Tag Archives: Mumbai Mad Caps

Mumbai Monday 19 – Finding my silver lining and thanking Corinne

Posted on by under All about me...

I choose not to talk about the darker shade of my life on this blog. Mainly because later when I re-visit the posts my own rant bugs me. However, today I have come to realize the power of speaking out loud and the power of telling people. It soothes you, it helps you bond better with them…

After battling for 12 years, I came out of the closet about the incurable disease that surrounds me. I chose to be one of the two who have taken it up on themselves in India, to spread awareness and to ensure that no one goes through what I did.

Mumbai, yesterday as I addressed the gathering of Mumbai Orthopedics, neurologists and neuro surgeons and spoke to them about Fibromyalgia, about my dream of setting up India’s first chronic pain registered support group – The Purple Pact – I was amazed at the appreciation and the warmth that follow. Mumbai, thank you for this opportunity – thank you for making me believe in my power of dreams and not giving into darkness.

The best part was that I gave the entire lecture in Hindi and I was amazed myself that I found the “shudh Hindi” speaking school girl still alive in me. I take pride in my mastery over the language and yesterday it made me love myself a bit more.

Confused about what I am speaking about – well I am talking about the condition that surrounds me, Fibromyalgia and Times of India has published my survivor story here.

Yesterday, I addressed the esteemed gathering about pain- management – the same topic which I have also written about in my Guest Post for a  very dear friend.

Somewhere, it was you Corinne who prodded me to talk about my journey and my lessons. I was skeptical at first, but then once I picked up the pen I couldn’t thank you enough. Mumbai, thank you once again for the amazing set of friends you have introduced me to, who just when I think about giving into the greys make me see the silver lining and move on “chin up, shoulders straight and smile intact!”

Link to the Guest Post on Corinne’s Blog EverydayGyaan - http://everydaygyaan.com/2012/10/my-soul-chose-my-body/#comment-8999

Do hop over and read it! :)

 

Mumbai Mondays 18 – Drops Of Sunshine On A Rainy Day, Is What Mumbai Is All About!

Posted on by under All about me...

I have been putting this post off for a very long time. The reasons have been parents visiting, flu attacking, work piling – basically unending. However, to me this perhaps is the best round up post for the year gone by that I can ever write. Today as it pours here in Mumbai, I decide to write about the sunshine this city bestows on me.

Mumbai has always been a blessing, for this is the city that I am not ashamed to admit that has made me who I am. It gave me the inspiration to pick up the pen when I had lost out on life. It gave me my first experience of death and how to deal with the loss of GM, a life which I still don’t know how I am coping up with. It pushed me to Hyderabad as if to renew the unspoken vows me and Mistah had committed to each other and we did, marvellously that too *touchwood*. Nobody can take that away from you Mumbai, that even in a lost sea of faces I assume my individuality the best when I am with you.

Mumbai has infact been like GM to me – soothing me, helping me philosophise, making me understand the bigger goals of my life, picking me up from dump and urging me to fly. Hyderabad, on the other dad is like Baba – showing me the brutal facts about my life on my face, with no pretences and then telling me with a firm face that there’s no running away and that I have to deal with it. Moments like those, just the way I have spoken to GM in my head, fought with her for leaving me without a warning, I have craved for Mumbai too. I remember going for the night drives on the ORR at Hyderabad near the airport (we used to jokingly call it going back to the Flintstones ers) – try to make myself believe I was at the beach that lined my old house in Mumbai. The effect though soothing, even in my dazed state I knew I was just trying to fool my own self.

Mumbai has always been the point from where I start again after I give up. To think of it I have no womb connect with this place, yet there’s that invisible foster hand that soothes me each time. I found Tamanna here and then when I had to let her go Mumbai showed me why I was not ready and how it was for the best. Now, after I am back in its own miraculous way it introduced me to PGCAI or  in simple terms to the group that shall help me bring my little one home. Last week I had the first meeting with the founders of the group and it was such a wonderful one that before we knew we had spent 3 hours chatting as against our initial plan of a quick 30 minute coffee grab. The best is that I shall soon start working with a nearby adoption centre and so I have two years to have on hands experience and decide. Mumbai, does it yet again – where again will you have the option to try out mentorship and decide whether you are ready to be a parent.

Last year the pangs of separation were worse because of the discovery of Fibromyalgia and Degenerative Spine Disorder. (I don’t want to go in the details, my survivor story is up here) The worst was that I thought I had hit a dead end and would never bounce back. The only good thing that came of the fear was the fact that I worked my ass off at ISB and grabbed the ISB Award at the end of the year, a thing I feel I earned after tremendous hard work! However, inside I knew I was broken. Even when I came back here I felt that I would never give myself a fair chance in life again.

Mumba Devi smiled perhaps as I said this. Soon after I came here I met a wonderful lady who showed me what living with spirit is all about, a friend called in to say that Purple Pact can be registered, found another wonderful group and yes I found myself the best doctor ever! So were the rainy days over – nah! The pain stayed with me, the Salsa levels 3 and 4 remained a dream as I had to pull out and I became haunted by the thought of becoming obese (yet again!).

There’s something in the air here that refreshes me, there’s something about the Asian Koel that follows me ever since GM left, there’s something sweet about the salty lashes of the sea here that makes me never give up. So began yet another challenge of living with pain but defeating it. How could you let your dreams die, the city echoed. Yes, you cannot be cured but who said you cannot be healed, she reasoned.

True to that I took up yoga in my own feeble efforts, music therapy and color therapy. Found myself a healer, a darling one that too. Slowly, I began forgiving life for telling me NEVER for a lot of things. I read a lot, accepted my situation and started my own process of healing. I wouldn’t let the ghosts of the past affect me. Browsing through this post did make me sad and then this too – would they never come back I asked myself?

I made a pact with myself 2 months back that this post is an appreciation of that very pact. I am proud to say I can buy myself a McD sundae (that is the goal I set for every little promise I make to myself). After they threatened me surgery last year, made me give up everything I love – running, dancing, swimming, travelling, rolling in sand, I stepped in here, the city took one look at me and said “Woman you are not going to live in with me with that face!”

That was it, 2 months later here I am, with my research almost done for my next single title. Have my debut book paying me a good royalty *touchwood*, got a story in the Chicken Soup series, have a story lined up for a collector’s edition with the names of Javed Akhtar and Sashi Tharoor. The nonfiction manuscript of 700 pages is all set for print and shall hit the stands soon. NOW for the best part, after what seemed like ages am returning to the track – got my running permit for MUMBAI MARATHON 2013. I might not be a big deal for millions of others out there, but for me who wakes up with extreme muscle stiffness, who can’t bend beyond a point still, whose first step after a long sit down is still the most dreaded one, who courtesy fibro fog still throws the milk in the garbage and the empty carton back in the fridge and not to forget the excruciating pain, this means the world. Yes, I strongly feel that my resolve to always spread smiles, to surround myself with a job I love and to always count my strengths whenever life throws a cloud burst at me helped me. The lovely friends, the parents who know have taken up to research more about the condition and yes my back bone – my Mistah – can I ever thank them enough? No!

I miss GM today and her special name calling, can’t still mourn her for I know I have got her fiery spirit. Yes, but the time to rejoice is lined with restrictions. Needless to say the Mistah is freaked out and doesn’t approve of the decision to run, but then the man has a simple theory, do not give up because I do not approve, give up if you feel I make sense. So the pact is that I’ll keep doctor informed of every little discomfort, will NOT run if the training session is bad and yes even if I make it to the D day I will not run to win – if I feel after a while this is not for me, despite the preparation I’ll pull out stand by the stalls, hand out the others water and happily watch the parade.

This is my little sunshine on an otherwise cloud burst morning! Didn’t I tell you Mumbai rains always make me smile!

I know this is not a usual Mumbai Mondays post, but then Mumbai Mondays is all about Mumbai and me right, even Mumbai mush! :P <3

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Mumbai Mondays is all about seeing Mumbai and its surroundings through my eyes. It’s my take to introduce you to a city and its surroundings which I love, as I see it – alone and often with friends (we call ourselves the Mumbai Mad Caps). It’s a thread that goes live every Monday. I cover places randomly and welcome suggestions too. You can find more posts about Mumbai Mondays here.

Mumbai Mondays 16 – The ‘other’ face of Mumbai : Part III

Posted on by under All about me...

The ‘other’ face of Mumbai is a multi-part series of all those places that though little spoken about, are (in)famous and form the integral part of Mumbai. The silence about these places to me seems like an attempt of the childish mind – that if not spoken they shall disappear. Sadly, the reality is different. Thus, when it exists I sought to explore it, in my own way. The other parts of the series can be read here and here.

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My heart was heavy after I left Kamathipura. I did not realize that such a short visit would leave such a huge impact on my mind.  I questioned a lot of things including my own life and whether all that I was doing was really enough. I questioned the attitude we display when we discuss our surroundings - conveniently ignoring the existence of such treachery and gruesome life. A silent prayer I offered, I recalled a book I read in recent times called Karma and realized that all that we really read in fiction and be touched has happened somewhere, sometime.

The sudden ruffle on my road caught my attention and I was told that I had entered “Mutton Street” in Muslim Mumbai or more popularly known as Chor Bazaar. I have heard about Chor Bazaar ever since I had stepped my foot here, however the people around me refused to me there citing “safety” reasons. An extremely popular flea market that sets up stalls from 3 AM at night and sells mostly pirated and smuggled goods, is one of the most popular ones in India. From old Bollywood posters, to expensive vintage items you can find it all here. However, just in case lady luck is not too pleased with you, so shall go home to realise that your “steal buy” is fake and when you come back the next day to complain, the seller will be no where to be seen.

The market is on all days of the week, but follows a special timing during Fridays – the day of special prayers in Islam. Housed just behind a mosque , when the chants of Azaan fill the air, you feel as if you are on the streets of a Arabian land. Yes, the smell of biryani filling the air and flaring your nostrils, making your stomach rumble does add to the feeling.

Yes, it is the same story of flea markets all across the world. So, what sets it apart? For me, the stories surrounding it holds the charm.

The timeline says that this market has been in existence since 1840 and then owing to the noisy sellers it was known as “Shor Bazaar”
(the Noisy Market) . However, it was colloquially re-christened  as Chor Bazaar courtesy the concocted British pronunciation of the original name and also the influx of stolen goods. Coming from a city which still houses the British influence to the core, this story seems very believable to me – however not exciting.

Is that all that that place holds, I asked Jitesh. He smiled at me. Already 2 hours into the tour, he had started to gauge my mind and habits when it came to discovering a nook and corner.

“There’s a legend here“, he said smiling, almost teasing me to beg him to tell me.

“And you are keeping that away from me?” I huffed, feigning anger.

Giving a child-like teasing smile he continued to tell me that the legend goes that if you ever lose anything in Mumbai (materialistic!) you can find it back in Chor Bazaar. Interesting concept right?  Jitesh also informed me, that it follows a story of the Victorian times. It was said that when Queen Victoria landed in Mumbai, her violin went missing. She was very upset and thus the King set out his soldiers to recover it. The soldiers found the violin in this very market – thus the name Chor Bazaar stuck to it.

Seeing me smile at the recount of this episode Jitesh asked me to speak my mind. I told him that it reminded me of the lore that makes round about the “Queen’s Necklace” – the popular name to given to the Marine Drive stretch of Mumbai. It is said that while taking a walk down the Marine Drive Queen Victoria was pleasantly surprised and the fluttering lights across the bay left her speechless. That night it is believed that she asked the King for a necklace that would glitter just like the Marine Drive. The word spread and people started referring to the stretch as Queen’s Necklace.

I would have happily believed the two lore(s) and lived in glee if Jitesh did not point out the fact that Queen Victoria never visited Mumbai. I was shocked and taken aback, but when the library at the Asiatic society confirmed this fact, I realized the power of hearsay and that “Chinese Whispers” do make up good stories.

 It was as if the heaven’s cracked up seeing my shocked face, as midst rain we moved towards Dhobi Ghat.

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Mumbai Mondays is all about seeing Mumbai and its surroundings through my eyes. It’s my take to introduce you to a city and its surroundings which I love, as I see it – alone and often with friends (we call ourselves the Mumbai Mad Caps). It’s a thread that goes live every Monday. I cover places randomly and welcome suggestions too. You can find more posts about Mumbai Mondays here.

Mumbai Mondays 15 – The 'other' face of Mumbai : Part II

Posted on by under All about me...

The ‘other’ face of Mumbai is a multi-part series of all those places that though little spoken about, are (in)famous and form the integral part of Mumbai. The silence about these places to me seems like an attempt of the childish mind – that if not spoken they shall disappear. Sadly, the reality is different. Thus, when it exists I sought to explore it, in my own way. The first part of the series can be read here.

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As I started my journey with Realty Tours, all that played on my mind were the images of the slums that I had ‘Google’d’ or those glimpses which I had seen during my daily commutation to various parts of the city. However, I was surprised when my guide told me that we weren’t heading straight to Dharavi and instead I was in for some pleasant surprise.

This is how I was led to the city’s (in)famous red light area of Kamathipura, that houses the world’s oldest profession. According to the 1991 statistical figures of the Mumbai municipal corporation Kamathipura housed around 60,000 sex workers who did business everyday there, despite prostitution being clearly banned in the country as per laws. In 2001 the same body reported Kamathipura to have a sex worker population of around 8000. Smiles in the corner of the eyes are to be preserved, for a reduction in number no way meant that the sex workers had indeed diminished in numbers – research studies found just the opposite. There has been  a radical growth of the business of prostitution over the decade and earlier what was localized to only Kamathipura, now spread all across Mumbai thus reducing the localized number count.

When asked I was informed that majority of the women who take up the profession are unwillingly at the start. They are often brought into Mumbai being lured with dreams of good jobs – a fat sum being paid to their parents as a gesture of assured employment which later converts into debt which they are asked to pay off the moment they are introduced to this profession. The other categories are those who are introduced to this profession as a hands down – unable to protect their kids from the vices that surround them mothers give into the pressures and introduce daughters as descendants to their own regime. Reluctant at first, fate catches up soon with them and the acceptance of it too and thus soon after these girls counsel the other new ones in whom they see a glimpse of their past.

I quote out of my story from A Calendar Too Crowded (Gaining a body to gain a mind) - “A prostitute is doubly penalized - first by being forced into a position where she cannot make her own choices and then by hounded by the State for being a prostitute”.  I further wonder  there through the voice of the protagonist as to, “Why should a prostitute be ashamed of what she does all her life, but the society is never ashamed of what is has done to her?” 

I met up with one, who wondered out aloud why I was there. Whether I had goodies to offer her and whether I was looking for something (!) from her. She inquired about my salary without bashing an eyelid and despite me quoting a miniscule of my pay check, asked me what I did to earn so much? Taken aback I was, but then came to know that owing to the surge of prostitution the rates for a single encounter with flesh (passion doesn’t reside here) vary from as low as Rs. 50 to Rs. 3000. The figures vary depending on age, looks, ethnicity and yes the most obsessive of all criteria – young and virgin! If that disgusts you, let me tell you that young girls aged 9-10 years are the most coveted ones here and people are ready to shell out undisclosed figures to satisfy their pervert fantasies.

Law and regulatory protection did you ask? Ha, then let me tell you of a particular scene that I shall not forget, at least in this lifetime. A young girl barely 20 stood there breast-feeding her child, soliciting clients at a stone throw distance from the police station – all at 9 AM in the morning. The police there apparently are poised to protect the workers from atrocities in lieu of a commission fatter than the pimps. As for sticking to the laws, ah well they were never meant to be practical anyway. For in India ironically prostitution is not a crime, but soliciting clients is.

An anarchy we live I realized as I made my way to Dhobi Ghaat (the journey en route Chor Bazaar is for next week!)

From these windows a powdered face look down at me,
I searched for dreams and joy, but layers of masks are all I could see!

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Mumbai Mondays is all about seeing Mumbai and its surroundings through my eyes. It’s my take to introduce you to a city and its surroundings which I love, as I see it – alone and often with friends (we call ourselves the Mumbai Mad Caps). It’s a thread that goes live every Monday. I cover places randomly and welcome suggestions too. You can find more posts about Mumbai Mondays here.

Mumbai Mondays 14 – The 'other' face of Mumbai : Part I

Posted on by under All about me...

Mumbai has always held fascinating memories for me. It has been the land of dreams, the land of strength and if I may say so the land where I feel I belong. The whiff of the sea from my old quaint little house in Worli, to the dance classes at Colaba, the karaoke nights at the Marine drive, the theatre evenings at NCPA, Mumbai teaches me how to live. However, is that all that makes up Mumbai? Not really, there’s Bollywood which doesn’t attract me, the page 3 parties where I don’t fit in, the certain kind of money-making snobbery which I can never catch up with and then there’s the dark side which we choose to be unaware of.

Abode to 1 mn people and spread of a square area of 1.75 kilometers Mumbai houses the world’s largest slum at Dharavi. It also gives shelter to one of the biggest sex worker zones in the country at Kamathipura. The open air laundry at Dhobighat near Mahalaxmi is the biggest of its kind in the World, yet lesser known. And then there’s the rooftop view that will not show you the Arabian sea kissing the Queen’s necklace, instead from there no matter where you see, all that shall be visible are tin roofs, and garbage dumps – Welcome to the other side of Mumbai.

The year 2008 saw us showcase to the world Slumdog Millionaire and this resulted in another feather being added to our hats – from being the land of snake charmers to being the land of slums. If I say this to a slum resident he would refute me outright by saying that slum tourism existed from much before 2008, in fact it has now almost been a decade that their children have been taught to keep at bay from the prying eyes of the white skinned and a few colored ones like me.

Accompanied by two friends and a guide I set out on Sunday to discover this face of Mumbai, the one that had heightened my curiosity for a long time now. It would indeed also be the most dreaded tour of my life that I was sure of, for while there was excitement of discovering a lot of new things I was skeptical about whether these tours actually contributed to the never-ending slum cycle across the country.

I chose Realty Tours and Travels as my preferred guide and it was a decision indeed well taken. My guide Jitesh was helping people tour slums and educating them about the true lifestyle out there for about 3 years now. Having grown up in a slum environment himself, when asked these tours were the only opportunity where he could show the world that slums though dingy, dirty and dark are not places that you should abhor. The people living there are just like you and me, constrained definitely, but they still live, work, grow families and harbor dreams. For Jitesh, there was an urge to show the world that kids from the slums too can make a mark and are not all about being dirty rag pickers – thus he decided to tell the story of his own home to visitors and hopes that one day Mumbai is known to be the land of strong people who can survive any adversity instead of being referred to as the preferred slum tourism destination.

Realty Tours shocked me when they said that out of the 40-50 people who sign up with them for these tours everyday, only 1% are Indians. Rest, travel from all across the world and stop here to have a glimpse of the reality Danny Boyle made famous.

This is the introduction to the multi part series of the ‘other side’ of Mumbai that I discovered on a lazy Sunday over 6 hours of travel.

Next week I give you the first hand glimpse of the (in)famous red light area – Kamathipura. For now, a glimpse of the backdrop I set out to study…

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Mumbai Mondays is all about seeing Mumbai and its surroundings through my eyes. It’s my take to introduce you to a city and its surroundings which I love, as I see it – alone and often with friends (we call ourselves the Mumbai Mad Caps). It’s a thread that goes live every Monday. I cover places randomly and welcome suggestions too. You can find more posts about Mumbai Mondays here.

Mumbai Mondays 13 – The "I am Back" post

Posted on by under All about me...

I am a droplet of sweet water in your salty terrain,

I am the one you craved for in the rains,

I am the pair of eyes when you are lost in a crowd,

I am the bout of energy that makes you shout out aloud,

I guard the dreams in your eyes as my own,

I am the sky where in the clouds you have your wishes sown…

I am the laughter in a child, the guts of the young girl,

I am the buzz of Bollywood and the touch of the Western swirl…

I am there on a gloomy day whispering the words that you hate you hear,

I know for very well that they are all that you need to overcome your fear…

I say, Let the heartbreak come. For, no heartbreak is ever strong to break you down – I teach,

I let you embrace life, like a gush of wind, thus practising what I preach…

I am the early morning walk where you shall find the mosque greeting the temple,

I am the posh car who stops by to suddenly pick up the kids who often on busy roads fumble…

I am the auto ride where the driver makes you feel that he belongs to a different age,

I am the mind which holds lessons of dignity for all professions – now a lost page…

I show you the mirror, I teach you to dream, I help you discover the smile behind each sigh,

I say – You can check out anytime baby, but once here you can never leave for I am Mumbai

I have been dying to put this series up! Mumbai called me back in this Act II Scene II phase of life and I am elated! Mumbai Mad Caps had to be back too right? So many places I have visited in the past few weeks, so many things to write on. A chapter from an upcoming book, which fits in here perfectly, should I test waters?

All I can say is that I am glad to be back and couldn’t ask for more, for Mumbai you are the only one that can make my spirits soar!

My ‘partner in madness’ here we go again!

I am back again to your shore – I haven’t had enough of you Mumbai, I want more

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Mumbai Mondays is all about seeing Mumbai and its surroundings through my eyes. It’s my take to introduce you to a city and its surroundings which I love, as I see it – alone and often with friends (we call ourselves the Mumbai Mad Caps). It’s a thread that goes live every Monday. I cover places randomly and welcome suggestions too. You can find more posts about Mumbai Mondays here.

Mumbai Mondays 12 – It's a Fishy Affair!!!

Posted on by under All about me...

There’s a silent mental preparation I do whenever I go out dining with new set of people. As I put final touches to my ‘maggi curls’ I stands in front of the mirror and promise to myself that I won’t react when during ordering for food I am exclaimed at for the 1875684th time – “What you are a Bengali and you don’t have fish!!!!”

 Well yes, I know you guys make it sound like its worse than being an unchaste Brahmin girl, but so be it! I hate fish. Period. Oops sorry “Dot” – my new fascination after watching Rajnikanth’s Robot!

Though my gustatory calyculi (yes, I am just showing off that I know the scientific term for taste buds!) repel fish, those various Sunday morning escapades with Baba, tagging along proudly holding the ‘jhola’ to the Fish market has somewhere made my olfactory glands immune to the smell of raw fish. And so when I decided to cover Sassoon Docks for Mumbai Mondays, M thought I would faint, but I knew better!

Built in 1875 on reclaimed land,by Albert Abdullah David Sassoon (1818–1896), son of David Sassoon, a Baghdadi Jew and the leader of the Jewish community in Bombay, belonging to the Sassoon family, the dock the biggest dock in Mumbai and one of the few docks in the city open to the public.

Just off Cuff Parade in South Mumbai, the dock is best visited at dawn. The first local at 4 am took us there and I had one of the most awesome train rides here in Mumbai with only a few fish vendors to give us company. (And albeit stare with their sleepy eyes at a hyper active me doing beyoncing in train – all excited because she was out covering for MM!!!!)

The stench of fish near the port shows you the way through darkness and the alley of boats forms a beautiful trail that encompasses the entire semi circular stretch.

This colourful waterfront is a favorite haunt of local gourmets and restaurateurs who throng here for quality seafood at dawn, when the trawlers unload their catch.

People can buy baskets of shrimp, lobster, bony mackerel and fleshy pomfret at wholesale rates.

There are also cold storage places from where one can buy cleaned and filleted varieties which is earmarked for export.

Fisherfolk bring in their catch from the deep seas and by 5:30 the auctioning and bargaining of the stuff is at full bloom.

The locals say that those fish that survive the dawn break, rarely get sold, for the choicest ones are always picked up in darkness!

If the smell and the stench irks you, the smiling faces of the people and the beautifully weaved baskets and the array of ships overlooking the Marine Mumbai stretch and the Oyster Dock makes you switch off and witness one of the loveliest sunrise any city can ever offer!

Photography is strictly prohibited and the area is more cordoned after the terror attacks of 2008, but the spirit of Mumbai still runs high. So when we requested for a few photographs we were smilingly indulged into what was ‘against the law’ of the land!

Surrounded by the Colaba fishing village, we had the time of our lives identifying surmai, pomfret, prawns and lobsters. And when the sigh of the fishes got a bit too gruesome I turned towards the boat and make shift dry ice counters to keep myself fascinated.

Round it off with a heavy breakfast at the Britannia café or Indigo at Colaba Market and you have one of the best Sundays ever. Only till the time your mother calls you at 11 am to find you mumble to her that you have just hit bed after come back from a fishing village!

“But why on earth will you go to a fishing village at almost midnight???” , she asks!

“Because Ma that is the only time nobody is bothered as to whether I am a fish addict or a photography addict”, I mumble.

“Can’t you visit places like other normal girls of your age, like discos , pubs and parlors??? What did I have when I was about to deliver you I wonder”, she thinks out aloud.

“Definitely Fish Ma! For else my affairs and trails wouldn’t be so fishy right??”, I crack up groggily.

Does anyone know of a good site that can deliver some fish to make my mother talk to me! :P

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Mumbai Mondays is all about seeing Mumbai and its surroundings through my eyes. It’s my take to introduce you to a city and its surroundings which I love, as I see it – alone and often with friends (we call ourselves the Mumbai Mad Caps). It’s a thread that goes live every Monday. I cover places randomly and welcome suggestions too. You can find more posts about Mumbai Mondays here.

Want to write about Mumbai and share your experience – do drop me a line. We are open to Guest Posts too – Come join us and spread the Mumbai Madness around!

Mumbai Mondays 11 – Mumbai Marching for India :)

Posted on by under All about me...

Ya ok fine, there were camera, there was natural light and we spoke in crisp English and hoarse voices, looking like perfectly exhausted martyrs trying to re-create the 1919 scene and make the Mahatma proud.

The only hitch was only the Mahatma and the Times Now guys knew when it was to be aired and so apparently as it was an important story it got aired while I was still Facebooking and promising Nu and DI that I shall msg them!!!!! Wow!!!!  Aaah well so much so … this is not my crib post and I am not hungry for media footage *koff koff*

Waise the question to me was – Why are you here? Judiciary is being mocked doesn’t that make you cringe?

My answer ??? – Simple – Am first a tax paying citizen (who refuses to save ANY money through deviations) and if I don’t care about it being on stake, I can’t blame anyone else. So just as who doesn’t vote cannot lecture on how corrupt politicians are, if I don’t demand accountability I can’t lecture on wastage.

You think I am self obsessed? *Smiles* If I started this with a heavy lecture on Anti Corruption by now you would have crossed me out! It’s Monday morning after all!

Anti Corruption. It’s been a long battle people and trust me though I keep all my serious free lance work out of this blog – this one I couldn’t resist. Yes I do lead parallel lives and my take on this started on Gandhi Jayanti and today on his Death Anniversary it gained momentum. Yet again jeena yahan, marna yahan iske bina jaana kahan?? – Mumbai. :razz:

In  1919  Gandhiji burnt the Rowlatt Act and for the first time refused to let a dumb legislation be enacted. I was proud to the same today – no not metamorphic ally, to the fullest extent possible. It’s time we stand up and we do. It’s time we end those chai discussions and actually take to the road. If you don’t want corruption, act to take up the broom – was the crux.

Do I make any sense here – yes I do. I think. Just the way unlike a million of people my age who think such marches do not make any sense – well people we made it even to the Record Books today – this is the biggest citizen movement and the first citizen legislature to be mooted!!! That is big. And I am proud to be a part of the change which again many of you will just discuss and crib over cups of chai. Don’t. It’s our hard earned country money people, everyone deserves a fair deal right? Would you allow your child to steal from your purse? If NO WAY comes from you instantaneously – remember by keeping silent you are actually setting the wrong example. It’s the time to act now and this time with Mumbai the entire nation showed that with people like Kiran Bedi leading us.

I know this isn’t the perfect Monday post – boring and drab and trust me many of you must have already crossed the page out by now or read this in a super scroll speed – but trust me when you stand there amidst, dust grime and eat words, soak in the youth spirit- look around to see how many like you want a new India, this makes more than the perfect week start.

If this has sparked a little bit of interest in what I am talking about do visit this and also read this blog.

I protested by tearing up the proposed Bill mooted by the Government …

I took the pledge for my own clean up drive …

The only blogger I found sharing news about this was Mad Momma. I just hope that my research skills are weak.

What did you do? If you did, please share it …

And if you didn’t. NOW is the time … Take the Pledge and Act…

As they say .. Karke dekho accha lagta hai!

And yes in case you think you are too small to make a difference, remember it’s not the country’s wealth – it’s your sweat!!! :| My case rests and my work begins. :razz:

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Mumbai Mondays is all about seeing Mumbai and its surroundings through my eyes. It’s my take to introduce you to a city and its surroundings which I love, as I see it – alone and often with friends (we call ourselves the Mumbai Mad Caps). It’s a thread that goes live every Monday. I cover places randomly and welcome suggestions too. You can find more posts about Mumbai Mondays here.

Want to write about Mumbai and share your experience – do drop me a line. We are open to Guest Posts too – Come join us and spread the Mumbai Madness around!

Mumbai Mondays 10 – Mandwa and Kihim

Posted on by under All about me...

The beauty of a place lies in it lying afar yet near – the view of the Gateway of India from the Mandwa shore does just that. Located about 18 km north of Alibaug, Mandwa is a small and quaint village and is known for its calm waters, and beautiful and quiet beach.

The beach is accompanied by a quiet and quintessential village on one side dotted with coconut palm groves and the Kihim beach on the other end which is a nature lovers paradise (bird watching galore – no pun intended ;) ) The jungle of Kihim has varieties of rare flowers, butterflies and birds. One can also enjoy perfect tent stay and a wonderful surfing. On the other hand, Mandwa captures the visitor’s heart with its overwhelming serene atmosphere.

The place is of mixed heritage and every bit of the landscape around you speaks just that. While the Kolaba Fort nearby speaks stoically of the Maratha architecture, a visit to the nearby Chaul speaks about the heavy Portugese aura that lingers on still.

To say more the place is dotted with Buddhist caves, the Hamam Khana, a church, a temple and even a synagogue – need I explain diversity anymore?

The most in vogue and popular holiday along the beaches of Kihim are the tent holidays and prior booking is a must if one wants to avoid disappointment. Tents can be hired throughout the year except during the monsoons. To see the night sky dotted with stars lying on an un-spoilt beach – BLISS is often re-fined here!

The place is easily accessible by road and rail, but if one wants to indulge completely in the holiday mood – the ferry ride is ‘the’ thing to do! Rewas is the nearest sea port 6 kilometers away, from Kihim and regular ferry services are available from Mumbai to Rewas (except during monsoons).

A quiet getaway filled with serene beaches and just the sound of splashing waves. The Gateway 108 miles away speaks home is not far away and when back the heart standing at the Gateway reassures yet again that a get away is not too far! Soon again.

Trivia: Mandwa in Marathi means a marriage booth (pandal) – guess the romantic scenery inspired many a love birds to tie the knot – the sea witness to the love :P . Che Ma – it couldn’t inspire me enough it seems :lol: .. Sponsor me for Greece next time ;)

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Mumbai Mondays is all about seeing Mumbai and its surroundings through my eyes. It’s my take to introduce you to a city and its surroundings which I love, as I see it – alone and often with friends (we call ourselves the Mumbai Mad Caps). It’s a thread that goes live every Monday. I cover places randomly and welcome suggestions too. You can find more posts about Mumbai Mondays here.

Want to write about Mumbai and share your experience – do drop me a line. We are open to Guest Posts too – Come join us and spread the Mumbai Madness around!

Mumbai Mondays 9 – Mumbai Marathon 2011

Posted on by under All about me...

“I do that because I am Mad!!!” :lol:

“Oh say something new!!!” he says :roll:

“Paaah!”, I run off :mad:

Guess have been running for a long time now. Running in my mind on the treadmill at the gym, running with life to see where it would lead me. So why wouldn’t Mumbai Marathon interest me?

Mumbai Marathon 2011 – the eight leg of the run which has always enthralled the country. There’s not a single soul here who doesn’t wish to run for Mumbai and there’s not a single cause for which you don’t run for here – so had I heard.

Today I walked and ran to discover the same.

While my friends slept in various parts of the country (and probably even all across Mumbai) I woke up (err didn’t sleep) to a spirit possessed Mumbai where the entire South Mumbai seemed like this huge fair.

We were no less possessed for we walked the tracks during the warm up and then again embraced it as the run broke out.

If I am to say the spirit enthralled me, you would ask me to say something new! But then again am still grasping for words to suit the frenzy mood I saw today.

It wasn’t us 20 some things who impressed me, it were those who were already winner of life’s toughest challenges  who left me speechless and grateful of the little pleasures life bestowed on me.

The agenda was clear – Mumbai and life here. Everything that touches us here was attempted to be bottled in 3 hours of a run. But somewhere ran parallel lives – Mumbai through the 3 hour run also showed that life and work doesn’t stop here for anything – it’s as if there’s a life to be led every moment and multi tasking is the key not pausing.

So while the BMC rag pickers ran to educate us against littering, the newspaper vendors continued their morning frenzy for to them a run wouldn’t feed their family!

The Navy stood guard, the high and the mighty ran braving sprains, a young fella offered water to his newly acquired grandfathers.

A young wandered suddenly saw himself being lifted up to the pedestal of a winner – he was indeed – the new trend-setter of the Half Marathon.

A record was broken to be re-set yet again. I was awaken yet again to fall out of love with my life and fall in love with the life this city bestows to me.

The end was indeed dreamy .. but a tinge of nightmare followed when you realise that to win you would tread the path against ethics. When did the urge for fame and money surpass passion you wonder.

 

 

But still in the end somewhere we all stood to say just one thing….

 

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Mumbai Mondays is all about seeing Mumbai and its surroundings through my eyes. It’s my take to introduce you to a city and its surroundings which I love, as I see it – alone and often with friends (we call ourselves the Mumbai Mad Caps). It’s a thread that goes live every Monday. I cover places randomly and welcome suggestions too. You can find more posts about Mumbai Mondays here.

Want to write about Mumbai and share your experience – do drop me a line. We are open to Guest Posts too – Come join us and spread the Mumbai Madness around!