What's in a name?

Bombay or Mumbai, the bard once said "what's in a name?". The 'cool peeps' will call it only Bombay and refuse to call it anything else. The 'nationalists' will call it only Mumbai and will break the heads of those who think otherwise. Grow up folks, call it what you want. It is officially Mumbai; if you don't like that, you should have stood in line and cast in your opinion in the ballot box.

Link Politics

So, its time to unveil an ambitious project... one that connects Bandra in the Western suburbs to Worli in the city. It is the Bandra Worli Sea Link. Great job with the conceptualization, engineering and execution [it was late, will ignore that for now].
Source:Bandra Worli Sealink Blog
So while it has been ready, we have been waiting for a while to inaugrate it. Do you wonder why? It is simple. The need for a VVIP to inaugrate it so that the common people can start using it. So, where do the authorities go looking?

First Choice [Obviously]: Ms. Sonia Gandhi, Congress Working Committee President
Second Choice [Reluctantly]: Dr. Manmohan Singh, Hon. Prime Minister of India
Third Choice [Well, we need 'someone' important]: Ms. Pratibha Patil, Hon. President of India

Such is the mockery of the Executive positions of the Republic of India. Its a pity indeed. Yes, it is upto the government to decide. Nevertheless, no person is greater than the Constitutional heads of the Country.

Down to Business - I

“Promise me that you won’t become a Yankee fan” he said. As Ted Sullivan laughed at his own joke, Rohan was not sure if he was serious or whether he was joking. Ted was from Boston as he told him later. A manifestation of a deep-rooted rivalry, Ted did not want to be the recruitment officer for the rival camp. Rohan did quip guardedly, “I am a soccer fan and I am not much into baseball. So, I guess I will not be a Yankee fan.” As Ted proceeded to stamp the visa and told Rohan about the amazing times he had had in New York City, Rohan realized that he was two more stamps away from the big apple.

Rohan had never doubted the fact that he would get the visa. He had been to the US before, travelling to New York and Los Angeles for work. That was a fun trip. He work hard and partied hard. While most of his brethren thought of spending frugally in the US, Rohan had gone all out. This time it was going to different. He was in pursuit of his dreams; something he had dreamt of every night for the past two years.

Picture Source: NYU Webpages

The tie came off, as did the jacket. As awesome that he felt, it was a hot June afternoon in Mumbai and the sweat was slowly trickling down his forehead. Realizing that he would soon miss the small things in life back home, he stopped for a cold glass of sugarcane juice. One glass quickly turned to three as sudden pang of hunger made him realize that he had not eaten since morning. As he sauntered down the street in search of a taxi, his mind wandered again. Rohan could see a bagel with cream cheese in front of his eyes. He wondered whether it was the heat, the hunger or the call of the City.

He still had two months to go, but Rohan was already thinking as though he had to leave the following night. He decided to make the most of the next few days. The first stop was a roadside vendor where he picked a couple of wada pavs to fill himself up. The juice had left him pretty full, but he coaxed himself into gobbling them down. It was almost as if this was his last chance to appreciate the staple fast food of the city. The city that he had come to call home for three eventful years.

Picture Source: George Koshy
A few blocks further down the road, Rohan found that elusive taxi. Torn between taking the taxi all the way and hopping onto the train, he knew he had lost it when he mumbled to the driver, “Bhaiya, Mahalaxmi chalenge?” Mahalaxmi was the closest train station to the American Consulate. While the trains would not be crowded at this hour, it was not exactly wise to travel suited up. The crowds, the heat, the humidity and the ensuing sweltering feeling were not entirely conducive for the formally dressed traveler. Rohan stood at the door, half to beat the heat and half to feel the wind in his face. And as he felt the cold breeze rustle his previously well-kempt hair, he could not help but wonder whether these were the winds of change…

This is a pilot for the book: Down to Business

To Those who died

Picture Source: NDTV.com
TO THOSE WHO DIED & THOSE WHO SAVED & THOSE WHO ONLY STARED……

If not for you,
I would have never known
How Courage transforms men
In times of greatest fear

If not for you
I would have never known
My country’s real Heroes
Who care not for their own
But save the lives of men unknown

If not for you,
I would have never known
The shamelessness of men
who watch the burning show
as if it were a thing
that happens now and then

If not for you,
I would have never known
A servant’s true loyalty,
To save a two-year old
From horror, none would ever know,
Had she to run alone

If not for you,
I would have never known
How 21 year olds -
The worst of Frankensteins -
Could pulverize a modern world!

If not for you,
I would have never known
That the managers of Hell
Have spread their tentacles
Into our daily world –
“No place is safe no more”

If not for you,
I would have never known
That killing one another
In the garb of religion
Could seem so meaningless
When terror strikes –
which has NO religion

If not for you,
I would have never known
Unity can still prevail
Amidst the people of my land
If only one would have
Leaders like once upon a time

It is to YOU -
O’ soldier in the uniform,
and even ‘sans’ a uniform -
that I pay obeisance, and cry
with humility and also pride
and say :
“MERA BHARAT MAHAAN”!!

--Ms. Monica Aurora [A dear friend's mom]

The City that I call home

Photo Courtesy: National Geographic Archives
“Terrorists attack the Taj Hotel in Mumbai”. As I saw this text message on my phone, I had a lump in my throat. I quickly called my cousins in Mumbai to check on them. While my family was safe and sound, the city that I once called home was not. Some of the most prominent landmarks of the city, such as the Victoria Terminus, the Taj Mahal Hotel and the Oberoi Trident were attacked. Over the next 60 hours, while the security personnel were able to eliminate the danger, the city lost 188 people, Indians and foreigners. Many others were injured. As terrorism raised its ugly head yet again, public anger was imminent and the terror attacks drew world-wide criticism.

Mumbai is, and has always been, the crucible of India. Since the Portuguese took possession of seven tiny islands off the west coast of India and called it Good Bay, it has brimmed with entrepreneurs eternally in search of their dreams. A channel for millions of ambitions, it is the land of possibility. The financial capital of India, home to the country’s thriving media and film industry and the second most populous city after Tokyo. Bangalore gets a lot of attention with its dotcom boom and its software prowess. Nevertheless, one simply cannot compare a Silicon Valley with a New York. Mumbai is what the Indians call Mayanagari, the city of dreams.

It was this dream that terrorists have often tried to wreck. Mumbai has seen more that its share of terrorist attacks. Be it the terrorist attacks at landmarks in 1993 or the 2006 bomb blasts that targeted its lifeline, the suburban metro rail transit also called the local. I remember being circumspect for a while every time I boarded the metro after the train blasts. And yet, the city took this in its stride and marched along unperturbed.

These recent attacks were different. We see a lot more emotions across Mumbai, India and the rest of the world; emotions of anger, anguish, pain and resolve. The public opinion this time around is vastly different and sustained. Not to say that there was no public outcry the previous times. This time, it is different. It may be because people are tired of the mindless killings that the city has seen before. However, I think it is because the terrorists struck at the very heart of the Indian dream. They targeted places that epitomize modern day India. The Taj Mahal hotel overlooking the Arabian Sea symbolizes the vast riches and opulence in the city; eschewed by many as they walk along the waterfront, gazing dreamily.

I am not from Mumbai. Nevertheless, like many, I too made it my home. It embraced me with open arms. I would often travel to the very stations that were attacked. I would enjoy a cold pitcher of beer in the very café that saw a mindless spray of bullets. I would visit the Taj hotel, always wanting to come back. Soon, this attack will become just a tragic date in history. It will be business as usual. However, for most of us, the blood of innocent victims will have left behind indelible stains.

I tell the story of Mumbai. But, this is not just the story of Mumbai alone. The same is the story in New Delhi, Islamabad, Colombo and Tel Aviv. Let us not forget New York, London or Madrid. India and Pakistan have been at loggerheads for over 50 years. Israel and Palestine haven’t seen eye to eye. Sierra Leone, Angola, Congo and other countries in Africa continue to fight bitter civil wars. There is no end in sight for America’s war on terror in Afghanistan and Iraq. This is not a problem of a city or a region alone. It is a virus that plagues the whole world; a disease that has spread its tentacles wide and hides under a garb of a ‘cause’.

Every terrorist has a cause, a reason that he uses to camouflage murder. Cold blooded thoughtless murder of innocent victims. The reason put forth could be religion, freedom, money, power or revenge. However, there is no reason that justifies senseless killing. The true spokesperson of non-violence, Mahatma Gandhi, once said “An eye for an eye will make the world blind”. The world is already blind with greed, hatred and jealousy. Let us all resolve to not let this blindness obliterate humankind.

The response

I read a brilliant article in the New York Times by Suketu Mehta, a professor of journalism at New York University and the author of 'Maximum City: Bombay Lost and Found.'.

The right attitude to the situation at hand.
So I’m booking flights to Mumbai. I’m going to go get a beer at the Leopold, stroll over to the Taj for samosas at the Sea Lounge, and watch a Bollywood movie at the Metro. Stimulus doesn’t have to be just economic.

I too hope to grab a beer and fish & chips at Leopold, Chicken Bhuna and rumali roti at Bade Miaan, and watch a Rahul Da'Cunha play at NCPA.

You may read the entire article here.

For the Compulsive Foodie

Mumbai is the city of dreams. You find people from all walks of life. From the person selling stationary in the local trains to the nouveau riche flashing the latest gizmos to the yuppie in town. And catering to each of these segments, one finds a variety of places to satisfy the rumble in the tummy!
From the down right cheap to the exhorbitant! From the vada-pav to the champagne and the caviar; the quick-bite dosa place to the elaborate Sunday brunches! From the quintessential Udupi restaurants in Matunga to the hospitality of the Renaissance...You've got it all! And each of these promise to ensure that you experience a spectrum of fine dining experiences...to satisfy your taste-buds!
I have picked a few of my personal favorites in the city and beyond! If you are culinary aficionado, read on!
Bade Miaan - One cannot discuss food joints in Mumbai and ignore this place! It is THE ultimate place for the non-vegeterian! Don't let yourselves be fooled by its nondescript look and feel. Sandwiched in an alley between the Taj and Regal Cinema, it would come across as yet another road-side joint in Mumbai. Yes! You don't have to read that again. Topping the list is a road-side joint. The only small difference that you would notice is the barrage of cars that are parked here. A Lexus, Ford, Lancer or a Accord wouldn't be out of place here. This in itself speaks volumes about the place. It arguably serves the most lip-smacking food in town...and remains open until the early hours of the morning! So if you happen to party in the Taj or anywhere in town for that matter, head to this place.
Suggestions:
Chicken Baida Roti
Chicken Bhuna with Rumaali Roti
Location: Next to the Taj Hotel, behind Regal Cinema - Colaba


More on the places in a while...

18:24 Borivali Slow

One of the things that you would come across within a few conversations with me is the unparalleled place that Pune and Koregaon Park, Main Street and FC Road hold in my heart. And how difficult it was for me to leave Pune and come to Mumbai...the city of dreams! Well, almost! It doesnt matter out here if people are stamping or standing on your feet in the dreams; it is still the place where the future is...well, atleast mine.
It wasnt like I didnt have other choices. Pune did have its options and Bangalore was calling...literally! But what I wanted to do was to move up the value chain. The southern sensibilities didn't appeal to me...Hence, Bangalore was out of the question! And Chennai would have been over my dead body! And Hyderabad already had the Nizam! :)
So when luck came knocking down the door, i embraced it with both hands! But not without a heavy heart! I am often asked the reason of my love for Pune. All i can say is that you have to live and experience life in Pune to understand the sentiments! And 2 years (well, almost) is a long time! You just cant help fall in love with the city...and its people! ;)
But the future was calling...And so i landed in Mumbai! Well, actually, i biked myself down to Mumbai with a back-pack! 200 odd minutes and I was there!
Mumbai wasnt a new place. I had been here quite a few times and was well versed with the city and its lifeline...the locals!
But, Mumbai as a city is nothing like Pune or Goa (which is where i hail from...). It is HUGE! and crowded!
If you pass through Chakala or Saki Naka in the suburbs or find yourself at the main foot-bridge at Dadar station, you will know exactly what i am talking about! Or else, if you have ever caught the 18:24 slow local to Borivali! Chances are that in this case, you will never want to look at a train again! (And yet I did...you just cant ignore them out here).
These...and many more like these are the symbols of Mumbai. What it stands for...
Before the 'Mee Mumbaikars' sulk, i must add that while I make it sound horrible, Mumbai isnt all that bad! It is just that my eyes, my thoughts and my mind are so clouded by Pune and its idyllic streets in Model Colony, KP... that i cant see much beyond them.
Just in case a thought crossed you mind that if I am from Goa, how come I root for Pune so much and not for Goa, then it would not surprise me. Well, the answer is unfortunately pretty simple. For the kind of work and future I am looking at, Goa just doesnt fit in the scheme of things. There just are no jobs for my profile. Atleast not for someone who is overly ambitious in life.
Hence, it is a point of making a choice.
And Mumbai it was! The first few days were tough. I'd probably spent more time travelling back and forth than in Mumbai or Pune! But, as things began to settle down, I started to get adjusted to the place. I wouldn't say that I started liking the place, 'coz I still haven't begun doing that...and it looks unlikely in the near future.
But, you just couldn't sulk and not venture out. It helped that i had a good set of friends out here. Partying was one thing that I enjoyed in Mumbai! Food was another! Well, actually in the reverse order! In fact these are the two things that have helped me adjust out here. That the work was good wasnt bad either! Lotsa friends and barely any time at my disposal to brood.
Since then, a lot of water and filth has flown from under the Mahim bridge. And lot over the bridge as well.
But as I look back at the 8 odd months that have gone by, I guess that things have not been all that bad!
New place...new friends...old friends...Bade Mian...ABC Farms...Fun Republic..E Square...Koregaon Park...Marine Drive...Colaba...Camp...Bhurjee at Khurshid...Bun Maska at Station...Mastani...Haji Ali...Velvet Lounge...Elysium...
Its been the best of the two worlds! Just an expressway in between...
And I can say...grudgingly...is that I now feel at home. Pune is where the heart is...but its just 3 hours away! :)
I can now finally proclaim...'Mee Mumbaikar'
Gotta go...have to catch the 22:04 local to Churchgate!