I was explaining Mumbai and Bombay to a videsi in office. We were discussing recruitment at some senior level and I was telling him that I am looking to see if some of the people I know can move from Mumbai to Bangalore. And that it is very difficult.
And he said but Bangalore is green and nice. I said well so might be Tulsa in Oklahoma, but you wouldnt want to leave NY, would you? :).
Then he asked, what happened to Bombay? Bombay stood for everything which is quality in India. I said yeah, it still does, it's just called Mumbai now.
Bombay has now more become an adjective rather than a noun. Bombay symbolizes things, a way of life. It symbolizes a cosmopolitan forward looking culture which resides in and explains this place called 'Mumbai'.
It's so true actually. Am not into this political debate or anything. And I like Mumbai as name. It's just that Bombay represents an era, a time, a philosophy for me which is so unique compared to the way people live in other places, it's amazing. It's amazing that similar people bahaving more unemotionally and in a balanced manner that it's just a lot more mature. That similar kind of people are more open to others and think about overall effectiveness from a long term perspective.
This is unheard of and unseen in most parts of the world. That's the spirit of Mumbai. That's Bombay.
Hi Prashant...just landed on ur blog via some Mumbai related stuff...
ReplyDeleteSo true that last line! I've never lived in Mumbai...been only a visitor. But the Mumbaikars I meet do seem more open and more eager to have fun too ! Across age, race, religion....