We have been constantly hearing the words “The Mumbai Spirit” during the media coverage of the Mumbai terror attacks. Fairly clichéd term, isn’t it? But since it has been used every time a calamity has hit Mumbai, there must be some relevance to it. Recently while I was on my way to work, I started pondering about what differentiates Mumbai from other cities in India. Being brought up in the city and being a true Mumbaite, I surely have a deep emotional attachment, no doubt. But that does not make me biased when I compare Mumbai with other cities that I have visited within India. I am in love with the city, but I also hate it due to various reasons!
In my opinion, the one main reason which differentiates Mumbai from all other cities is due to the degree of FREEDOM that the city imparts to its people. I know you might wonder that we all are FREE anyways! But the kind of freedom that you witness here is different. It’s not just the freedom to live life the way you want to, but also the freedom to undertake challenging opportunities, the freedom to enjoy at any hour of the day – whether day or night - irrespective of age and gender, the freedom to express and get noticed for the same, the freedom to evolve as an individual.
The city is a land of opportunities, which attracts people from every nook and corner of India to earn a livelihood. It provides ample opportunities to every strata of the society to fulfill endeavors, whether it’s a 'bhaiya' from UP who opens-up a paan-beedi stall or a small-time model who aspires to shake hands with Shahrukh Khan someday! I recently realized that our vegetable vendor, who used to have a small set-up outside a grocery store, has now rented-out a shop and has a couple of helping hands too! I wondered as to how this transformation occurred, until I had spent some 5 minutes at his shop, sipped coconut water and observed how he dealt with his customers. His marketing tactics and networking capabilities were phenomenal! He even ensured that I left the shop with a well-designed pamphlet displaying his contact details for home-delivery. That is when I realized how the small-time vendor was gradually moving from rags-to-riches!
Another noticeable feature of the city has been its ability to support the requirements of every citizen, whether rich or poor. So you have the option of having a wholesome meal of a diet vada-pav (potato patty encapsulated in a brown bun with a tangy sauce, the patty is made using the same process which is followed at McDonalds!) and sweet butter-milk in a sealed pack, available outside most railway stations, all for a mere Rs. 13; or you have the option of having a lavish buffet at the Lotus Café at J.W. Marriott, if you have a thicker wallet. These options are available at every nook and corner of the city and not just the shopping-areas which are thronged by people. Similarly for traveling within the city, an average middle-class man could easily travel a distance of 30 kilometers to reach his work-place, by the popular 'Mumbai local' train, spending just around Rs. 7, if he does not have the big bucks to procure his own vehicle.
The city has always been applauded for its resilience and guts. In fact, people here never have inhibitions returning back to work the next day, after bomb-blasts, or floods which hit Mumbai almost every year in monsoons. I clearly recall, I was supposed to join my first employer (post-MBA) a day after the famous floods had hit us in 2005. Being my first job, I did not want to create a bad impression by not showing up, especially since my boss knew that I was staying barely a couple of kilometers from the office. I took a cab and reached office at dot 9.30 a.m. As suspected, the office reception just had a couple of security officials who informed me that no one had turned-up. However when I informed them that it was my first day at work and was supposed to join the Management Solutions team, they stopped me from leaving, made a call and then asked me to wait. The HR personnel, who had interviewed me, appeared a couple of minutes later with a smile and escorted me inside. She told me that since she knew that I was expected to join on that particular day, she decided to turn-up to ensure that I am not all-lost. She had walked back from Worli to Chembur (well over 15 kms!) the previous day due to unavailability of transportation. I stared at her in awe when I heard this!
No doubt, infrastructure issues and lack of sustained development to support the heavy population density have hindered the city's growth. However there are high hopes with several projects being undertaken by the authorities to improve the condition (Bandra-Worli sea-link, Mumbai Metro, Proposed airport at Panvel, et al). I am not sure whether the authorities have accounted for the massive influx of people which occurs every day. All said and done the city will always be vibrant and 'bindaas', which moves at a pace at which no other city does. It is a city you love to hate, but hate to leave!
In my opinion, the one main reason which differentiates Mumbai from all other cities is due to the degree of FREEDOM that the city imparts to its people. I know you might wonder that we all are FREE anyways! But the kind of freedom that you witness here is different. It’s not just the freedom to live life the way you want to, but also the freedom to undertake challenging opportunities, the freedom to enjoy at any hour of the day – whether day or night - irrespective of age and gender, the freedom to express and get noticed for the same, the freedom to evolve as an individual.
The city is a land of opportunities, which attracts people from every nook and corner of India to earn a livelihood. It provides ample opportunities to every strata of the society to fulfill endeavors, whether it’s a 'bhaiya' from UP who opens-up a paan-beedi stall or a small-time model who aspires to shake hands with Shahrukh Khan someday! I recently realized that our vegetable vendor, who used to have a small set-up outside a grocery store, has now rented-out a shop and has a couple of helping hands too! I wondered as to how this transformation occurred, until I had spent some 5 minutes at his shop, sipped coconut water and observed how he dealt with his customers. His marketing tactics and networking capabilities were phenomenal! He even ensured that I left the shop with a well-designed pamphlet displaying his contact details for home-delivery. That is when I realized how the small-time vendor was gradually moving from rags-to-riches!
Another noticeable feature of the city has been its ability to support the requirements of every citizen, whether rich or poor. So you have the option of having a wholesome meal of a diet vada-pav (potato patty encapsulated in a brown bun with a tangy sauce, the patty is made using the same process which is followed at McDonalds!) and sweet butter-milk in a sealed pack, available outside most railway stations, all for a mere Rs. 13; or you have the option of having a lavish buffet at the Lotus Café at J.W. Marriott, if you have a thicker wallet. These options are available at every nook and corner of the city and not just the shopping-areas which are thronged by people. Similarly for traveling within the city, an average middle-class man could easily travel a distance of 30 kilometers to reach his work-place, by the popular 'Mumbai local' train, spending just around Rs. 7, if he does not have the big bucks to procure his own vehicle.
The city has always been applauded for its resilience and guts. In fact, people here never have inhibitions returning back to work the next day, after bomb-blasts, or floods which hit Mumbai almost every year in monsoons. I clearly recall, I was supposed to join my first employer (post-MBA) a day after the famous floods had hit us in 2005. Being my first job, I did not want to create a bad impression by not showing up, especially since my boss knew that I was staying barely a couple of kilometers from the office. I took a cab and reached office at dot 9.30 a.m. As suspected, the office reception just had a couple of security officials who informed me that no one had turned-up. However when I informed them that it was my first day at work and was supposed to join the Management Solutions team, they stopped me from leaving, made a call and then asked me to wait. The HR personnel, who had interviewed me, appeared a couple of minutes later with a smile and escorted me inside. She told me that since she knew that I was expected to join on that particular day, she decided to turn-up to ensure that I am not all-lost. She had walked back from Worli to Chembur (well over 15 kms!) the previous day due to unavailability of transportation. I stared at her in awe when I heard this!
No doubt, infrastructure issues and lack of sustained development to support the heavy population density have hindered the city's growth. However there are high hopes with several projects being undertaken by the authorities to improve the condition (Bandra-Worli sea-link, Mumbai Metro, Proposed airport at Panvel, et al). I am not sure whether the authorities have accounted for the massive influx of people which occurs every day. All said and done the city will always be vibrant and 'bindaas', which moves at a pace at which no other city does. It is a city you love to hate, but hate to leave!
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