A kaleidoscope of men, matters & moments that make the madness & magic of Mumbai
Saluting a braveheart!
The biggest loss in anyone’s life is to lose their loved one. But it takes a strong heart to accept that loss and put up a brave front.
This journalist was covering a story wherein a couple lost their newborn in an ambulance fire.
Just before she approached the couple, seeing their state, she contemplated for a moment whether it’s the right time to start a conversation. However, she gathered courage and approached the father of the child and asked him if he could spare a couple of minutes. The father nodded and asked her who she was and what she wanted.
The reporter introduced herself and asked him about the mishap. The father explained how the accident had shaken them and turned their life upside down. The reporter, observing that the father was putting on a brave face despite the terrible loss, told him that he was coming across as a strong father and husband who could take care of himself and his shaken wife.
Hearing this, the father said, “Though my child is no more, he has made me strong enough to take care of my entire family. Today, my family has faced the biggest loss in life but we will have the courage to come out of it.”
Era of social media
Changing with the times is regarded by many as the key to success and being ahead of times. This reporter was traveling in a cab from Churchgate to his office on the day when the National Herald case had given media the fodder for the day.
The 63-year-old cab driver asked the reporter for his views if it’s politicised or the case has credence. But without for a response, the cabbie himself began his analysis, his basic point being Mr. Subramanium Swami had become a hero. “Just dragging the Gandhis to the court is akin to getting them in jail,” he said in his thick north-Indian accent.
In the short distance, the conversation veered to the overall economic scenario to no business in Parliament, to a-year-and-a-half of the Modi government etc
The cabbie sheepishly said that he’s is up to date with the current affairs and also active on social media. He has a Facebook account and has friends and family who share news along with other jokes on social media. He says, “Social media has changed everything. It has made everything fast…so I try to keep up with changing times and it’s very interesting too.”
No stress!
Recently, as part of the backstage crew for a play (not as part of her journalism job), this reporter was riding pillion with a male friend, with two huge bags full of props.
The time was 6.30 in the evening, which is the peak timing for traffic. We had to cover a distance of about 15 km in half an hour, as the play was scheduled to start at 7pm.
Naturally, we were riding fast, cutting through traffic and ruthlessly overtaking other vehicles. I feel it’s important to add that both the writer and the reporter looked extremely tense.
At a signal, a traffic policeman stopped us, and asked us to park to a side. We looked even more tense, as the clock was ticking! The cop asked the rider to produce his driver’s licence, which the rider did. The cop then asked for the bike’s papers, which the rider showed him. The cop then asked for the reporter’s identity proof, and she produced her driver’s licence. Realising that both of us were adults, the cop called out to another cop at the junction and said, “Now what do I book this couple for? Everything is in place!”
The other cop asked: “What were they doing? Speeding? Talking on phone?”
The first cop replied, “Nothing. They just look odd together and look tensed.” The reporter then produced her Press card, informed the police why she had bags and was in a hurry. That she had props for a play in them, and was not eloping, as it might have looked. Then the cops let us go.
Free vacation
Autorickshaw drivers in Mumbai and its suburbs are trusted to take commuters safely from one destination to a nother, specially during late night hours when there are very few public transport means available. Earlier auto-drivers came from local areas, nearby villages and towns. But however, over the decades, the trade has passed on into the hands of migrants from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.
With the column running into its third year, we bring you an item from the same time last year. See for yourself if things have changed.
One late evening there were very few auto-rickshaws plying and more passengers eager to hire one. This diarist somehow managed to convince one driver to drop her at her destination.
When she asked the driver, why since past few days there are very few autorickshaws plying on the road, he said: “Rickshaw drivers work in shifts, some of them have gone to their respective native villages, so there are few who work in the night shift.”
On questioning why so many drivers have gone at the same time, he replied, “Most of the drivers come from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, as there were local elections, most have gone to cast their votes”.
“How can they afford to take days off from their occupation and also spend money on the train fare?” I asked.
This was his reply: “The poll candidate pays for the drivers’ two-way train fare and also some extra money. The candidates after winning the elections can easily recover the money. And for drivers, they are also able to meet their relatives.”
Contributed by Manasi Tahalani, Swapnil Rawal, Eeshanpriya MS and Chitra Sawant.
Compiled by Pandurang Mhaske.
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The probable reality
That cops are overworked is a known fact. But what is more assumed and accepted by the society is that they are lazy and not dedicated to their work. This reporter recently came across an incident, which showed gave her a glimpse of what could probably be the reality.
On her way back home, this reporter boarded a Panvel-bound train from CST post-midnight. That day, the customary GRP constable was fast asleep on a seat at the far end of the compartment. It was the first time this reporter witnessed such a scene. Miffed, she settled into her window seat and resolved to complain to the authorities about the constable.
A few minutes later, the constable, realising that a passenger is present in the compartment, woke up. Then, two more women boarded the train and sat on the seat next to this reporter’s. The constable, dressed in a full-sleeved T-shirt inside his khaki-colored shirt and a woollen cap, sat with us and started chatting.
He commented on how cold it was, and how it bothered his arthritis. He explained that he was a resident of Vasai, posted with Panvel GRP, and three years away from retirement – which put his age into the late 50s. Having his residence so far away, the constable obviously spent over four hours travelling and 12 hours at work.
Such schedules, coupled with his age were making it extremely difficult for him to work and a transfer or government quarters closer to his workplace were impossible.
This reporter then understood the man’s hardships, and realised that the police’s shortcomings aren’t because of their lack of skill or interest, but because they are simply overworked.
– Sindhu J Mansukhani
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