For the last few days, I haven't been able to write. I was quite shocked and disheartened by the whole scene of events which unfolded last week.
The images of several sections of the Taj set on fire, the airdropping of commandos at Nariman House and the rescue of people from the Oberoi will perhaps haunt every Mumbaikar for a very long time. But what I certainly disagree with is constantly referring to Taj as the icon of Mumbai and India. I don't agree with the media reports that Taj represents India or Mumbai. Yes, it is a heritage structure which does represent the elites or the crème-de-la-crème of India or Mumbai.
Even today more than 80 percent people in this country have not visited the Taj. Spending time and chilling out at the various joints in the premises is a luxury which only the rich and famous in this country can afford. Even today references of having a cup of chai in Taj are being made in train conversations as though it is ultimate luxury one could dream of. I did read several analytical reports which questioned the usage. I too strongly agree with it. Unlike several people who have been coming on air and talking at length about the time they spent at Taj, I don't really have memories of Taj (except for one stray assignment which involved meeting the head chef).
The icon of Mumbai if one has to name one would certainly be the CST station from where most of the people ply to their workplaces and back home. It is this place which is iconic. Because neither the bomb blasts nor the terrorist attacks can deter the spirit (pardon me for using the word). More so for these people, because it is not the spirit but the urge to make ends meet for them. Not reporting to work for a day for a middle class person (including me) means losing out on one leave which could be encashed either at the end of the year or while resigning. And for daily wage workers it means their bread and butter or vada pav for the day.
Not that I wish to nullify the difficult times which the hostages had to go through or that I am insensitive to the harrowing conditions that they witnessed. I do sympathise with them and wish that our government and security forces provide answers to our questions at the earliest. My heart definitely goes out to all those people who lost their family members - saviours as well as victims. I am as enraged as any other Mumbaikar is.
But Taj is definitely not an icon of Mumbai for the average middle-class Mumbaikar in me. It is like a dream which most people wish to accomplish but don’t manage to do so in their life time.
Manjiri
The images of several sections of the Taj set on fire, the airdropping of commandos at Nariman House and the rescue of people from the Oberoi will perhaps haunt every Mumbaikar for a very long time. But what I certainly disagree with is constantly referring to Taj as the icon of Mumbai and India. I don't agree with the media reports that Taj represents India or Mumbai. Yes, it is a heritage structure which does represent the elites or the crème-de-la-crème of India or Mumbai.
Even today more than 80 percent people in this country have not visited the Taj. Spending time and chilling out at the various joints in the premises is a luxury which only the rich and famous in this country can afford. Even today references of having a cup of chai in Taj are being made in train conversations as though it is ultimate luxury one could dream of. I did read several analytical reports which questioned the usage. I too strongly agree with it. Unlike several people who have been coming on air and talking at length about the time they spent at Taj, I don't really have memories of Taj (except for one stray assignment which involved meeting the head chef).
The icon of Mumbai if one has to name one would certainly be the CST station from where most of the people ply to their workplaces and back home. It is this place which is iconic. Because neither the bomb blasts nor the terrorist attacks can deter the spirit (pardon me for using the word). More so for these people, because it is not the spirit but the urge to make ends meet for them. Not reporting to work for a day for a middle class person (including me) means losing out on one leave which could be encashed either at the end of the year or while resigning. And for daily wage workers it means their bread and butter or vada pav for the day.
Not that I wish to nullify the difficult times which the hostages had to go through or that I am insensitive to the harrowing conditions that they witnessed. I do sympathise with them and wish that our government and security forces provide answers to our questions at the earliest. My heart definitely goes out to all those people who lost their family members - saviours as well as victims. I am as enraged as any other Mumbaikar is.
But Taj is definitely not an icon of Mumbai for the average middle-class Mumbaikar in me. It is like a dream which most people wish to accomplish but don’t manage to do so in their life time.
Manjiri
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