Mumbai. Different people describe this city differently. City of dreams, 'mayanagri', a city that takes in everyone are jus few of them. we have seen quite a lot of such descriptions on celluloid. Also when the city is attacked and the very next day people in the city are back to work. It happened on 26/7,11/7 and 26/11. They say the city bounces back quite soon.
But what is all this from the view of a bombayite(or shuld i say mumbaikar...lets leave that for some other post).
I, having been stayed in here for all my life always felt why is it that such a big deal is being made about people going back to the normal life. I got a satisfactory answer while walking my way on a busy weekday morning-afternoon on the busy streets of mumbai.
If you go on a stroll on one of the busiest road which is used by most top exectives of the top companies to go to work....u'll also find one of the poorer sections of the population on the very same road. they may be selling stuff on the signals, or may be having their own vada-pav and tea stalls, or may be serving as the watchman to the very same buildings, or may be driving for these executives,or may work as labourers in construction of buildings, or serving us in the udipi resturants. These people are mostly migrants. They come here leaving their home in search of greener pastures. They cannot afford to take days off at leisure. They are mostly on daily-wages. They have to send maximum possible money back home for the livelyhood of the family. They have to have to go for work.
Also you see people in the cars on these crowded road. AM sure all of them will be complaining about the traffic on the road so much so that on somedays it may actually be possible to reach on cycle earlier than in your luxurious four-wheeler.
While walking on the roads of the city which boasts of more than 1% of the country's population-about 1.2 crore by 2001 census- what can be the odds of meeting someone you know randomly on a road which is nowhere near your home or work. Just then I met a friend right there. So if you have been living in the city and socialize a bit, you will keep bumping into people you know when you are least expecting it.
Then I also went to BSE, the place on which India's Economy depends to a large extent. The richest people of the city or country are at those enviable positions because a lot is at stake in this building. Though now after so many security concerns this building is guarded like a fort but the area around the building is far from being opulent. Except for the extra security the area is just like any other area of the city - same bhelpuri wallas, same udipi restaurants etc.
On my way back home I reached from CST to home in abt 70 min. Got a fast train very soon with a seat to sit at 8p.m. then got a rickshaw soon at thane station with almost zero stopping because of traffic or signals.
Also if you have a walk on the streets of the city even after mid-night they are reasonably safe - definitely more than any other part of the country. In that sense Mumbai gives more freedom to its citizens than rest of the country.
So in all I had a really good day.Not just because of the above described but I realized how lucky I am to be born in a city like Mumbai and even more lucky to be born in a reasonably well to do family. Would especially like to thank my father for giving me such a wonderful life...Thanks PA...
Friday, December 10, 2010
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Pakistani players - IPL saga
A lot has been said and written about the exclusion of Pakistani players in this years’ IPL. Let me write here of what me as a common Indian thinks about this issue.
Way back on 9th December Mr. Lalit Modi hinted that it will be difficult to include Pakistani players as they were unable to get the visas to play in India. The next day four Pakistani players were granted the visas for IPL III. But Mr. Modi said that these players remain suspended as they failed to meet 7th December deadline.
Now coming to the 19th January auction, none of the eleven Pakistani players got bidders. And this rejection of the players is been blown up everywhere. Who is responsible for exclusion of these players? Pakistanis blames Indian government for the fiasco. Indian government says that it has nothing to do with IPL and they haven’t given any suggestions to the IPL or BCCI. IPL organizers on their part say that like they government even they did not issue any diktat against the Pakistani players and it was the franchises who did not select the players. Basically everyone was trying to pass the buck. At this stage the franchises’ came ahead and faced it by saying that they were not sure if the Pakistani players will be permitted to play in IPL because of the political tension between the two neighbours. Doesn’t it make business sense? How can someone put hundreds of thousand dollars on some players and then end up not getting their services. Franchises were completely right on their part. They are in IPL only for one reason – business. They will obviously look ways to make profits from whatever they do.
After about a week of media dance over the issue, some franchise owners came ahead and were willing to take Pakistani players on board. Again they were doing this only after thinking of their business first. Firstly they had to shell out lesser money for the players now since they were being taken out of the auction and also the chances of they being denied permission by the government were negligible now because each and every step of all involved parties will not only be watched but will also be scrutinized thoroughly by the media.
But this move of the owners was not welcomed by a political party in Mumbai which first protested against Mr. Ambani and then against Mr. Shah Rukh Khan. They have threatened that they will not let their other businesses to function normally (Mr. Ambani’s retail chain and Mr. Khan’s upcoming movie). How can you expect these owners now to go ahead and extend an olive branch to the Pakistani players?
Last year, when Pakistani players were not taken in IPL, inspite of the fact that it was being held outside India, these players did not express their disappointment. They are doing so as they were instigated by some politicians who immediately made it a political issue by commenting on it.
Thus I would say the one who is to be blamed for this fiasco are the politicians on both sides of the border. They should abstain from commenting impulsively.
Above stated are my views on the issue. If you think I am going wrong somewhere, please feel free to correct me.
Way back on 9th December Mr. Lalit Modi hinted that it will be difficult to include Pakistani players as they were unable to get the visas to play in India. The next day four Pakistani players were granted the visas for IPL III. But Mr. Modi said that these players remain suspended as they failed to meet 7th December deadline.
Now coming to the 19th January auction, none of the eleven Pakistani players got bidders. And this rejection of the players is been blown up everywhere. Who is responsible for exclusion of these players? Pakistanis blames Indian government for the fiasco. Indian government says that it has nothing to do with IPL and they haven’t given any suggestions to the IPL or BCCI. IPL organizers on their part say that like they government even they did not issue any diktat against the Pakistani players and it was the franchises who did not select the players. Basically everyone was trying to pass the buck. At this stage the franchises’ came ahead and faced it by saying that they were not sure if the Pakistani players will be permitted to play in IPL because of the political tension between the two neighbours. Doesn’t it make business sense? How can someone put hundreds of thousand dollars on some players and then end up not getting their services. Franchises were completely right on their part. They are in IPL only for one reason – business. They will obviously look ways to make profits from whatever they do.
After about a week of media dance over the issue, some franchise owners came ahead and were willing to take Pakistani players on board. Again they were doing this only after thinking of their business first. Firstly they had to shell out lesser money for the players now since they were being taken out of the auction and also the chances of they being denied permission by the government were negligible now because each and every step of all involved parties will not only be watched but will also be scrutinized thoroughly by the media.
But this move of the owners was not welcomed by a political party in Mumbai which first protested against Mr. Ambani and then against Mr. Shah Rukh Khan. They have threatened that they will not let their other businesses to function normally (Mr. Ambani’s retail chain and Mr. Khan’s upcoming movie). How can you expect these owners now to go ahead and extend an olive branch to the Pakistani players?
Last year, when Pakistani players were not taken in IPL, inspite of the fact that it was being held outside India, these players did not express their disappointment. They are doing so as they were instigated by some politicians who immediately made it a political issue by commenting on it.
Thus I would say the one who is to be blamed for this fiasco are the politicians on both sides of the border. They should abstain from commenting impulsively.
Above stated are my views on the issue. If you think I am going wrong somewhere, please feel free to correct me.
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