Aren't Our Rickshaw Walas The Richest Community After All?

Rickshaw walas are undoubtedly one of the richest communities in Mumbai. A businessman is constantly looking for clients, a shopkeeper tries his best to sell the product, and brands spend millions in advertising and marketing to get a boost in sale and market share. But not our rickshaw walas! They are least perturbed. They work according to their whims and fancies.

Heavy downpour, innumerable mini lakes and ponds on the roads and a throng of commuters wrestling with their umbrellas and running behind every single empty auto asking if he would be kind enough to drop them to their desired destination. But it only takes a second for that auto driver to say no and take his empty auto on an indefinite voyage.

It seems to me that our helplessness is a kind of sadist amusement for these auto drivers. They wander the streets and with their vacant autos waving their rejection on our faces. This happened with me today. I had to go to the Post Office and I asked this rickshaw wala if he would take me there. He said, “nahi madam, aage bohot traffic hai. Abhi nahi jayega.” Considering how firm they are to their word I moved on in the deluge seeking many more rebuffs.

After a while I saw this same fellow roving round and round generously snubbing everyone giving the same excuse he gave me. The only sane inference I could come up with after this was that they are all god damned critters. And of course bloody rich.

Only a rickshw wala, in Mumbai, can say no to business. He would rather sit in a corner with a cutting, music blasting in his “office” chatting away with others of his kind. Every now and then they make their way into the news demanding hike in fare or they would go on a strike. Aren't they always on some sort of a virtual strike? Whether they are on strike or not, the scene is not very uncommon for the commuters. The only thing that changes is the upshot the hyped strike has on our pockets.

I’m being a pessimist here but I do not envision any recuperation in this condition any time soon. There is always a huge chunk of people standing at the stands waiting for an auto. And then there is this other chunk of people who are mostly headed in the same direction on their bikes or cars. They say Mumbai is spirited and helpful and full of life. This may be true in case of a disaster but not always. Those people on bikes and cars can always offer a lift to the other chunk. Sadly, that never happens.

The battle continues. Sometimes you are lucky. Most of the times, you are not.

Cause We Live To Eat

One of the most happening phenomena in a youth’s life is fast food chains. Yummy food and variety in the same is all they ask for. In this fast paced life, a person desires tasty and pocket friendly food which fast food joints offer. Unlike many Indians who still carry their lunch along, others now prefer grabbing a bite at McDonald’s or Subway. It satisfies their tummies and is tasty at the same time.

Western chains of fast food like Domino’s, KFC, McDonald’s when first entered the Indian market, they had to compete with the spicy Indian street food and the much adored home-cooked repasts. Adding more spices and a little tadka to the traditional menus, creating more vegetarian options made these restaurants more accessible. The youth now prefers the new fast food chains than the old Udipi restaurant because a burger tastes better than vada sambar.

While these fast food chains adapt to the Indian food chain, they face another obstacle - real estate which is difficult to find in over-crowded Indian cities. While the international joints face this hurdle, the fast food chain stalls in the Indian cities settle themselves on the nooks and corners of the streets giving us our favorite dishes that we resort to when we are short on cash and when that’s the only thing our stomach hankers for.

The market of fast food chains in India is competitive. Indians are food lovers. The chain of fast food in a way binds them together. A new fast food joint implies new savor and variety. Apart from being foodies, status symbol also plays an eminent role.  Teenagers might pick up Subway compared to a local vada pau stall because eating a sub is cooler than eating a vada pau.

So, one shouldn’t be surprised to see the remarkable augmentation of the fast food chains in India. 

Three Blasts In Mumbai! The Unlucky July!

First it was 7/11 then 26/11 and now 13/11. (ek silsila sa chala hai...na jane kab inteha hogi)

It looks like ‘11’ is indeed the most deadly number for the Mumbaikars. It has very much become a part of Mumbaikar’s life. It happened now… It will happen again and again there will be some more candle rallies. Some more politicians blaming each other. Some more committees will be formed to STUDY the blasts. And some more hats off to Mumbai’s Undying Spirit!

And look at the coincidence! It’s Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab’s birthday! Looks like the terrorists were celebrating his birthday at the cost of the innocent’s life! Is it their way of thanking us for taking such good care of their buddy?

Everybody...People, Politicians, Police is talking ‘what happened?’ but nobody is bothering ‘Why it happened?’

Why did it happen AGAIN? Why the innocent people were killed AGAIN? What happened to the National Security? Or is it that we are supposed to get used to this now and make it a part of our daily life?

Looks like it’s a Tom and Jerry chase for the mumbaikar! It’s either the rains or the blasts or maybe something else. And they talk about the Spirit of Mumbai...to accept and move on. But will please someone tell us… How long?... For how long?

Should we just rely on our luck and never feel safe by the System?

New Girl In Town...

This time I am not going to talk about any current issue, or any other person. This post, I dedicate to myself!
I was born in one of the most beautiful city of the world, Udaipur. I was born and raised up there till my 6^th grade, after which I shifted to the City of Dreams.

Life took a complete U-turn. I was in a completely new world. I was reborn. I learned everything all over again just like a new-born.

Having studied in a girl’s convent school in my early years, the co-ed system astounded me! I was flabbergasted to see guys and girls mix with each other with so much ease and comfort. It was quiet awkward for me to be so cool with a guy! The “Yo!” “Wassup Dude!” sounded difficult to me. Time is the key here. And so as the time passed I too got used to it. Of course, now moving from a small city to a metro is indeed very stressful. The change one goes through is massive!

Ma Pa was very supportive. I still remember my dad telling me repeatedly to build up the self-esteem and build up the confidence to face the world! Mom always stood on the comforting end. We all know how moms are like. 1 tear in your eye and the soft hearted angel turns into a warrior to fight the world for you.

Time passed. 1 year… 2 years… 3 years…

And now after 7 long years in this city, I am a completely changed person. Things that I would have never considered of had I been in Udaipur, I think about them now. Fields I would have never been acquainted with, I know them now. I am pretty sure that if I was in Udaipur now, I would have been doing the regular B.Com course. Not that I am saying that the course is bad. It has its own standard. But B.Com is not my thing. What I mean to say is that I would have never explored Media as a field. Or for that matter, I would have never had this blog and wouldn't have got the chance to talk to you guys like this.

But as they say, “Whatever happens…happens for your good”! This indeed happened for the best!
Currently I am a First year BMM student in one of the top colleges of Mumbai! (I will brag a little now. :P) I am interning with MTV! YO! And just like every other teenager I too have big wild dreams. Chill! I won’t bore you with the ‘dream talks’.

So guys do drop in your comments. Tell me about yourself. I have readers whom I don’t know. Isn’t that lame? Awaiting your comments! :)