This write-up is of 2019, my sojourn to Mumbai after a long gap of over two decades!
It has been a long time since I visited Mumbai though I lived here in late 1990s and my work took me away from it in Sept 2000. This was my second innings of life in Mumbai (earlier one was in 80s).
Now that I have returned to this city after nearly two decades, I am enjoying the city and its offerings of Nostalgia to people like me. In a sense, it is deja vu for me.
The hustle and bustle of the city has grown in geometric progression, no doubt, over this period but some of the things have remained undisturbed.
In the decades gone by, you could board a BEST bus even in the wee hours of the morning and the conductor would offer change to your Rs.100 note. Auto and taxi drivers were very honest in giving you the correct change if you didn't have it, after completing your journey.
I remember eating Paav Bhaaji opposite CST Station (VT Station, in the days gone by) and this was enough to carry on for the day. I haven't been to this side of the city yet in my current sojourn and I long to do this before I return to Bengaluru.
Back to the present, my experiences with the current day Auto and Uber drivers have been nothing short of very pleasant. Having taken a couple of trips to the city and locally in Navi Mumbai (where I am currently based), I found that Mumbaikars (Auto and Uber drivers in particular) haven't lost out on their integrity.
A couple of cases in point:
On a fare of Rs. 588, I would have had to shell Rs. 600 or (best case scenario) Rs. 590 in Bengaluru, in the garb of 'No Change'. To my surprise, I was given a full Rs. 12 back for my Rs. 600.
In another instance, I had taken an Auto to Vashi Station the other day and though the fare meter read Rs 34, the driver took Rs. 32 as he had taken the wrong turn and had traveled about 50-100 meters extra. Can you imagine such instances happening in any other city? I don't think!
Maybe examples like these are rare for everyone but fact remains that such instances make you feel more welcome to the city and also reinforce your faith in people.
Being in Mumbai during the Ganapathi festival is an icing on the cake. This time around, I couldn't enjoy much as it had been raining incessantly since the evening of 30th August. Even yesterday, the last of the days for Ganapathi Visarjan, it had rained continuously, preventing my movements.
I must admit, I didn't have the (earlier) zest to move around in the monsoon showers and was in the cozy confines of my aunt's home, which has been my base since the 22nd of last month.
The weather has cleared a bit today and hopefully, I will move out and meet a few friends in the city.
Keep reading and don't forget to send in your views and comments to this post.
Now that I have returned to this city after nearly two decades, I am enjoying the city and its offerings of Nostalgia to people like me. In a sense, it is deja vu for me.
The hustle and bustle of the city has grown in geometric progression, no doubt, over this period but some of the things have remained undisturbed.
In the decades gone by, you could board a BEST bus even in the wee hours of the morning and the conductor would offer change to your Rs.100 note. Auto and taxi drivers were very honest in giving you the correct change if you didn't have it, after completing your journey.
I remember eating Paav Bhaaji opposite CST Station (VT Station, in the days gone by) and this was enough to carry on for the day. I haven't been to this side of the city yet in my current sojourn and I long to do this before I return to Bengaluru.
Back to the present, my experiences with the current day Auto and Uber drivers have been nothing short of very pleasant. Having taken a couple of trips to the city and locally in Navi Mumbai (where I am currently based), I found that Mumbaikars (Auto and Uber drivers in particular) haven't lost out on their integrity.
A couple of cases in point:
On a fare of Rs. 588, I would have had to shell Rs. 600 or (best case scenario) Rs. 590 in Bengaluru, in the garb of 'No Change'. To my surprise, I was given a full Rs. 12 back for my Rs. 600.
In another instance, I had taken an Auto to Vashi Station the other day and though the fare meter read Rs 34, the driver took Rs. 32 as he had taken the wrong turn and had traveled about 50-100 meters extra. Can you imagine such instances happening in any other city? I don't think!
Maybe examples like these are rare for everyone but fact remains that such instances make you feel more welcome to the city and also reinforce your faith in people.
Being in Mumbai during the Ganapathi festival is an icing on the cake. This time around, I couldn't enjoy much as it had been raining incessantly since the evening of 30th August. Even yesterday, the last of the days for Ganapathi Visarjan, it had rained continuously, preventing my movements.
I must admit, I didn't have the (earlier) zest to move around in the monsoon showers and was in the cozy confines of my aunt's home, which has been my base since the 22nd of last month.
The weather has cleared a bit today and hopefully, I will move out and meet a few friends in the city.
Keep reading and don't forget to send in your views and comments to this post.
P.S. I don't know why I didn't publish this 5 years ago?
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7 comments:
Mumbai is Mumbai, no city in the world can beat it; it makes any man a true and cultured human. We lived in Mumbai for 21 years, from 1986 to 2007, it was golden period for us! Long live Mumbai, we love and respect you. We miss you badly. ❤️🙏🙏
There is nothing parallel in this universe to amchee Mumbai 💙😄👍
Hi The greatness of mumbai lies in that. In fact I was there during 1999 to 2002. Almost every day travelling in auto, bus, share taxi Central, western & Harbour line also. I had so many instances of those Fare even in the wee hours that too till the other end of our society compound in Ghatkopar. Mumbai Meri Jaan. What A Life It was... Just Nostalgic..
Keerthi
We lived in Mumbai from 2003 to 2019.Professionally and culturally, it was an awesome experience.The education system is superb and we didn't have to pay capitation fees in top schools for our children even though the fees were a bit steep.. You are right about the rickshaw and taxi wallas. Whenever we used them (though rarely), most of them were very sincere, truthful and reasonable.We enjoyed several weekend musical programs at Ravindra Natya mandir etc which brought back nostalgic old memories of our own good old school days.There are lot of things good aspects to write about amchi Mumbai.Probably, one can write a whole book on this subject!
Very nice, after reading your writeup; feel like visiting Mumbai which I have not done till now. Sure will. Thank you
After reading your writeup on Mumbai feel like visiting once for sure. Thank you
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