my city... worst to live in??

 

recently... mumbai was 

voted as the worst city to live in. how did this dream city, which had its own dream girl, dream job and dream house become the worst address possible?!? i have known this fact since a few years now... but kept on ignoring that thought in the hope that it will go away. but like the unwanted zit which decides to erupt right before an important family function, this blatant truth was thrown in our face by a local newspaper for everyone to see. 

wasn't there a time when this city was considered 'the' destination? wasn't it the unofficial 'capital' of the country. i mean... dint we look at Delhi with our noses in the air and tut-tutted the babus that were running that metropolis? then what happened? why did the dream evaporate? why did the image shatter? was it just an illusion? i don't think so.

u see.. i believe that the term 'bombay' was lucky for us. the day we renamed it.... the city simply lost its sheen. there is nothing wrong with going back to the grassroots, to be in touch with your identity.... but to take away that particular zest, is like making caramel custard without the caramel. the flavour of this city was enhanced by the vibrant nature of the people who lived in it. but now those same people feel cheated; cheated of space, cheated of air, cheated of hope. 

but like everything else... this city will survive. whether there is hope or not.. the dream will always always lure the quintessential dreamer from smaller towns. you may call it the worst city to live in... it is still my city. it is probably the people who live in it that have become worse... or the complete helplessness of the civic body to tackle the population influx... whatever the reasons may be... this city is still home. you just have to ask the NRI junta... and they will sock you in the eye and tell you to take a closer look. then we might see, the quaint irani cafes next to the swish chocolateries. then we might see the bargain discounts next to the exorbitantly priced designer wear. then we might see  the network of BEST buses waiting at the same signal as the Ford Endeavor. love it or hate it... this is what we have. we can only hope that the coming generation will nurture it back to its initial glory and not abandon it in haste... but is it fair to expect them to do it? why cant we be the change we want in this city we call home.