fire inside. To try and differentiate people in a city like this is injustice. Its blasphemy. Still, however unjust the happenings in the city, most of us remained silent; watching from behind the curtains of our homes. Some of us speak now, albeit still not very openly. That is when i self-introspect. I too remained silent. I think we have remained silent too long. I think we need to speak up. Speaking up does not always kill. Look at the US, when the people turned up to vote in the largest number - democracy (& hopefully even peace) shall prevail at the hands of Barrack Obama. Somehow, the city seems to have gone into a slumber. I am currently reading "Discovery of India" by Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru. Its a beautiful book, written in a beautiful language, about a culture, a country that is even more beautiful. One of the things I learnt from whatever I have read so far is all the while when India was openhearted accepting people of all faiths and cultures, exchanging knowledge, spreading knowledge - India was at that time the most famous in the world and was know as "Sone ki Chidiya". However, when she tried to close her fist, tried to not let people come in and affect her "culture" she started stagnating. The openness of the heart and mind which had led her to her glory - whence the fist was closed - was slowly and steadily lost.... I believe that is true even today. Any one who is highly learned can tell you this, to learn, to grow, to reach the pinnacle of your success you will need to keep your mind and your hearts open to all... for a closed fist can never capture enough........... In the end all that I can say is.... while my city, my country is being held to ransom...at the present moment...i just stand like a silent spectator. However, I am sure this immobility shall not last for long....and when the moment comes...i shall not be found looking for reasons.

No time to stop and stare for a while...

Greetings!!

A very warm season's greetings to one and all....!!

It's truely time for festivities...at least for some of us...

Since Eid I have been doing a little bit traveling....here and there...

Ramazaan having gone with no time for self....I needed a much wanted break. And as far as I am concerned...any reason to travel anywhere is good enough!

So, immediately after Eid I left for Surat. Spent a good four days there. Not that I traveled the city by foot or went around the whole place. It's always the people that I find most intruiging. The people of the place define what the place is like. Otherwise, mostly everything is Antarctica....all the same...over and over...

From there I returned back home for a day's respite to move to Burhanpur. Now, for those who have never heard of the place - Burhanpur is a small town/village located on the border of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. It's not very huge. I don't recall having seen any buildings that went beyond a third floor.... But it's bigger than a village would be...so, I call it a town. It has a lot of religious and a strong historical background. Well, if you are wondering what I was doing there... there in Burhanpur, is one very sacred ziyarat of Hakimuddin Moula...who is highly revered by Dawoodi Bohras as also by people of other faiths.

Now, on our second day there we were told there is curfew going on. That took us by surprize.

Then we discovered there were riots that have been happening around Dhulia (Maharashtra) since Eid. Now, since it had started spreading and there had been certain incidents that had happened in Burhanpur that morning. That had lead to the ensuing curfew. So, we were restricted within the premises.

Now, the next day we were to return back to Mumbai. Since the Dargah-e-Hakimi had special priviledges we had no difficulty getting back to the station. But it was while we were in the train that really made me think and re-think.

Boarding the train we realized that half the train was empty. Most people who had reservations did not turn up. Still, it was not empty....just that under normal circumstances, that particular stretch is over-crowded. Those who travel by the Kalyan-Igatpuri-Nasik-Bhusaval route know what its like. Usually it's full of life and people. However, I believe because of the riots or similar reasons, most people were holed up. Take for example Nasik. Very popular. For residential and business reasons alike. When the train hit Nasik around 7.30 in the evening, you could not find a soul on the platform!! A similar scenerio ensued on Igatpuri, Bhusaval, etc. Even as a child I could tell Igatpuri by its commotion and sweet aroma of various types of food. This time around it was dark and empty.

However, when we got off at Thane, life looked usually. At 10 in the night, there were people scurrying in all directions to get to their desired destinations. My best guess is that no one had heard anything about a curfew or riots on some other parts of the state or country.

It's things like these that make me stop and think.

We Mumbaites are at times so full of ourselves and our miniature lives that we don't ever bother looking over our shoulder. The incidents happening were just a few hours away from us. So close. Yet we somehow just choose to always look the other way...as if nothing is happening...or has ever happened.

I know that Mumbai is the city for the dreams. Everyone here is on a mission. I know life moves so fast here that at times its easy to even forget why we started running in the first place.

Maybe instead of a Mumbai Marathon, its time Mumbai city could take break... It could take the time to stop and stare....

But then maybe Mumbai would not remain what it is now.

The question remains - can Mumbai have a heart that beats for others without loosing its true spirit???