Mumbai is the big city. Full of noise, traffic jams, pace, ambitions...so on and so forth. Many assume, while many complain that nobody has the time to care in Mumbai. You live your day, survive it, afford things you need, indulge in things you don't need sometimes and that sums up one working day in the city. Oh how could I leave out 'Call the cops if you detect any suspicious odour coming from the next door neighbour's place'.
A lot has been said about how the city does not really bounce back after terrorist attacks since people have no choice but to go back to work thanks to it being one of the most expensive cities out there. How people are so full of apathy that they do not even care about their own lives let alone lives of strangers they pass by.
Sounds to me the city is rather robotic, insensitive and superficial.
Well, it is not.
While it is not entirely untrue that apathy persists in the city, but it is not just limited to Mumbai but all over the country. I can vouch for that 'cause I am not from just one city.
When I lived in Mumbai I had a particular incident that I'm going to share here.
I used to be a psychology student and I had my social psychology paper on that day. Now me being me, I was extremely into psychology. I mean EXTREMELY. I read my social psychology book like a freaking novel. So I got obsessed with it :|
So on the day of the exam, I'm sitting in the bus and reading about 'the bystanders' effect' for the thousandth time and suddenly I'm hit with a wave of panic. Yes, folks, you heard me. I trigger social phobia off. So I am in a state of panic and I am sure I cannot recall anything that I have studied (very common dilemma among students, I know).
So somehow I get off the bus at the train station and catch my train. My friend trying to calm me down but I am in another world. She convinces me to at least get on the train and I do. But the moment I step in the compartment my head starts to spin and my stomach is in knots.
"I need to puke", I manage to whisper.
She takes me to the other end of the train's entrance (the one not facing the platform, but the tracks). I hurl out everything I had for breakfast.
Then I just shut my eyes and stand. Then I notice that the train had not moved at all. It was not rush hour, everyone had got on so why was it not moving? I peek out of the compartment and see the train driver looking my way. In a second he moves in and starts the train. He actually waited for me to finish puking.
I was travelling in the ladies compartment, at least 20 women treated me like I was their own kid and some offered me food, water, medicine..a hug.
This city and its people are not insensitive. Those you call it insensitive are probably the insensitive ones. PROBABLY. If you can't see these daily miracles, you have shut the city of 'Mumbai' in the box of 'insensitivity'. May be, just may be, it is time to take another peek into that box. You never know what may change.
Until the next post (hopefully, before apocalypse *oh wait Trump is the President, it has already begun, PERHAPS*)
P.S. Love these 'P' words (yes, even THAT one).
A lot has been said about how the city does not really bounce back after terrorist attacks since people have no choice but to go back to work thanks to it being one of the most expensive cities out there. How people are so full of apathy that they do not even care about their own lives let alone lives of strangers they pass by.
Sounds to me the city is rather robotic, insensitive and superficial.
Well, it is not.
While it is not entirely untrue that apathy persists in the city, but it is not just limited to Mumbai but all over the country. I can vouch for that 'cause I am not from just one city.
When I lived in Mumbai I had a particular incident that I'm going to share here.
I used to be a psychology student and I had my social psychology paper on that day. Now me being me, I was extremely into psychology. I mean EXTREMELY. I read my social psychology book like a freaking novel. So I got obsessed with it :|
So on the day of the exam, I'm sitting in the bus and reading about 'the bystanders' effect' for the thousandth time and suddenly I'm hit with a wave of panic. Yes, folks, you heard me. I trigger social phobia off. So I am in a state of panic and I am sure I cannot recall anything that I have studied (very common dilemma among students, I know).
So somehow I get off the bus at the train station and catch my train. My friend trying to calm me down but I am in another world. She convinces me to at least get on the train and I do. But the moment I step in the compartment my head starts to spin and my stomach is in knots.
"I need to puke", I manage to whisper.
She takes me to the other end of the train's entrance (the one not facing the platform, but the tracks). I hurl out everything I had for breakfast.
Then I just shut my eyes and stand. Then I notice that the train had not moved at all. It was not rush hour, everyone had got on so why was it not moving? I peek out of the compartment and see the train driver looking my way. In a second he moves in and starts the train. He actually waited for me to finish puking.
I was travelling in the ladies compartment, at least 20 women treated me like I was their own kid and some offered me food, water, medicine..a hug.
This city and its people are not insensitive. Those you call it insensitive are probably the insensitive ones. PROBABLY. If you can't see these daily miracles, you have shut the city of 'Mumbai' in the box of 'insensitivity'. May be, just may be, it is time to take another peek into that box. You never know what may change.
Until the next post (hopefully, before apocalypse *oh wait Trump is the President, it has already begun, PERHAPS*)
P.S. Love these 'P' words (yes, even THAT one).
