Mumbai’s Aashiyana!!!
Having spent almost a decade in various suburbs of Mumbai, I am in Love with the crowd, the noise here. I have been used to huge buildings now.But every time somebody visits us from outside ,they do necessarily comment about the congestion ,size of kitchens ,the time taken by lifts ,the chaos.How the size of houses are small as compared to their prices and rent is topic for hot discussion whenever someone visits Mumbai for first time. We live in society where we are surrounded by thousands of people.They feel it suffocating and intimidating. Watching hundreds of flats around daily must be so irritating is what they conclude and go.
But I feel for us residents of Mumbai truth is something different. I look at this from different aspect. Having spent almost 20 years in a very beautiful peaceful green city- my hometown, coming to Mumbai was definitely a huge change..Initially it looked difficult. But over period of time I started loving the kind of life here.
Almost everyone lives in flat scheme here. There are different types of residential societies. There are standalone buildings, 2 towers, 4 towers, big societies etc. Then there are buildings with or without amenities. Whatever may be nature of society, there are some peculiar features which make this lifestyle special for me. Mornings start over here at around 4 am with newspaperwalas, doodhwalas coming over with their crates. Pressure cooker whistles can be heard from many kitchens blowing early as 5 am..Life starts here at brahmamuhurta as it is called. People with morning shift, school children ,maids whole building gets abuzz with activity since early morning. Throughout the day there is movement of people in societies. There is a liveliness and infectious energy in atmosphere. People seem to be so active. Work, exercise, school ,colleges, domestic shopping,friends get-togethers, parties, social gatherings. People are not bound to their homes. There is no time limit here for day ending. For some, day ends at 6 pm while for some days ends at 3 am.So lights are on for 24 hours in houses randomly. Most of the nearby shops offer home delivery.Range of items varies from vegetables, fruits, grocery to medicines, from food items to clothes..You can get everything on a call.So delivery persons keep on coming to societies. The nariyalwala, the flowerwala, courier guys come regularly. Larger the number of residents more is the number of people offering home services. Number of people is more and so is number of vehicles and autos coming to drop and take them. So friends any society in Mumbai is never silent. We never feel alone here.
But in crowd too we have our own space. There is no encroachment on privacy. People are very focussed here. Due to work distances and time crunch to cover them everyone is busy and least concerned about what other person is doing. Everyone is free here to do to dress up, to eat as per ones wish. There are no staring eyes, no unnecessary questions. People enjoy a different level of freedom. Who meets whom is of least concern for people here. That freedom is peaceful. People respect individuality but at same time we get to see remarkable unity here. Any minor or major problem in society is solved in Unison. Everyone is eager to find solution. People are very conscious about safety and cleanliness of society and nearby surroundings. Even a minor deviation is addressed immediately.Parking, housekeeping , security, watersupply, building maintenance so many issues are dealt with immediate concern.
Another remarkable feature is people are too helpful. Most of us have come from outside Mumbai. We get to experience Marathi saying 'ek meka sahya karu avghe dharu supanth'(All help each other and get going). All are ever ready to help in whatever mode whatever extent possible.No one feels away from home.For most of the household problems solution is received within society groups itself. Many of the households have one or member travelling outside. But with such helping people around there is always a mental comfort level. There is a support system just a call away.Social awareness and help for social causes is promoted regularly and conscious efforts are taken for the same.
Having Cosmo culture in societies is an added advantage.We get to meet and know people from all over India and abroad too.There is easy acceptance to all cultures ,all traditions and all religions here.All festivals big or small are celebrated with vigour and joy. May it be Holi, Ganeshotsav or karwachath.All are eager to celebrate it together with equal zeal..These occasions are medium of bonding for otherwise busy people.Even small small occasions are celebrated with friends .We get to know so much about Indian traditions and customs. there is an Influx of all food habits, rituals, customs ,languages here..people respect and are eager to learn about each culture..Regular cultural gatherings instil positivity and enthusiasm. We have no time to get bored here
In such societies children never feel alone. With single child and both parents working trend, such societies are a boon. Children get friends of all age group within society..play area,lobby area are full of children chitchat in evenings.Children too get to bond with people of different age groups ,different strata, different backgrounds with different mother tongues.They learn to coexist naturally in societies..We need not teach them differently that there is unity in diversity. They experience it in day to day life.
We get to learn so many different things in society itself. Dance,music,drama ,cooking,craft and so on. There is a tendency to support and promote each other. Hoarding of information is usually not seen. People encourage talent to bloom and prosper. All are seen working towards some dream. Everyone values each other’s work and time.
All these advantages make us forget that we live in small spaces as compared to other cities. Accommodation is definitely costly in Mumbai. Spaces are cramped as compared to other Metros. But the level of security, the level of freedom, the level of energy make this culture addictive..We love to be surrounded by people.We do go for change to silent peaceful places, to our hometowns but when we are back we fall in love with this city and buildings again.
Exceptions to all good factors are definitely there. Some have few bitter experiences too. Occasionally we get some good lifetime lessons too. There are people who don’t get along, who don’t like the crowd , who don’t like the noise going on always. Friends I feel chaand main bhi daag hota hain but it doesn’t take away its beauty and so are the Mumbai societies.
Though houses here are comparatively small, life – vision- dreams are much bigger here..So kudos to Mumbai housing culture.
