High Spirits...?

So Mumbai got flooded again. I must have been a fool to think that the last 40 years could be undone in two. The BMC assured the people that 2006 would be different from the deluge of 2005 and perhaps it was a little different- last year everyone I spoke to while it rained in Mumbai told me that it wasn't like 2005.

This year was again different from 2006. It did flood this year and for almost 36 hours life came to a standstill. it was business as usual for everyone- passengers at the airport made new Sudoku records, the school children enjoyed a day off, the BMC officials decided to go fishing, the news channels had a field day asking the same darn questions and offering the same darn solutions- all within the programs air time.

Every time it rains in Mumbai people start imagining the worst. I'm sure that most of the people who experienced that cloudburst of 2005 can never get over the fact that such a thing could actually happen. the fact that Mumbai somehow manages to survive the worst has got nothing to do with the fabled spirit (it does exist, trust me and I love it) but the fact but the fact that no one has the time or the energy to fight it. And oh yeah there's no alternative! The crazy thing about experience is that till it cross the previous high point, it won't bother that much. Unless there is 2005 redux everyone will say it's not as bad. My friend in Mumbai actually told me that at least this time around the water didn't stay for long. I don't know what's worse- the bloody commercial capital of the country drowning every year or people gearing up for the same thing every year?

While we are poised to become a super power and have already started to take small steps that will transform into giant leaps as we go along, the Governor of Maharashtra, HE S.M. Krishna, requested Mumbaikars to evoke the spirit in the moment of crisis. This man is a picture of cool for now he just has to deal with 36 hours of chaos as opposed to the never ending Tamil Nadu-Karnataka Cauvery mess. The CM was on a foreign tour to attract investment and hasn't bothered to comment. His reaction- make mental note to fire PA for not releasing last years left over statements for rains. The Shiv Sena thanked it's stars that it was not in power. They decided to worry about 'a' Marathi Manoos (President Designate Ms. Patil) over the entire Maharashtra. The people, of course were a Darwinian dream come true- decided to be fit by surviving. This time around they were prepared and had inflatable boats ready.

Perhaps the difference this time is that Maximum City had company from the City of Joy. Kolkata is underwater as well. Chennai, of course, doesn't have water while the City of Djinns has no electricity. The Garden City of Bangalore continues to live to die another day. The Twin Cities- Hyderabad and Secundarabad has people falling into open drains during rains and ending up as dead bodies in Hussain Sagar lake. Even if forget the others it's a tough choice- I could be in Mumbai, enjoy the bijli and too much paani or I could be in Delhi and enjoy a passing cloud's misbehavior once a while and pray for bijli.

The more things change, the more they remain the same- the news channels were also fed up with the usual reactions so they decided to show a music video sort of thing with out takes and NG shots of people singing in the rain! Perhaps the Tourism Ministry should decide to make Mumbai the Venice of East now that Taj has been ensured a place in the new seven wonders of the world. This yearly routine of evoking spirits and fighting the 'odds' should be declared a holiday, at least people won't have to wade through chest deep water!

Ah choices!

Image Courtesy: Asia Finance Blog

Wah Taj!

For the past few days there are reports in the newspapers about an online poll that will decide the new seven wonders of the world. Sunday's Delhi Times had an article that pissed and moaned about the fact that Indians are not voting enough. TheTaj Mahal, India's only 'entry' to the list is currently at the bottom of the list with just a dismal 0.7% votes in favor as opposed to Machu Picchu, Peru (25.5%), The Easter Island Statues, Chile (6.6%), Chichen Itza , Mexico (11.2%), The Statue of Christ Redeemer, Brazil (10.3%). In case you are wondering if this is some Latin American take over bid, other contenders include The Statue of Liberty (3.0%) and The Great Wall of China (3.9%).

The article went on to say that the Tourism Ministry is planning to do their bit to promote Taj (don't know what that means), A.R. Rahman has composed an anthem for the Taj (don't know what it sounds like) and the chairperson of some organization that wants the Taj to get it's due has called for a proactive stance (don't know what that would be). But what I know is that there are a lot of Indians out there and more so in the cyberspace who can ensure a place for the Taj. I guess it's just a matter of time for the last time Indians decided to vote they ensured that Mr. Amitabh Bachchan was declared the superstar of the Millennium!

All these articles crib about Indians not voting enough. Well for one most of us didn't know that we could rewrite history so excuse us for not invading the cyberspace! When we don't vote for trivial things like general elections how come The Times of India thinks we'll line up for such an important poll!? A glance at the list of nominees and you'll know that all the nominations are glaring examples of man's exploitation of another man. The Taj might be the prime example of love and all such happy things but it did come with collateral damage. So in a way we are voting for brutality in the name of whatever. Moreover if you write such an article including the web site's address would make it a little easier for lazy people like me to do something akin to national service! My googling skills notwithstanding, i searched for the net to vote and casted mine. Funny website- you need to sign up and you can't cast one vote. One has to choose his/ her seven wonders.

Whats interesting is that what'd happen if the Taj doesn't make it to the list? The opposition would blame the government and blah, blah, blah! Mahesh Bhatt might comment that we really don't need no western list to tell us that the Taj's a marvel. The PM might open a Taj fund or something for he'll suddenly realize that the darn thingy is falling apart or something like that. Now that Mayawati is back she might hound us to make a wonderful corridor to make up for the loss.

But wonder of wonders, what happens if the Taj manages to make it to the list? Oh nothing...just that the spirit of Indian culture would have prevailed and no one will give a damn after that.

So I urge you in the name of our glorious culture to please vote for Taj at the New Seven Wonders