Heaven That Turned Into Hell

A year ago this day-26/11/08 was a dark day for Mumbai. It was actually the darkest day by lunar date—the day before Amaavasya. Mumbai had to go through an ordeal. Mumbaikars were daydreaming till then. Suddenly they woke up from deep slumber and sweet dreams to see the unexpected and untoward incidents.

26/11 terrorist attack was an external problem and ended in a day. What about the increasing crimes that can never bring under control? When I say this it doesn’t mean I am not sympathetic towards those were killed in the attack. I watched the horror on TV until it brought under control. I pray to god for innocent people who lost their lives—may their soul rest in peace. 26/11 is a bad day for me too. Every year either I take ill or something would happen to me on that day. Last year I was alone at home that night. This year I got up in the morning feeling unwell.

Mumbai became a crime city. Murder, suicides, burglary, mugging, chain-snatching are on the rise. MNS attack is worse than those of terrorists. MNS Raj ko raj karne ko dil taras raha hai. Knowing that getting power is a pipe dream he throws tantrums and goes berserk. Vehicle accidents are a daily horrible sight. Mumbai’s roads take at least one life everyday. Does every citizen need a vehicle? Do they buy cars for their own convenience or is it just for luxury? When cars go empty with only one person it is only to block the roads and add more to pollution. People should use public transport instead. Bikers are prone to accidents. These adventurous youngsters not only put their life at risk but also of others. Accident prone people should avoid driving. The irony is that usually accident prone people take such risks. Others will not be adventurous. Two-three decades ago one or two accidents had occurred; even it was a shock to hear. And the jam-packed local trains—when some travel inside others travel outside. It is a Herculean task to get into it and get off.

And the clustering-slums are an ugly sight and their living condition is pathetic. People migrate to this city with the hope of finding a better job. But where is the job? They don’t get either a job or permanent accommodation. They are forced to live in slums. If they can’t find any work robbery becomes their profession. Those who cannot find a job better to go back to their native places rather than making the city more crowded. This problem can be solved if other states also provide job facilities. All these problems are not enough to diminish the enthusiasm of people living here. Their minds get seasoned seeing day to day problems. When something happens only to a few people others may don't feel the loss because there is still a large crowd. After all human beings are self-centered by nature. God forbid, anything didn’t happen to my near and dear ones till now. Touch wood!

When I migrate to Mumbai (then Bombay) in 70s it was really a heaven. I was surprised to see the freedom people enjoy in this crowded illuminated city, especially women who were travelling at midnight without fear. You cannot have the freedom in remote villages. No one will dare to go out after nightfall because villages are not illuminated or crowded. Extravagance of electricity in the city makes one travel 24 hours.

I narrate this story of a man who had come to Bombay from our village in 60s when the city was not so crowded. Seeing the crowd he developed a serious mental problem and had to send him back to his village—must be Xenophobia. I don’t know what happened to him later.

Since people were nice the crowd didn’t scare me. There was nothing to fear except some pickpockets. Now one’s own house is not safe. There was a time I would leave the front door open. Now I don’t even open the door for strangers. I get more and more paranoiac as the crimes increase in the city.

Yai, dil mushkil jeena yahaan, jara hatke, jara bachke yai hai Bombay meri jaan……This film song when composed it was not much meaningful then. Now I find it more meaningful. Heaven turned into a hell now. The name changed from Bombay to Mumbai must be the reason. Name starting with ‘M’ usually has a fate or criminal tendency. I wish that Bombay of 70s had come back. The serial ‘Tere Mere Sapne' that started recently is a story not only of one Sarju also of all slum-dwellers. Something should be done for the increasing population, traffic and clustering slums.