The Working Class Metropolis

After a long hiatus , I begin with a disclaimer : With no immediate elections, the following thoughts may seem out of sync with the current political and administrative scenario, but nevertheless the same would be quite 'relevant' soon.

Flying into Mumbai is always a wonderful experience for a Mumbaikar. Depending on from which part of the city area your plane is approaching into the city, one usually cranes their neck to see the lights at night or the sea line touched with skyscrapers during daytime. This sight usually symbolizes the stability,spirit of the city which comforts the person and makes him feel welcome.

The stability, spirit etc etc of which are used often with respect to Mumbai is embodied by its Working Class. Who consists of this 'Working Class' ? .They primarily consist of the middle class or higher middle class people who use the public services and also pay taxes.This Working Class comprises this lot whose voices are seldom loud and only heard among each other in whispers .They are usually the intelligent,diligent, hard working and professional people in the true sense. Any work they do is done to the best of their ability and easy money makes them restless.

The aspect which differentiates the city from other metropolis especially in India, is that both the long arm of the law or public services don't make any obvious efforts in taking the Working Class for a ride unlike other cities.This benevolent apathy if I may say ,shown towards them is according to me is Mumbai's USP to everyone in India. People come in with aspirations, dreams and get the confidence that dreams can be realized and that hard work pays off . Granted they bear the brunt of the crowded local trains, the endless traffic jams and in general are taken a ride by the people in power who promise a lot and deliver less but the obvious benefits enjoyed due the trickle down effect outweigh any of the above discomforts.

This ubiquitous spirit of the city is built by the Working Class who prefer to work hard to survive with a hope of prosperity gleaming in their eyes.The rickshaw driver @ any station station does not charge a rupee more at midnight than the stipulated fare because of the understanding he shares about the person hiring him is actually coming back after a tiring journey in the train and works hard to earn his livelihood.

Having said that there would be stray instances which may time and again surface and create a ruckus but in general, the veins of Mumbai are nurtured well by the Class . The occasional strike by motormen ,taxi and rickshawallas is quite spaced out and people usually deal with it nonchalantly going about their work as they do after any terrorist attack or a bomb blast.

Each man/woman aspires to earn more but all of them recognize the effort of his/her counterpart.This unique understanding by a Mumbaikar also shapes the city's spirit.Lineage or inheritance are rarely factored by the City who judges an individual only by his/her output. To put it simply borrowing from Munna in Rangeela, "जिस में  अपना पैसा वसूल नहीं, उसका डब्बा गुल !"[If there is no value derived from a person [actor], he/she will not be valued]. Right from Abhishek Bachchan to Uddhav and Raj Thackeray, all of them know the above fact ergo are trying to desperately make their mark and would have to be constantly on their toes.

The efforts of Uddhav and Raj with respect to the city may be misguided but the fact remains Mumbai is a melting point for all of India. People who come in are enamored by its spirit and resilience. This oft quoted resilience of Mumbai comes from the fact that the Working Class whose 'spirit' breathes life into the city simply don't know any other way of living . Each day is a struggle but each night the struggle results in a peaceful sleep for many. This spirit is imbibed in very inhabitant of this city ergo which is what defines its soul. Mumbai is a big tree whose roots are quite widespread .For every Working Class person, this is what makes him a Mumbaikar irrespective of their roots ...