Mumbai Meri Jaan...

Today evening, talk during a snacks break turned to different cities - the city culture, the people and how 'livable' the city was. And as two of us had lived in Mumbai (your's truly having lived in Mumbai almost all life), the topic moved to the madness that Mumbai is. My friend was talking about how the city is not very 'livable' - thanks to the maddening, suffocating rush in the suburban trains, the crowds, the traffic congestion, congestion in general. After all, Mumbai is just a group of seven islands, forever short of space. But one thing that even my friend, who disliked the rush and commotion of the city, could not deny was the attitude of the city, of the people who make the city. Yes, the attitude of Mumbaikars is truly amazing. And it's something that can be felt, not described. You've to live in Mumbai to know what I'm talking about. I've lived in Bangalore for a couple of years now, and honestly, I like the city. The city, like every other, has it's plus points. It's truly a cosmopolitan city, and a vibrant one. But I feel that the city is not professional enough. I've lived in Mumbai all my life, in Bangalore for a couple of years, keep visiting Pune frequently, and have been to Chennai, Delhi (Noida), Hyderabad on work trips. But I've honestly never seen a work culture like Mumbai. This is a city where people are prepared to work hard for a living. They are prepared to go that extra mile. Shopkeepers are prepared to bend over a little backwards to please their customers. Sample this - in all these years, I've never come across an auto-rickshaw driver who has demanded extra fare (in Bangalore, if a auto driver does not demand extra fare, I pinch myself to check if I'm not dreaming). I've never been to a restaurant which does not have something that's on the menu card on offer. Bangalore, by contrast, is much laid back - people do not seem to have the same drive. In commuting as well, Mumbai rocks! Or rather the suburban trains rock! Yes, they are over-crowded (that's an understatement!), yes, there's barely breathing space. But you're guaranteed a train every 5 minutes. Want to travel to the other end of the city? Simple, just hop into an auto or a bus, reach the nearest train station, take a train (or two), and take an auto from the other station to your destination. Simple. Even in road traffic, in my experience, Mumbai has the most road discipline, compared to any other city (In Delhi, he road is your very own personal property, free to be used as per your whim or fancy. And every single guy on the road thinks the same!). Well, I'm not going to rave and rant about how Mumbai is the best. It has it's cons. But the point is - that the people of this wonderful city make it what it is. The commercial capital of the country. A city where millions come to chase dreams - and see them being fulfilled. A city which is bursting at the seams, and yet is accomodating more and more people. A city where everyone is in a mad scramble - to get into a train or bus, or to reach home, or just because it's a sin to slow down. But this city has a heart of gold, and the mind of a shrewd businessman. This city is.... Mumbai Meri Jaan....