Mumbai Is My Heart...Not Hindustan

Till yesterday, the crowd that motivated the spirit of the whole society to move forward is saying that they have had enough. From the 1993 bomb blasts in Mumbai to the drastic rainfall that it faced, including the local trains bomb blasts; nothing could raise the meek voices of people. This time, amid all the glitters many faces emerged. Nothing could stop the wounded city and everyone walked hand in hand.

All of a sudden what astonishing happened after the Taj and Oberoi attacks that shook the whole nation? The number of people who died in the Taj, Nariman, Oberoi and Leopold Café attacks were less than the total number of people ever died in the local serial blasts and the Mumbai rains. Victimized people are scared to an extent that they feel the power of money will have to plead for life the same way like a common man does. The reality of Mumbai is not running away from terror, but confronting it.

Mumbai sell dreams to the people; dreams which make people proud. For the ones who have been living in Mumbai since ages, it is like a sweet song; sweeter than a Pidepiper’s melody. When a Mumbaikar visit his home, he is laden with the stories of Mumbai; the stories which the whole village is deeply interested in and intently wish to listen to. May be that’s why Mumbai rains is never a tragedy unlike Kosi water. Serial blasts never became a terror but a colourful memory in this city of dreams. A majority of Mumbai is aware of the fact that if they ever tried to expose their wounds, the ever moving Mumbai would evict them. Their dreams would not be considered; dreams that render them respect and Taj - Oberoi societal recognition.

No one ever imagined that Mumbai will have to face such terror attacks. It’s like the roots of a fruitful tree which in spite of being unpleasant in looks, give delightful fruits. Roots are preserved. But what if instead of fruits, roots come up, who would want to preserve the unpleasant roots. It’s clear that the terrorized faces are afraid that how the ways of a common man and that of the others meet. Hence the perspective of governing a Nation by considering it two faced, is the target. The question of political framework and responsibility is on target hence other questions have also been raised.

For instance, for the first time to discard the politics, the section came up which supported the two-faced politics of our country. Jamshedji Tata established Taj Hotel in 1903 as he wanted to put forth a colourful picture of an advanced and developed India. Hundred years later it seems that India has kept everything at stake in front of the world. When the Taj was being dreamt of, a dream of creating a Nation also occurred. Today a burning Taj is synonymous to a burning political framework of the Nation. As compared to the whole nation, the geographical situation of Taj – Oberoi is decimal zero. As a trademark of modern India this holds more weight on the cent percent who are a minority actually. However, there are people who want to come under this 5-7 % and their worry lies in the political understanding. Both are confronting each other. This worry did not show when the parliament was attacked. Neither did it show when Delhi blasted two months back. This anxiousness hasn’t rose due to the failure of economic policies which has led to the deaths of some odd fifty thousand farmers. This worry didn’t even pop up during the communal and political violence that ruined spaces between Kashmir and Kanyakumari, Mumbai and Guwahati. In the past 8 years more than hundred crises have taken lives of more than thousands. Even this didn’t raise the agony.

Like always the key to solution was seen as politics; politics that can drive away even the Democracy. The fearful masses standing against terrorism once bowed down under the divisive violence of Marathi Manus. More than anxiety there was peace on their faces as the victims may pose a threat to the Taj and Oberoi. Everyone wants to preserve this heritage so that the prestige remains and the five star cultures didn’t malign. For that it’ll be important to understand the direction and action of politics in the future.

Politics is being provoked keeping in confidence the security personnel. We obviously don’t have a military governance, but Democracy. Democracy is under a security cover and this should be understood. Out of the combined police force of our country, 30% are assigned the VIP security; the security of the ones we choose. It’s 55% in Delhi and 37% in Mumbai. In Maharashtra, an average 15, 000 is spent on the training, salary and other services on a policeman. This amount can be spent in one night by a small family dining at the Taj and Oberoi.

The Taj profits more than the double of what all is spent on the Maharashtra police force annually. 60% of the total police force is paid lesser than a least paid Taj employ. The chefs of Taj – Oberoi earn more than what the Indian Army gets combined. Time when Taj was attacked, everyone from Businessmen to big corporatists, government officials and politicians got trapped. Taj is more a home for a certain class. Hence more protest. If Taj-Oberoi symbolizes a developed Nation then the politics means implementing a theory of profit. Profit means an advanced Nation. Advancement means a cup of tea and a picturesque view of the Arabian Sea.

It’s the result of decentralization that there is a troop of 37.89 lakh in the Army and 38, 67, 902 politicians to play politics. This is the number of elected politicians. If we include Panchayats and Gram Panchayats, the number would go up to more than a crore. Among all the institutions that provide employment, politics is the institution that renders maximum employment. In the decentralization of power, the politics in its defense has denied all the other options of survival and has taken everyone together. Taj and Oberoi has shone in the glitz of politics. Amidst this confrontation we need to wait for an India in which the golden bird sings the melody of the whole Nation and not just Mumbai.