AMACHI MUMBAI !!!

Mumbai means everything for me. I have spent almost 98% of my lifespan in this city. And as it does with everyone, it has never disappointed me in any respect. Mumbai is the place where I born and brought up, so I have a special attachment with this city.
I am a proud Mumbaikar and with no fear I can say this is my city. This city has given something to everyone who had come here with the dreams. Very Lively and joyful city indeed! In this city different types of people lived in harmony and peace until a month back when there was a heavy protest against the people who came UP and Bihar. I have many friends and collogues from that part of country and they all are very nice to me and to everyone. I have learnt a lot from people from different part of India and that is what it makes this city special as it has representatives from almost all parts of India. There were several similar attacks against the South Indians too in the past. And everyone was voicing their opinion on the issue raised during this protest. But somehow I feel points made by both the sides were not elaborated and discussed extensively to find the root of whole problem
We should all be agreeing to the fact that India is a free nation and everyone has the right to stay and earn his living wherever he wants to earn. It’s written in our constitution and we should respect it. But that does not mean people keep on flooding the Mumbai till its all resources are utilized and the city’s condition become out of control.
There is absolutely no problem with people coming from different parts of country coming to Mumbai and search for their living. After all that is the thing which makes Mumbai the cosmopolitan city of 21st century. But we should all realize that there are only limited resources available in the city and it can’t take burden of thousands of people flooding the city everyday. The most of the people which come from UP and Bihar or for that matter other part of India are poor farmers turned workers who come to city in search of living. There is a strong landlord mafia lobby in city which provides the place for them to stay and there are some political leaders who are behind increasing their vote bank who support such kind of illegal slum development activity for their own benefit. Such people in turn become burden on city resources as they don’t pay taxes and utilize the resources as well. Due to which there is serious problem of electricity and water cuts people have to face in the city who pretty regularly pay their taxes. Such kind of people are very poor and mostly have their living hand to mouth so they cannot be blamed for that as everyone is looking for own survival in this giant city. The corrupt people who help them to migrate are to be held responsible for and targeted too rather than targeting the poor people who are helpless in any case.
Other issue raised was local people not getting enough opportunities in all the fields. I personally feel that opportunity should be given on merit and not on any other criteria. If you have it in you come and take it or else you don’t have right to complain about it. Local people should make themselves more compatible and eligible for the jobs. But our constitution has a clause in it which gives some percent reservation to locals of that state. And some states have already implemented it, so why it can’t be done in Maharashtra? Though I strongly feel that Jobs should be given on merit only if it is a law in other states what’s wrong in having it in Maharashtra.
The Major issue was of the use of Marathi everywhere as it is our first language. If you go to any southern state you will scarcely find any board written in English for that matter Hindi is almost nowhere there. So why cant locals here press for the use of Marathi? I have stayed in Kerala and Karnataka and there is strong local lobby there. Even in college matters they do not want outsiders to overpower the local rest aside other affairs. So why the Marathi people are accused if they want to do the same? After all we are the local people and if we try to protect our heritage why should we be charged with factionalism? If you go and say something objectionable against Tamils in Chennai or about kannadigas in Karnataka or Jaats in Haryana, the locals there will make your life miserable and will certainly show you to whom the land belongs too. Then why can’t the Marathi demand the same respect for his mother tongue. For many years we are living in harmony with people of different states and for that matter different country in Mumbai city. And No one has complained any time about anything. But this does not mean that locals are cowards and don’t have any self esteem. As you people love your native Marathis also love their native and be proud about that. I know there are very few Marathis who have risen to good positions today and that’s why we can’t dictate the terms as in any other states locals do. But thing you should understand is to get respect it should be given in the same manner too. No wonder local feel their moral is going down when we just say that we want sign boards in Marathi all other non Marathi people make an issue out of it. It’s Maharashtra and there is nothing wrong if we say we want all sign boards in Marathi. If you go to Japan or Russia you find everything written in language that locals can understand and even in southern part of India you will find all the directions and milestones are written in local language. And there is nothing wrong in that. Local language should be given first preference in all government and judicial matters.
Other thing which I want to divert the attention about is why anyone is not finding the cause of people migrating from UP and Bihar. They don’t have any major factory or for that matter IT hubs in there. So educated as well as labor class have to migrate in search of living. The well know fact is no one is happy to leave his homeland and family and go for the job elsewhere but due to lack of opportunity there people come here in search of jobs. So why cant our government and corrupt Politicians do some thing to develop those states rather than giving crowd pulling speeches in Mumbai.
In my entire life I have never seen a common man handling a gun in Mumbai, it was only available to cops, gangsters etc. But now we have seen that also in a BEST bus. How someone can is innocent if carries the gun in public and damages the harmony of this great city? We never had such a culture in the city before and it has certainly migrated with people who have it at their natives. Mumbai is still considered safe city for ladies, even in capital Delhi you are not safe after dark. Along with Migration Crime rate has also gone up and so as poverty. It’s the local people who have maintained this dignity along with other people who have stayed here for long time. When we say Mumbaikar it includes all the people who have adopted Mumbai as their homeland, people who care for the city. All are welcome to Mumbai as I everyday say in pledge that all Indians are my brothers and sisters but we should realize that this city also has limitations. And everyone should respect it.
Let us Plan to make this city beautiful and joyful place to live in. The city is so great that it was never owned by someone nor anyone can own in future. And we all have made this city with our contributions in different areas. So just keep the spirit of Mumbai alive. And we need to unite and fight to make our city safe and beautiful. I Love Mumbai!!