Living on the ground floor (or ground zero) has some obvious advantages in case of emergencies like earthquakes, storms, fires, fights with wives or mothers etc. This advantage is suitably obliterated in flood situations as was the case on 26th July turmoil caused not by rains but due to lack of civic sense.
We live in the world of self-serving propaganda that we spread and are stupid enough to believe. India Rising! India Shining! Fastest growing economy! Greatest democracy! The obvious derailment of basic human needs is compounded by senseless lust for building and obvious lack of brains. We need better propaganda. Shit Rising! Death Shining! Fastest growing population helped by illegal inflow! Black Democracy!
The British had once said that we were not ready for self determination. They were right. We are still not ready. We just have 5000 years of experience in corrupt practices, Kama Shutra and religious malpractices. Harappa and Mohenjo Daro were more urban than Bombay (it is Mumbai now, Numerological disaster and initiater of riots, bomb blasts, earth quakes and floods).
Every possible thing has happened in this city in the last 5 days. Deaths. Destruction. Land Slides. Water Shortage. Fires. Black Outs. Riots. Hunger. Injuries. Lack of Transport. All these, while the government sits and roasts their backside.
The spirit called Bombay
It was people who helped people. Nobody else. Organisations like the Patel Samaj and the Jain Mandal are serving hot food round the clock to the city’s poor. Once again it is the Annie Besants and Mother Therasas who have come to the rescue.
The common man is back at work facing death and damnation daily. But something has to change. And something will.
