Whither Mumbai

Mumbai is in news again. For wrong reasons. It has emerged as a promising battleground for all ambitious politicians from regional as well as national parties. Is Mumbai going the Kashmir way? Is another north-eastern India in the making? Is India disintegrating? We may like India to stand united, we may like India to be a unitary state, but the problems are there and we can hardly wish them away.

What Makes Mumbai Unique
Mumbai, founded in 1672, is the second most populous city in India and the country's chief principal west seaport. Mumbai's prosperity is largely due to its natural harbour supported with rail, road, communication and an international airport. It is a major port of call for European and American vessels and handles over 40% of India's trade. Mumbai is the largest cotton textile milling centre in India.

The confluence of varied currents and cross-currents has given Mumbai a unique position of being the most cosmopolitan city in the country. The population comprises people of Koli, Bhandari, Indo-Aryan, Parsee, Jewish, Muhammadan, Arab, Portuguese, Armenian, English, Scottish, Irish and Welsh origin. Mumbai has developed into India's commercial capital with several leading financial, industrial and commercial centres located in this vibrant city.

Mumbai is the financial capital, the most glamorous city, the bubbliest city of the country today! The city has been built by Indians from all communities and regions with the obvious advantage of the natural factors like its location and weather etc.

Despite challenges of various kinds like overloaded infrastructure, communal riots and recent terrorist attacks, the city has preserved its unique cosmopolitan nature. In the face of every onslaught, natural or made, Mumbai has shown the world its resilient, undaunted spirit.

Danger Looming Large
But, the city seems to be in serious trouble if the politicians, cutting across party lines, have their say. Bent upon making Mumbai an akhara, eying their respective vote banks, not just in Maharashtra, but all over India, are once again playing their divisive politics.

Nationalists must rise to the occasion and ensure that the nasty intentions of these politicians are exposed before they harm national integrity further for their petty selfish motives. Media too must resist adding fuel to fire in national interest, howsoever tempting it might look for getting TRP or readership.

The Problem
It would be foolhardiness to think that everything is fine in Mumbai and some miscreants have succeeded in creating the hue and cry out of nothing! The problem is not imaginary.

A common citizen of Mumbai wants an end to his daily woes. Cracking infrastructure, narrow roads, local trains overloaded with people with hardly a space to breathe, scarcity of water, ‘Best’ buses not longer so, sky rocketing rentals, soaring prices of essential commodities, unemployment and deteriorating law and order are but some of the problems a common Mumbaikar is faced with. Public is with whichever party can lure it with an end to its miseries. It is not very difficult to make innocent people believe that the cause of all their miseries is the influx of people from other parts of the country; that if non-Marathas go back to their respective native places, all the problems of Mumbaikars will be resolved.

The way the problem is being mishandled by all concerned the problem may soon grow to a magnitude which may be difficult to contain. It is not an issue between Shiv Sena and MNS, or Shiv Sena and Congress. Nor is it between Raj and Lalu, or Udhav and Rahul. It is not even between a Marathi and non Marathi.

Are the problems of Mumbai different from those faced by a citizen of another part of the country? The whole nation is afflicted with the same or similar problems! The fact is this is in search of a solution to the everyday problems that a common man from other parts of India moves towards Mumbai, or for that matter, a metropolitan city or a city with better opportunities.

Even if the non-Marathis are ousted from Mumbai, the problems may not solve. Even if some are, partially, problems of different natures may emanate. After all, non –Marathis are not responsible for the communal riots or the terrorist attacks the city faced. Nor are they responsible for natural calamities. With or without non-Marathis, these and many other hardships will continue to be there in the life of Mumbaikars as well as in the lives of their fellow Indians elsewhere in the country.

Mumbai is not the only city in India, facing problems due to overburden on its resources. According to the Forbes magazine, Mumbai and Delhi are among the 25 dirtiest cities in the world while Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai and Bangalore are among the 20 densest cities of the world. Even Sukinda in Orissa and Vapi in Gujarat are among the 10 most polluted places globally.

Living in a dense place affects quality of living, unless you have loads of money and the place is gentrified like Tokyo and New York, the magazine commented. Dense is, however, a relative term. "A Mumbai native visiting New York is bound to feel like a New Yorker vacationing on a Wyoming dude ranch," it added.

Let us identify the problem then. The problem is lack of infrastructure. The problem is lack of opportunities, a word read and heard by everybody in India but seen only in select cities. Who wants to leave his or her native place and lead a life away from dear ones, full of hardships and humiliation? One is forced to so.

Beware of ‘Leaders’
Despite India having the second largest number of billionaires in the world the masses are fighting for basic infrastructure, food, clothing, education, housing and a respectful life. A pity indeed! And the politicians who are responsible for this mess are still leading and misleading the common man! We still call them leaders and follow them!

We have not been able to resolve the Kashmir imbroglio ever since independence. Despite spending a fortune and losing umpteen lives of our jawans as well as innocent people, a solution to Kashmir problems remains a distant dream. Despite continuous deployment of sizable forces we saw nationalist Indians being butchered and ultimately forced to leave their motherland. Despite having rounds and rounds of peace talks initiatives of myriad nature we failed to get them reinstated.

We still learnt no lessons. We continue to take things casually. We allow problems to grow to alarming proportions and then surrender. We allow secessionist forces to gather, to strengthen themselves and even when things look beyond control we continue to ‘hope’ and handle them superficially, as if to gain time.

We have seen local politicians of places like Kashmir converting ‘a paradise on earth’, into a living hell. We have seen national politicians of India failing miserably in their duty of preserving the unity and integrity of India and getting its people the basic rights and amenities. Should we still look towards them and wait for some good days? Should we keep ourselves busy in chanting ‘hum honge kaamyaab’ and ‘mera bharat mahaan’ while they keep befooling us and amassing wealth?

We are the world’s largest democracy. We are one of the oldest civilisations of the world. We have a glorious past. We need to lead the so called ‘leaders’. We need to be guarded against playing in the hands of who are using us and the national resources for their vested interests.

Are Mumbai and Kashmir Issues Alike?
But not all the problems can be equated, however. Nor can there be a common solution to all the problems. While the problem of Kashmir is predominantly political and dates back to pre-independence, the north-eastern problem grew in independent India and had more economic than political reasons. The problem of Punjab was the result of unseasoned steps of some greedy politicians, cutting across party lines and had no roots in the society. That is the reason why it could be tackled with whatever means and whoever taking its credit. Not all the state related issues are secessionist or even separatist. Some are economic and some are mere creations of some petty politicians.

The present Mumbai problem cannot be equated with Kashmir, as some politicians and their misguided followers are trying to project with their petty selfish motives. Some politicians started it with an eye on their vote banks. Other politicians joined in not to be left behind.

Patriotic Maharashtra
Insofar as Maharashtra is concerned, it has had a glorious past. Marathas are no less nationalists than people of any other state. They were Marathas who went as far as to Panipat to fight the Afghans in order to save their motherland. Even later, in 1803, they fought the British near Delhi, Aligarh and Agra. A misguided action by a handful of people is only an exception and should be treated like that.

The song of non-Marathas sacrificing their lives for fighting terrorist attack on Mumbai, being orchestrated by some is also ill placed. It was the great service to their motherland, done by great Indians, ever to be remembered and honoured by all Indians. That is it! Any attack on any part of the country will be fought by all Indians, together, ever!

Friends and Foes of Maharashtra
The activists leading the drive to oust non-Marathas are doing the greatest disservice to the state and its culture. Even if they succeed in their ill-conceived drive, they will not win. Sooner or later, the people so ousted will get rehabilitated somewhere. Those ousted from the erstwhile Pakistan, have got settled in India. Many of them are flourishing today. Those ousted from Kashmir have also got settled by now. See the fate of Pakistan and Kashmir today.

Shrills of ‘Amchi Mumbai’ is driving investments towards Gujarat. In a year when both the states are celebrating their golden jubilee, Maharashtra is trying to slam the doors on ‘outsiders’ while its neighbouring state is welcoming investment with open arms with its ‘Swarnim Gujarat’ campaign!

People have already started moving out of the city. Along with the Bihari labour and taxi drivers, people in respectable positions have also started having a gagging feeling in the city. Many people associated with film-industry have already expressed their intentions of moving out.

In addition to Mumbai, India has three more film cities, viz., Chennai, NOIDA near Delhi and Ramoji Film City of Hyderabad, the latter being the largest in India. Film studios exist in cities like Bangalore and Kolkata too. Alternatives to Mumbai film city already exist. If Mumbai continues to be a disturbed city, all these forces look bent upon to make, filmmakers already have alternatives.

Being the financial capital and the most glamorous city, Mumbai is the most happening place in the country. So far regarded as the country's busiest airport, Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (CSIA) has slipped to the second spot, behind Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI), with the number of air traffic movements (ATM) it handles dipping from a daily high of 720 flights last year to 650 this year.

Mumbai has a 110 km long coastline out of the 7517 km long coastline India can boast of. Mumbai, thus comprises 1.46% of India’s total coastline. In other words, India can develop 68 cities like Mumbai along its coastline, though, being a peninsula, Mumbai has a distinct advantage of being a natural harbour.

The Hope
Agitation or no agitation, things always change. Necessity is the mother of invention. With more and more people getting attracted towards big cities, these cities are expanding. New cities are emerging. Small towns are developing into cities and big cities turning into metros. There is need to speed it up.

There is a good news which thanks to media, got lost in the crime news and more important (!) news like injustice meted out to Pakistani players. India and Japan have signed agreements to build eco-friendly cities along the Rs.3,60,000 crore Delhi-Mumbai industrial corridor (DMIC). 24 new eco-friendly townships would come up on this corridor. The project will help in faster movement of goods through the corridor and will generate employment, infrastructure and will have a huge multiplier effect for wealth generation.

The 1,483-km Delhi-Mumbai industrial corridor will cross six states —Delhi and the national capital region, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Haryana. The project is expected to finish by the year 2017.

The Government of India, the State governments and the Planning Commission need to work in close coordination and ensure that the project is completed by the deadline. The good news is that Japan wants to showcase the DMIC as a model not just for India, but the whole world.

The good or bad fortune does not come for ever. History records our character on the basis of how we deal with it. It is for Marathas with a glorious past to decide whether to go down in history as nationalists as ever, or as people who bowed down to adversities. With the first option comes prosperity with glory while the second option leads them to a forgettable past.

Homosexuality and Society

There is an African proverb that says, “Don’t tear down a fence until you know why it was put up.” The propagators of homosexuality in the name of human rights need to understand why most of the major cultures of the world have traditionally disapproved of homosexual relationships and even looked down upon it.

The issue of homosexuality has hitherto been limited to some homosexual people only. But, in case it finally gets a legal approval, it will become a serious concern for each and every family.

If you think, you have little concern with this issue, your family or future generations may have to pay heavily for your ignorance.

While legal system will take its own course, let us understand the issue from social point of view. We need to probe the issue seeking answers to some fundamental questions, often raised in favour of homosexuality:

Is homosexuality an individual matter?

This is not what you can safely infer at least from the life-style of homosexual people of the countries where homosexuality is already legal. The vulgar display of promiscuity in public has made a hell of the life of children, ladies and elderly people in such countries.

According to a homosexual organisation GLSN, their aim is not only to open ‘homosexual clubs’ in all the schools but to get homosexuality included as a subject in the course curriculum, conduct seminars for school teachers and to create awareness of homosexuality amongst all school going children including the students of nursery classes. For, according to them, ‘life-changing education’ is best given in a very young age!

As explained by homosexual themselves in various rallies the world over, their agenda is:

• To desensitise the public – to help it view homosexuality with indifference (if not appreciation) instead of keen emotion.
• To get the public affirm their filthy lifestyle in the name of “sexual orientation”.
• To turn people from religion by ‘misusing’ the terms like equality and human rights etc.
• Magnifying their actual number by lying so as to create a false impression and attract more and more innocent youngsters into their fold.
• Expanding their community by recruiting and adopting.

What is wrong in homosexuality?

Let us know it from the homosexuals themselves:

According to Gay author Gabriel Rotello, “Let me simply say that I have no moral objection to promiscuity... I enjoyed the ‘70s.. I believe that promiscuity can be meaningful, liberating and fun... Gay liberation was founded.. on a ‘sexual brotherhood of promiscuity,’ and any abandonment of that promiscuity would amount to a communal betrayal of gargantuan proportions...”

If you wish that your family members and future generations indulge in promiscuity and casual sex, there is obviously nothing wrong.

Ex-homosexual UK journalist Simon Fanshawe states in his documentary ‘The Trouble with Gay Men’, “.. Vast amounts of our leisure time are organised around casual sex. What gay men have done is organise our identity around sex. And that is corrosive. And to make things worse, promiscuity has become the norm...”

Many voluntary and medical organisations have done extensive research on the ill-effects of the promiscuous life-styles of homosexuals, some of which are given below:

New England Journal of Medicine

- Average active homosexual male ingests the fecal material of 23 different men every year from rimming).

- Homosexual persons, per year, on average, fellated 106 different men, swallowed 50 of their seminal ejaculations and had 72 penile penetrations of the anus.

Lifestyle of homosexuals compiled by Dr. Frank Joseph, MD
Note: Homosexuals make up only 1% to 2% of the population.

- Average homosexual has 20 to 106 sexual partners per year. (Goes up to 1000 or more in a life time).
- Homosexuals account for 60% of all syphilis cases.
- 78% of homosexuals are affected by Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)
- 50% of suicides can be attributed to homosexuals.
- Homosexuals account for 66% hepatitis cases in New York white 70% to 80% in San Fransisco.
- 37% of homosexuals engage in sadomasochism which account for many accidental deaths.
- 39% to 59% of homosexuals are infected with intestinal parasites like worms, flukes and amoebae.
- The median age of death of homosexuals is 42 against normal lifespan of 75 (only 9% live past age 65).
- Homosexuals are 25 times more likely to commit suicide and 19 times more likely to die in a traffic accident.
- 1 in 20 homosexuals is a child molester.
- 73% of all homosexuals have had sex with boys less than 19 years of age.
- Homosexuals account for half the murders in large cities (Judge John Martaugh, New York City Criminal Court)

Are homosexuals enemies of the society then?

Mahatma Gandhi used to say, “Hate the sin and not the sinner.”

Homosexuals, as such, have a right to be rehabilitated in the society. It is our duty to be sympathetic with them and help them join the mainstream of life.

Is homosexuality a natural phenomenon?

The most common argument in favour homosexuality is that it is a natural phenomenon. Rohit Verma, who proudly declared himself a gay in TV serial Big Boss, categorically stated in the same program that it is not natural but a psychological problem. None of his fellow residents in the program asked him to elaborate but many experts from various fields maintain that the number of naturally gay or lesbian people in the world is negligible.

What are the causes of homosexuality then?

Some of its possible causes may be enumerated as under:

• Exploitation in the childhood by some promiscuous person/s and forming a habit in the later age;
• Exploitation in the childhood by some promiscuous person/s and out of frustration taking revenge from the society by exploiting others;
• Extra-ordinary sexual urge and trying out newer ways for satiation;
• Getting exploited due to financial reasons;
• Getting trapped in a vicious circle out of innocent curiosity;
• Psychological factors like ill-treatment meted out to a son by his father and resultant proximity to his mother to the extent that the son starts treating himself like a girl. Just the opposite in case of a daughter.

Can homosexuals join the mainstream by becoming normal?

The question often asked (and unfortunately, many times the answer ridiculed) is if the homosexuals can become normal.

The medical answer would logically be like this: Like any other disease, the patients of this disease too can be cured. Like any other disease all the patients cannot be cured with a guarantee. Only after examination (or sometimes after treatment) it can be established as to which patient can be cured and in how much time.

What is paramount is a serious, sincere and right effort by the patient, his/her friends and mentors at the right time in the right direction.

Has it ever happened?

Such claims, for no sane reasons, are often ridiculed by even seemingly sane persons!

There have been many cases where after leading a homosexual life for years, people became normal.

A very obvious fact in this connection is that when a person becomes normal after leading years of homosexual life secretly, may not like to come out and public and disclose this fact for obvious reasons.

However, there have been cases wherein some ex-leaders of homosexual movement made some proud declarations after overcoming this disease of theirs. Ex-gay rights leader Michael Glatze wrote, “Homosexuality is death and I choose life..” Similarly, Ex-lesbian Yvette Cantu Schneilder, after being cured, stated, “I can say with complete honesty that I NEVER have homosexual desires of any sort.”

Instead of making fun of the people who call homosexuality a disease, it is high time we support them whole heartedly so as to save our future generations. Those suffering from this malaise too should realise that these are the people who want to help them and hence are their true friends!

Those supporting homosexuality cannot be their friends for they are the ones who want them to continue to suffer.

Height of Irresponsibility

A section of the Indian media was deeply hurt over the injustice meted out to the Pakistani players by Indian IPL team owners who did not select them for their respective teams! Armed with the moral support given by them, the Pakistani Govt. and Pakistan Cricket Board chose to become anguished too. Many TV channels, particularly English channels, rose to the occasion and stood for the cause of cricket, the cause of sports. After all, it is cricket that would suffer because of the filthy politics played by Indians, they maintained!

In their crusade, they forgot that IPL cricket team owners are business people and they too have certain rights – right to decide their teams, right to protect their business interests.

After the Indian Govt. gave clearance to Pakistani players being considered for the ensuing IPL championship and even issued 17 visas, it is a fool’s imagination that the same government may direct IPL owners not to consider them!

Even if it is presumed that it is done at the behest of the Govt., what is wrong in it? Has it been done for the first time in the world? All the governments have right to take diplomatic decisions and they do that. But nowhere in the world has the press criticised its government’s diplomatic decisions in such irresponsible manner.

The Govt. Of India rightly responded to the Pakistani allegations asking them to introspect to find out the reasons for such a state of affairs.

But the irresponsible show by Indians was not to end here. Shah Rukh Khan the owner of KKR IPL team came out with his double game. In his vow to please I do not know whom went to the extent of saying that it was ‘humiliating’ to see none of Pakistani players being picked up for IPL. The statement came from the one who was very much in a position to pick up Pakistani players or whoever! With his double game, he put to shame the politicians of the lowest order!

The batting in favour of Pakistan by none but the home minister of India himself is even more unfortunate. With such people in office do we Indians need any foes across the border?

Using P Chidambaram’s remarks, former Pak captain Moin Khan promptly remarked, “It confirms that our cricketers were humiliated and embarrassed.” Cool down Mr. Moin Khan, even Shah Rukh Khan in India feels humiliated!

Another ex-captain Zaheer Abbas said, “I still believe, the statements from Chidambaram and Shah Rukh Khan are no compensation for the treatment meted out our players.” Seems, he expects our Prime Minister to follow suit! I am keeping my fingers crossed! Are you too?

Chidambaram in his statement said that the exclusion of the Pakistani cricketers from the event was a “disservice to cricket” and he could not understand “why the IPL teams acted in the manner.”

The nation is shocked to read this statement in newspapers when it is celebrating 60 years of the Indian Republic!

Do you realise Mr. P Chidambaram, you have done the greatest “disservice to the nation” and the whole nation wants to know “why you acted in the manner.” The nation deserves an answer and an apology.

Reinventing the Growth in India

The other day I attended a talk by an economist. He discussed at length the past, present and future of Indian economy. He was of the view that the economic growth of India can be meaningful only if its benefits reach the common man.

Unfortunately this is not what is happening. Wealth is accumulating with a handful of Indians and few Indians are prospering. The overall state of Indian economy is pathetic and future not very bright as income generation is not out of productive activities and common man’s participation in economic growth is negligible due to poor infrastructure.

This, in addition to various other factors, is primarily because of the fact that the policy makers have lost connection with the masses. They no longer belong to the masses. Majority of the Parliamentarians today are multi-millionaires who have no concern for the problems of the common man, the requirements of the farm sector and the importance of infrastructure in all parts of the country. The economic growth of a country can be independent of the global economic scenario only if it is inclusive. This alone can generate sufficient local demand which will keep the wheel of growth moving. With the size of population that our country has, this may not be a big problem if the people at large have money.

India undoubtedly possesses talent and skills matching the best in the world. But its reach, again, is limited. Limited to metros and big cities. Limited to certain pockets of wealth generation. Limited to areas where conveniences and amenities are available. While, with globalisation, competitive spirit and skills have improved, the divide between haves and have-nots has also widened. While, with newer means of communication, awareness of what is happening thousands of miles away has improved, we have no clue about what transpires a few kilometres from our homes.

Just a few years ago, we used to wonder if we would ever have educationally qualified people as our policy makers. We do have such people in authority today. Majority of our policy makers today are educationally qualified and many amongst them are technologically sound too.

Our opinion makers too are no longer backward. People have started valuing qualification more than mere experience.

Business leaders have started getting the respect of nation’s leadership – at least if press is to be believed.

The dream of reinventing India seems to be coming true insofar as changing the composition of leadership is concerned.

But have the things improved for the masses? Who cares?

True, with a few business houses minting money, the salaries in corporate sector have sky rocketed during the last few years. With both public and private sector insisting on lean and hungry staff size and shedding weight, there are fewer job opportunities in organised sector. Who cares about those working in the unorganised sector?

With technological advancement, even a child in a metro is aware of the models of latest cars available worldwide. Who cares about the transportation between a village and a small town?

With media glorifying fashion and Hollywood, every college-goer today discusses the popular ‘bands’ the world over. Who cares about the dying folk dances and folk music?

Who cares to think and spread the message that protecting our culture is not an orthodox view but our lifeline? It is still the backbone of our economy? You can even earn foreign exchange by promoting your culture. The deficit of foreign trade which is increasing every year can be reduced or even turned around if we promote our culture, our traditions.

It reminds me of an interesting incident narrated to me by a friend of mine just a few days ago. He took a cousin of his, aged 31 years, born and brought up at a metropolitan city to country side. When he happened to show her a plant of wheat, she exclaimed, ”Do we get wheat like this!” He asked her, how she thought wheat grew, she innocently said, “I never thought about it!”

Swaantah Sukhaaya (स्वान्त: सुखाय)

When your people stop listening to you, this is time to write a blog. Your people may still not read the scrap you write but the world will. Or so you may reassure yourself. Even the world may not take cognisance of your invaluable thoughts expressed in extra-ordinary novel style... but only for the time being.

Never mind. This happened with all great people initially. Ultimately, the world comes to realise its mistake and start respecting your talent. Till then keep writing and reading your own blogs! After all, “dil ke bahlaane ko Ghalib yeh khyal achhaa hai.”

So I am also on a blog now. From today onwards I will also be known as a blogger. Like any celebrity. Blog is a channel not only for scholars and celebrities but for a common man with his hitherto unrecognised talent too.

It is an excellent means to give vent to your views and feelings. Excellent means particularly for those who are rejected as writers by the editors of useless papers, periodicals and magazines! Whose one out of twenty full page ‘letters to the editor’ full of substance is published after being pruned to one or two meaningless sentences by those snobbish editors appointed by chance!

Giving your first stage show must be easier than writing your first blog. On stage you know the limited mandate you have. You know the audience you are connecting with. I do not know who I am writing my first blog for! Except the world’s most serious and attentive reader that is me! So I will write for me. Swaantah Sukhaaya (स्वान्त: सुखाय)! For my own pleasure!

You are welcome to enjoy too!

Welcome vikram-sharma to the world of blogs!