Saturday, October 25, 2008

Whose Mumbai is it?

One man holds the city at ransom for days and goes scot free the next!!!
What an amazing show put up by our judiciary. It is said that our judicial system is one of the best since our judiciary is seperate from the state and no one can be above the law. However the events of this week seem to prove something else. one man can do as he wills, kill innocent people, spread violence and terror across the city, bring a city like Mumbai to a standstill, cause riots and still be treated as a hero?? a Warrior?? a Saviour???

Is violence justified???In order to have your way??? And the government or the law just acts as a bystander and watches the drama? Tries to put a gag on the person's mouth and expects him to follow a maun vrat? Disappointing!!! The government and the law has let its people down once more.

I do not understand the logic. So according to the revered Mr Thackeray, every state has to close its borders to the rest. Instead of having an open approach we are focusing on closing our doors to our own countrymen. If the same philosophy is to be applied everywhere, All the IIM's and IIT's should admit only local students. All the maharashtrians working in MNCs across India or outside India should be brought back home. Nobody should be allowed to work beyond their Regional Boundaries. All maharashtrian engineers and doctors across the world should be asked to come back or rather forced to come back and work only in maharashtra. aamchi maati aamchi maansa after all...

Has anyone stopped maharashtrians from driving taxis or do any of the jobs that at present is being done by the so called outsiders. or nonmumbaikars. Just that they never did it because they probably found it demeaning.

I believe Mumbai is different from the rest. A mumbaikar is not a maharahstrian or a north, south east or west Indian. Its a completely different sense of belonging and pride which only a mumbaikar can feel, understand and experience during the innumerable tough times Mumbai has gone through over the years.At such times its the average mumbaikar who is always ready to lend a helping hand. To recount recent incidents, during the 2005 floods or the 2006 blasts, the hand which reached you was not a bihari's or marwari's or south indian or maharashtrian's. It was that of a true mumbaikar. Its that spirit which is common between all of us.
Why don’t people understand this simple fact. A Politician does not belong to the people. People think Mr. Thackeray is addressing their issues and fighting for them.. but is he really??? Is He really bothered about the poeple or His people for that matter? Does he care? If he did would he say his party activists would spread terror if he were to be arrested? Isn’t it heights of self obsession? He probably feels proud seeing his people being beaten up while he rested in the car and was given top security?? while the common man suffered? The one who survives on daily wages had to go hungry for that particular period? Who gives people right to decide for others? and destroy and harm the rest just because they do not follow the same religion or do not belong to the same region???

Is violence justified and accepted in our country? Now we know why its easy for the terrorists to spread their terror in India as and when they wish.Its because we let them. We have lot of tolerance and patience. Thats the reason one man has the guts to hold the city to ransom. People are scared to move out of their homes or offices. Why should we be scared of such people? The Indian Common Man is a toy for the terrorist, the government, the politicians. To play around with their lives is their favourite pasttime.

All I feel is Mumbai cannot be restricted by boundaries. The spirit cant be killed and its there in each person in this city. no matter how many people try to stop it and have been trying to do the same for years, it still gets back on its feet and ready for the sprint with each new day.

That’s what I love about Mumbai and feel proud to be a Mumbaikar. and nobody can take that spirit away from any Mumbaikar!!!... The ones staying in the high rises or the ones living in the slums of this beautiful city which has its own charm. :)

As K L Prasad says... Mumbai kisike Baap ki nahi... (Kudos to him)!!!Mumbai har Mumbaikar ki hai!!!