The stimulation for writing this blog was the recent debate about Bombay only for people from Maharashtra. As an Indian citizen who has lived for a short time in Bombay, I think I have a right to express my view on this issue. This was the town where my dreams started to grew wings with muscles that were able to help me to fly even though the dreams to fly and the wings were there for long time. I could get a chance to fly to England and from where I reached Texas, where I reside now.
I lived in a town called Vikhroli which is near to Thane and Lower Parel which is between Church Gate and Dadar. I enjoyed my life in Bombay because it was a great lesson for a youngster. The experience of getting into the Metro Rail was one of the most exciting during those days. The old dock road as well as the buildings in V.T gave Bombay a Victorian look, and the new architectural developments gave this town an international look. I had a chance to go and see places from Hiranandani Towers to Bandstand Promenade in Bandra, and the high profile shopping centers in Colaba. I did also visit Dhobi ghat and the hospital for communicable diseases in Sri lakshmi as well as the streets of Kamathipura, where unfortunate and innocent girls from all parts of the country have been trapped by the illicit vampires of the country who can trade on human bodies. There are eateries specialized in different tastes prepared by people from different states of the country. People who belong to different religions stay side by side, and share common arenas and a sense of Indian, than the sense of caste, creed or religion holds them together. This was the place where I got a chance to experience the national tastes of India from the north, south as well as central. The eunuchs, also known as Hijadas were also a rare breed of human species which I could come across in this city.
Even if the name of the town has been changed to Mumbai, I still like to call it Bombay because that was the name which I use from my childhood days. Every evening in Bombay, the streets will be colorful with some kind of festivals, and the people of Maharashtra are famous for their festivals. Because of the multicultural elements of the town, there will be some kind of processions or celebrations every day and whenever I get a chance, I use to watch it and partake in it. This was also the town where I experienced the taste of Thaadi Maadi, a local drink made from palm trees which uplifts your spirits as well as quenches your thirst.
I have not seen any difference between Marathis, Tamilians or Biharis in this town. I use to get my shoe polished from a Bihari, the milk for the morning tea was brought by a Maratha, the auto driver of ours was from Bengal, the priest at the local Catholic church was from Manipur, the hotel where I ate my lunch, they were from Assam, the evening bada pav were made from people from Karnataka, and the grocery store was owned by a Guajarati. So it is not Marathas that run Bombay. I use to enjoy the Kerala food at the hotels in Mahim, and the non vegetarian dishes made by the Muslim vendors in Bandra and Dadar.
We, the citizens of this country should always uphold our principles to maintain harmony than injecting religious or cultural hatred in this town. We have experienced the after effects of religious hatred in Bombay not too long ago. The after effects of such violence will create deep incisions in the minds of people, which will disturb the normal chemistry of the citizens. It will create a huge blow on the national economy, as this city is considered as the financial hotspot of the country, and the wounds will stay unhealed for generations.
So let us all hold hands together and let the proud citizens of Bombay live in peace, harmony and universal brotherhood, where people from all parts of the world can come, enjoy, and achieve their dreams.
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