Saturday, November 29, 2008

Maximum City... Maximum Heroes..!

 

I think I am speaking more with pictures. I don't know what else to do. I am pretty disturbed and words seem to elude me.

 

the end 

The Cop signals the end of the Oberoi operation. Maybe I am being too melodramatic, but I like this picture a lot.

 

 

police man

 

kamte1

DIG Ashok Kamte

 

And last though not the least, some not-so-welcome, unwanted Indians who came to Mumbai from the North and the South of India to save our city from terror.

sniper 

 

thackeray

And by the way, I got an Sms from an unidentified Number. I’ll read it verbatim :

“Where is Raj Thackeray and his ‘Sena’? Don’t know where he is when we need him! Please come and save Aamchi Mumbai. The NSG Commandoes and the Army are not the Marathi Manoos. They flew from Delhi to fight the terrorists so that he can sleep peacefully at Shivaji Park. Please forward this so that it finally reaches that coward bully”

 

I forwarded it to some 20-30 people.

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Mumbai meri jaan…

 

“Aye dil hai mushkil jeena yahaan

Zara hatke , zara bachke

Yeh hai Bombay meri jaan…”

 

                     After seeing my city of dreams burn all through the night, I thought I would write something thoughtful. Something to condemn the horrific killings, the Government apathy and something that would make us stronger. But then, why write about something that has already haunted us for the whole day. I simply went back to my favorite places in Mumbai…

Gateway03.jpg

The Gateway of India at Dusk..

 

 

Taj_Mahal_Palace_Hotel_at_night

The Taj Palace at night

 

 

CST Large

The Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Railway Terminus… formerly Victoria Terminus.

 

 

BMC large

The Bombay Municipal Headquarters.

 

 

Asiatc Library large

The Asiatic Library

 

FloraFountain

The Flora Fountain, Fort.

 

india_mumbai_marine_drive

The Marine Drive.

 

BEST

The Rajabai Clock tower and a BEST Bus.

 

fort

Fort, Mumbai

 

The Mount Mary's Feast by WatchinDworldGoBy.

The Mount Mary’s feast, Bandra.

 

hajiali

Haji Ali – Mumbai’s most revered.

 

haji ali qawwali

A Qawalli session at the Haji Ali.

 

Siddhivinayak_Temple

Siddhivinayak Temple, Mumbai’s Presiding Deity.

 

nariman-night

Nariman Point, Mumbai’s financial hub.

 

bridgeworlishutternut6qi01cn.jpg

The Bandra – Worli Sea Link.

 

 

 

 

And Finally… two things that’ll make a Mumbaikar Smile…

 

vada pav

Vada Pav

 

trains

The Mumbai Local.. !!!

 

 

 

And One last.. for the Famed  Mumbai Spirit !!

 

Photo 2006-760

This man is braving the deluge to deliver the Bharat gas canisters in a flooded slum area of Mumbai. This alone should sum up what I mean…

 

I can’t go on anymore.. 

Saturday, November 8, 2008

My principles .. and some bottled water!

                          I was on my way to Ghodbunder Road earlier this week. The afternoon sun was merciless and I was riding pillion with my friend. I asked him to stop over for some refreshments. We stopped at a very well known sweet shop. I was sorely tempted and settled down with a couple of samosas and was eyeing the Rasmalai. My throat was feeling parched though I had already drained a bottle of coke. I looked around for some water. I couldn’t find any. I knew that it was a reputed shop and all the people buy bottled water.

“Why don’t you go for bottled water?” My friend suggested.

I don’t know if he knew that I don’t buy bottled water out of principle. Maybe,it’s my misplaced sense of self-righteousness. But the point is, that I don’t buy bottled water.

        Some days back, I saw a presentation on Bisleri by my batch mates. It was a very well researched presentation and they were enthusiastically showing the rise in demand for bottled water in India and the monopoly that Bisleri had in this field. The group’s efforts was very visible and it sounded heartening for a moment that it was not only the Metros that reveled in the luxury of bottled water, but the Sub Metros, Small towns were also catching up.

                     They predicted that, with India ‘Shining’ , the demand for bottled water is sure to increase. The rude fact, however is that a large number of our population find water unsafe to drink. I personally saw it as a failure on our part that we have to resort to drinking bottled water even in restaurants.

“So, shall I ask for a litre of Bisleri then?” My friend asked again.

I shook my head and looked around. It was a sweet shop I was in and hence the only source of water was from a tap outside and it seemed potable. I gestured for the Rasmalai and got up to drink the water.I looked around. Everybody was drinking various brands of water. I was kind of feeling noble for not falling into the trap of bottled water.

          When I reached the tap, I found that the water was refrigerated. Also, I found some dirty kids drinking from the tap. A dirtier man was standing in queue.

I turned around and asked for a litre of Bisleri.

Saturday, November 1, 2008

Moments of sadness...

A moment of truth

A life time of tears

Pain

Suffering

And the same mistake again.