Tuesday, May 05, 2009

ജുഹുവിലെ സന്ധ്യ - Nothing Much has Changed

1944 മെയ്‌ 14 ഞായറാഴ്ച.

ബോംബെനഗരത്തില്‍ നിന്നു 13 നാഴിക വടക്കു കിടക്കുന്ന ജൂഹൂ കടല്‍പ്പുറം .സായാഹ്നം

ആ വിശാലമായ കടല്‍പ്പുറത്തെ പൂഴിമണ്ണിന്റെ ചൂടു കുറഞ്ഞു തുടങ്ങിയിരിക്കുന്നു. സ്നാന വസ്ത്രങ്ങള്‍ ധരിച്ച യൂറോപ്യാന്‍് സ്ത്രീപുരിശന്മാര്‍ കടലില്‍ കുളി കഴിഞ്ഞു ആതപസ്നാനം ചെയ്തു കൊണ്ടു കരയില്‍ കയരിക്കിടക്കുന്നു. കടലോരത്തുള്ള സുഖവസക്കുടിലുകളില്‍ നിന്നു റേഡിയോ സംഗീതം മുഴങ്ങുന്നു . ഉല്ലാസയാത്രക്ക്‌ ദൂരസ്ഥലങ്ങളില്‍ നിന്നു വന്ന ജനക്കൂട്ടം അവിടിവിടെ വട്ടമിട്ടിരുന്നു ലഘുഭക്ഷണം കഴിക്കുന്നു . പല നിറത്തിലും പല തരത്തിലും വസ്ത്രധാരണം ചെയ്ത ആളുകള്‍ കടല്തീരത്തിലൂടെ ഉലാതികൊണ്ടിരിക്കുന്നു . യുനിഫോരം ധരിച്ച യൂറോപ്യാന്‍് പട്ടാളക്കാരും പട്ടികളും കുട്ടികളും സവാരിക്കുതിരകളും കൊച്ചു മദാമ്മമാരും പന്ച്ചവര്‍ണകിളികലെപോലെയുള്ള മര്വടി സ്ത്രീകളും കാക്കിയുടുപ്പും ഖടര്‍കുപ്പായവും ഇടകലര്‍ന്നുള്ള ഒരു വിനോടപ്രദര്‍ശനം. സൂര്യബിംബതിനു ശോണിമ കൂടി കൂടി വരുന്നു. സമുദ്ര മര്‍മ്മരം മുറുകുന്നു . എ‌രോപീന്‍ ഹോട്ടലുകളില്‍ നിന്നു നിശന്രിതങ്ങള്‍ക്കുള്ള ബാന്തുവാദ്യം മുഴങ്ങുന്നു

This is a small part from the book "യാത്രസ്മരണകള്‍" written by the renowned Malayalam writer S. K. Pottekad.

Nothing Much has changed in Mumbai. We can see the same scenes minus Europeans even if we go to Juhu today.

Often I wonder, Why Mumbai has this MaMaKu (Mangalam Manorama Kunkumam) Image in Kerala . Mumbai is often seen as a place of underworld , murders , slums , riots , hardships and a place where mallus who could not reach Gulf commit suicide because of financial difficulties. Invariably in most of the malayali movies and serials the villains are from Mumbai, have some connections with Mumbai.

Living in Mumbai is not like any other city . It is a life altering experience. Engulfed in a sea of humanity that is struggling to survive, you need to flow with the tide in this city.It is one of those cities in India that definitely doesn't try and hide its imperfections.

Mumbai was also good like most of other cities. But it is time to move on.
I hate and love the local trains, I love the auto rickshaws & taxis because they dont overcharge, I love the rains on Marine drive during monsoons. I love the varieties of food and cuisine available at umpteen resturants and small hotels in Mumbai. I love lot of things about this place but I hate as much things about this place.

I am moving to the best city in India to live in.

PS: I lived for two years in Delhi and saw some bomb blasts when I ventured out on a peaceful day to Sarojini Nagar market. Then I moved to Noida and one day came to know that some bloke who was staying two lanes away killed 20 odd children. Then I came to Mumbai and hmm cant descibe the horror that occurred on 26/11. Wonder what will happen next?

9 comments:

Nikhil Narayanan said...

The best city to live in India will offer you a congestion that can choke your mobility,strangle your senses and not let you enjoy the goodness.
You will be ushered into the city by Autorickshaws that make the meters look non existent.
The living expenses that will put bettercities to shame.

Welcome to the chaos in the making.

-Nikhil

N A R I YA L C H U T N E Y said...

Ha ha ha :). Okies, I think it is worth an experience :D

Jina said...

:)..You betraying Mumbai.This is what i thought too..You will miss it man!!
And Im not saying anything about the new bangalore..Best of luck with that..

N A R I YA L C H U T N E Y said...

@jina . Mumbai has its own charms but Bangalore is closer home young lady :).

Australopithecus said...

With ref to the PD:

Aah. understood. will avoid said city then.

btw: Word verification is galis

scorpiogenius said...

ok, Im informing a few good friends of mine to move out of Bangalore.. Since you leave all the cities in shambles then its better to watch out for you. lol... :)

btw you dont plan to visit Trivandrum anytime no?? ;)

Mahesh Sindbandge said...

I dont know much about either of teh cities..so cant comment on it much

People always say..mumbai always moves on...and all

I dont believe it..

What i think is they dont have any option other than moving on..
I pity all teh indian people who are struggling for a good government and those politicians are busy collecting money under their asses..

Sorry for my language...

Keep writing..:)
Visit mine sometime..

Cheers..:)

Dhanush | ധനുഷ് said...

Mumbai is the City Man. Nothing else is. I probably never liked it much, because I was struggling there and then there was Pune which was anyday better. But Bangalore as Nikhil said, "Welcome to the Chaos" :)

Only plus point is the proximity to one's home.

Gymnast said...

Bangalore , the best city to live in , really ? What about the lovely Chennai , of beaches , and history and lovely architecture? The peaceful city with just the right pace..

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