Fasts and more .. but fast please

So now that the period of fasting is over for Team Anna and also a lot of other people around India – the period of introspection begins as we have got a lot of food for thought . Did we really win as a democracy or such movements are possible only in a democracy ? The heartening thing is that the cause managed to awaken the urban middle class from the ennui that has set in .

I personally think that we need to take up the cause of the Mumbai infrastructure in a big way i.e. the Anna Hazare way if you may say . The flooding and perennial construction work has affected the commute , the general living standards . Then there are a host of issues related to infrastructure, certain amenities like playground etc - but no one really has taken up the cause in a focused way like the way it was done in nearby Thane and other places . We really need some help here !!

The Commercial Hubs in Mumbai

The commercial hubs in Mumbai have changed . In the past it was only Nariman Point then came Bandra Kurla Complex and Mindspace . The commercial areas have now reached the heart of the suburbs . But methinks the infrastructure has not kept pace with this rapid development . There are lot of new companies that have started and lot of existing companies are expanding but the state of roads, public transport and other utility services remain far from satisfactory . Most importantly one does not see any concerted efforts to develop the necessary infrastructure .There are plush offices catering not only to the Indian economy but probably to all the economies of the world but the area around those offices reminds you that you are stuck up in what is called a ‘third world nation’. This again takes one to the fact that there is a divide between the so called upper middle or rich class who are getting richer and then there is a section who is struggling to make ends meet as they do not have the skills to compete in the growing economy .All this according to me smacks of lopsided growth in the long term and can lead to unpleasant conditions on the socio economic , environmental and political front in times to come .

Mumbai Life Series-Mumbai Food

What is a city without its peculiar cuisines and food habits .. Life in Mumbai where the action is on round the clock is unthinkable without its special food and related habits . Mumbai is a bundle of contradictions as far as its food habits are concerned .There are extremely high end places which serve a variety of international cuisines .Most of these specialty restaurants are attached to the five star hotels . Then there are the stand alone ones which have created a name for themselves not just because of the food but also because of the ambience , the celebrity quotient etc . Olive bar , Indigo , Athena ,Mainland China would be some of them . But if you closely look at the ones that serve specialty Indian cuisine then one should mention Mahesh Lunch home which serves one of the best sea food specialties , Gaylords for the Mughlai and North Indian kind of cuisine and the list goes on .Then there are the ones like Samovar (which is attached to Jehangir Art gallery ), Tea centre , Yokos which belong to a different league and probably have an old world charm around them .

But you cannot simply miss the road side food which is available everywhere in Mumbai . The growth engine called Mumbai probably runs on a fuel called the vada pav . The vada pav(combination of bread and fried potato balls ) is economical , tasty and easily available . Millions and millions of people eat it all the time . Then there are the ubiquitous tea stalls and the juice vendors who also make brisk business all the while . But Mumbai without a visit to Juhu beach or Elco market and a sip of the legendary ice gola and bhel is unthinkable . Then there are the typical Mumbai specific food varieties like pav bhaji , dabeli , different kinds of chats and the unforgettable gol gappas ( light round crispies dipped in flavoured water ).The list goes on and on . The common characteristics being that this kind of food is spicy , dripping with oil or butter, tangy , sinful and terribly tasty ….There are also some spots which are renowned for authentic cuisines. A special mention has to be made of Mohammad Ali road which is well known for its kababs, rolls and lot of other meat preparations .Also hats off to all the Udipi joints who promptly serve dozens and dozens of idlis and dosas to a hungry city .

Mumbai thrives on this kind of tangy and tasty food . And in fact this type of food is perfectly integrated with the texture of a dynamic and vibrant city like Mumbai ..What say you ?

Mumbai Life Series-The North South divide

The North South divide has polarized and divided the world and then it has been extended to life in Mumbai too!!Surprised, this North- South divide is the real and imagined difference between the suburban Northern part of Mumbai and the more elitist South Mumbai area …A suburban Mumbaikar might probably travel for all the good things of life including earning for living to South Mumbai. For most South Mumbaikars all those good things are at a stone’s throw distance .Then there are many South Mumbai residents who have not traveled beyond the boundaries of Bandra( almost the area where South Mumbai ends -bordering on the Centre ) and keep on wondering how people can travel such long distances for everything ranging from education , shopping , working etc . The North Mumbai residents on the other hand keep on wondering about the astonishingly high rate of property prices and how their South Mumbai counterparts were literally born lucky ….

The divide is further accentuated by the fact that the orientation and moorings of many residents differ according to their geographical locality . The residents of the Southern part of the city might hold an opinion that their counterparts in the Northern part do not exactly keep up with their Joneses. On the contrary the South Mumbaikars are supposed to be a more trendy and “in “. Of course that perception is changing with the advent of the ‘mall culture’ and all residents of Mumbai getting access to a whole lot of luxury and contemporary lifestyle products .But many old residents(on both sides of the border!) just love to hold discussions about the divide – well the difference in the landscape ,the eating joints , travel patterns , lifestyle…and the divide continues....

Mumbai Life Series -The Malls in Mumbai

They malls have happened to Mumbai recently. Hence they sport a splashing and brand new look. They are the hang outs and social networking sites for Mumbaikars
(Mumbai residents as they are called). The malls have given the new suburban elite access to international brands and a wide variety of products .Thus in the process they have created a richer lifestyle for the once quality deprived suburban residents. Most of the malls are situated in the suburbs of Mumbai as property prices are at an all time high in the commercial district ie South Mumbai . Thus suburban Mumbaikars do not have to travel great distances to purchase the so called good quality stuff in far flung areas of town anymore.


If you are caught on a weekend in the mall the sea of humanity can be overwhelming. There are people and more people everywhere. There are families and groups of friends all thronging to the shops, cinema halls and food courts at the same time. Then there are the first time users of the elevators who would hesitate , think twice, put one step behind and then put that final foot forward only to reach their destination safely …The malls in the Northern part of the city are spread over a large area and will have multiple format stores . You can be assured of spending anywhere from 4 to 5 hours in the mall once you enter it.Once you see these malls you are assured that yes the India retail story is in fact happening .Some of these well known Malls are –R Mall , Nirmal Lifestyles at Mulund, Infinity at Andheri , Inorbit at Malad . The malls are also the favorite hangout of the numerous BPO/KPO employees . They are young , earn reasonably well( as compared to their non BPO/KPO peers) and thus have a huge disposable income .Some malls are even situated next to the commercial /office areas housing the BPOs or KPOs. Thus you have easy accessibility thrown in along with high income and there you have a huge customer base willing to splurge and take the Retail story ahead….

Mumbai Life Series- The Local Trains

Mumbai they say is the most cosmopolitan city in India . It is crowded , the traffic moves at a slow pace and yes there is a mad rush to do anything and everything . Yet it is a city that grows on you and you might leave the city but the city never leaves you . It is spread over a huge mass and different localities have their distinct culture , style and personality . I have mentioned in my blog that it will capture the milieu surrounding me .Thus the idea of a Mumbai Life series struck me … I would try to capture the different personalities of the city through this Mumbai Life series . Some topics would be typically Mumbai specific eg local trains( as they are called in Mumbai parlance ), while some would be my observations of the city specific idiosyncrasies , habits and patterns . I would like to inaugurate the series with the chugging and whistling of the local trains .

Local Trains
The local trains are the lifeline of the city . Millions and millions of passengers use the trains to reach their place of work and go back home . The trains are a thriving community by themselves . They are exceptionally crowded during the peak hours ie in the morning when commuters proceed to their place of work and in the evening when most of them embark on their homeward journey . The commute many times is long and there is a lot of crowd . So commuters have created their own comfort zone in the trains . If you look at the ladies compartment most of them would have what is called groups – groups of friends . They celebrate birthdays , festivals and any other event that calls for some fun. They decide on common lunches , visits to movie halls and exhibitions all in the train . Then of course it is a platform to vent ire to the day to day complaints related to a variety of people from servants , in laws , bosses even spouses ….. Different age groups would have different concerns and priorities and hence the topics of discussion would differ. But the train acts as a social and economic leveler and most of the groups would have a diverse profile – different age groups , occupations etc . All this can get a bit confusing for the first time traveler or a source of discomfort for someone who wants to spend a quiet moment traveling ... About the Gents compartment( the compartment for men- as they are called) – the view that one gets may be is slightly different . There are groups of card players and yes singers . The card players I believe have their place under the sun marked since ages and no one occupies those places . Then there are groups of singers who start singing devotional songs once the train starts .

All commuters try to make themselves feel at home during the daily commute despite the vagaries of nature ( ie it gets very hot during the summer season and the rains can drench you thoroughly ) .Each season has its own challenges e.g. the summers could get very hot and the train becomes like a furnace especially during the morning peak hours . During the rainy season the strong rains coupled with the usual breakdown of the system would cause delay and also there are unexpected showers that are sprayed on the unsuspecting commuters through the gaps in train windows and doors . Many commuters by now with the unfortunate incidents that have hit Mumbai in the last couple of years like floods, bombings have even suffered together in the trains .Yet the trains are the easiest and most convenient form of travel from the suburbs to the main commercial areas and thus play a crucial part in the commercial development of Mumbai .