We are still, human.
Rahul Bose - August 10, 2005
It took a week. A week to bring this city to its knees. A week to bring this teeming, throbbing needle of land to its knees. And I can tell you this. It would have taken fewer days to bring New York to its knees. Or London. Or Geneva.
The reason for that is pretty simple. The Bombayite is like Joe Frazier. It takes a lot for us to hit the canvas. We never believe things are so bad that we cannot move ahead. Get to our destination. Make it happen. Which is why when there is a BEST strike it doesn’t faze us in the least. We get to our offices. If there are floods, we don’t spend a millisecond worrying whether our dabba will reach us. We know it will.
Non-performance is not an option. Whether our sights are fixed on global competitiveness or on the extra buck to be made by delivering kerosene in a far-flung area, we are fired by a momentum that is, for want of a better word, entrepreneurial.
Take that ten year old boy at that street corner. He knows if he has to survive in the city he has to earn. So in a year’s time you see him selling evening papers at a traffic light or cleaning your windscreen. The little girl who lives in the slum across him has imbibed the city’s merciless urban lessons years ago when she had to fight for her life and escape rape in the chawl. She feeds herself by weaving gajras or selling pirated paperbacks. Neither of them has ever considered approaching the Government for help. That is not the culture of Bombay.
Bombayites haven’t been raised that way. Asking the state for health care. Applying for a loan to kick start a business. Crying outside the Assembly for a place to live. Because they know that the city is too populous, its corridors of power too labrynthine for their voice to be heard. Better to ask the neighbourhood dada for a loan, the NGO working across the street for blankets, the Irani restaurant seth for some hot food. Better to use the alternative infrastructure. The quicker, more efficient and if not more humane, then certainly more honest, infrastructure. The entrepreneurial alternative.
You see, we don’t know what government handouts are. We would gaze amazed if we were made to feel welcome at a government hospital. The concept of a socialist government is totally alien to us. And, here lies the cruelest joke, the concept of a socialist government is totally alien to our government itself. The decades of Bombayites getting up and getting their act together on their own steam has spoilt our government officials. Made them smugly believe that come what may the city will survive. That all they ever have to do is show up at work, a few official functions and many high-powered glamorous dos.
I know this is hard to swallow, but its true - we are, in the strangest way, to blame for the utter bewilderment and below par performance of the state government during the past week. Because for the first time after the 92-93 riots we were knocked out. We could not wade through that last mile of disease-filled water nine feet high. We needed the government’s help. How utterly self-centred of us. Come on! This just wasn’t fair! We had proven time and time again that no matter how much abuse was flung at us, no matter how much we were spat on and told we did not matter, no matter how many times our limbs were hacked off during a communal riot, we bounced back! We performed! We saved the Sanjay Gandhi National Park. We started quietly successful inter-religious Mohalla Committees. We created the one of the most muscular NGO presences of any world city. So how dare we stab the government in the back by going back on our tacit promise that we would never inconvenience them?
And so, when the rain came down on the 26th night, heavy, steady and ominous though it was, I can bet people in power were thinking, ah, well, this looks bad, but, not to worry, their intrepid subjects will shrug this off like water off a duck’s back. But this was a bridge too far. And so, for the first time in twelve years we stretched our hands out. Only to find cupfuls of rain in them. T
he Disaster Management Plan created by the government has as its point person for its implementation, the Additional Chief Secretary, Home. He was not in town. The responsibility lapsed to the Principal Secretary, Home, from whom we have not heard from as yet! Meanwhile as the government scrambled to get its act together, NGOs, private community groups, nameless, faceless Bombayites got out there and started managing the disaster as best they could, chronicles of bravery and selflessness which by now we know too well.
So what now? A week later it seems the government has finally found traction on the disaster. A meeting with the Chief Secretary two days ago has given me hope that things are underway in a more, determined, positive manner. Plans for equitable distribution of the state’s stock of grain and kerosene is being carried out with the help of NGOs that will cover every area of the city. Over a 100 paramedic teams are being sent out to distribute medical supplies. Power and drinking water supplies are being restored. Yet, so much more needs to be done.
After my experience in the Andaman and Nicobar islands, I believe the presence of NGOs engaged in the distribution of relief can be used to also make their centres places of contact and distribution of medical supplies, clothing and psycho-social care. These centres must be used as a take off point for neighbourhood committees to be formed that will evolve their own community-based disaster management plans for the future. The homeless, who, at the best of times number in the millions in this city, should be brought into the fold of these centres, and treated, for the first time as people with a legitimate right over the goods and services proffered by the government. Alternative livelihood options have to be created for these and hundreds of thousands others who are staring into the face of a houseless, jobless tomorrow. Schools need to be rebuilt, hospitals need to be restocked with supplies. Life needs to be restarted, kick started. Let us hope the government looks at this as an opportunity to create a support system that is better than the shambolic structure of the past. More efficient than anything before. More humane than what their jaded minds will allow.
Because while Bombayites can handle almost anything the world or nature throws at them, we are nevertheless made of blood, sinew and bones. We are still, human.
Digg this entry 
Add to Del.icio.us 
Share on Facebook 
Subscribe
Posted by Rahul Bose at August 10, 2005 01:21 AM
Comments
Sarcasm, always hits harder than a few straight lines doesnt it? But most times, it fails to register... or worse, it is ignored... much like the royalty we manage to elect, does us.
Yeah... Mumbaikars are human too. Sturdier ones, but human still.
A bulk of us who have left behind our hearts and city wish to help, in any little way we can.
Sending money doesn't sound like the right option.
If one has any suggestions, do let us know.
cheers~
what government are you talking about?there is NO government in mumbai.politicians n builders have milked this city and common man is facing the crisis.
Rahul
Your article hits on so many important points. I always marvel at the strength of the human spirit. How sad, but true, that the government is slow. I would love your thoughts on the NGOs that are doing good work.
Shalini
Rahul
Thanks for your moving description and narration of the events in Mumbai. It does not surprise me that the local government in Mumbai reacted slowly to the catastrophic events that occurred there. I am a New Yorker and was stuck here in the city several years ago during the black out. In a similar way, it was just so unfathomable, that to get the wheels of beauracracy in motion took heaven and earth. At first there was just a lack of belief that this could even happen. Only once there was some acceptance of it could the help come. Perhaps it makes us (or them) more equipped for the next catastrophe (and there will be one). While it's almost certain that large city government - be them on Mumbai, Manhattan, or Munich - will never be as efficient as we want them to be, it is equally clear that we need more voices and visionaries like you to help us cope.
Kudos
M
Rahul,
I admire your work in movies as well as outside.Your intelligence and concern as a citizen speaks volumes.Thank u.
shabana
Nice Post - The problem with our governments is that they are reactive (suck at at that too) rather than proactive.
Indeed... the common man's resilience in this country deserves a salute. It's incredible, the way people find tendrils of hope amidst disasters.
the govt rarely does any work for the citizens.
self-reliance is the only way move ahead.i hope i get to see the day when politicians stop appearing on news channels and start doing what is required of them.
the govt rarely does any work for the citizens.
self-reliance is the only way move ahead.i hope i get to see the day when politicians stop appearing on news channels and start doing what is required of them.
Saw a documentry film today called'Litigating disaster'which dealt with pending issue of bhopal gas tragedy.
Saw news yesterday,which talked about the ghost of 84 riots.Thought about Ayodhya,Godhara,orissa floods every yr,or the city crime pg of my daily newspaper.
Well,question remains; when do the individuals of this country esp the youth decide to do something about it? unite and take a stand?serve the society even from the chosen fields?
if the government is to blame, who is empowering that governement?today after 58 years of independence why have we no been able come up with alternative to politics defined by bjps and the congress?
lets look at ourselves for once with total honesty and without pretentions, isn't the driving force behind mumbaikar's or for that matter any indian's,un frazzled and diehard spirit is struggle for individual growth and profit?
By saying that the ppl are to be equally blamed , am not taking away the responsibility the government should have towards its ppl but quest is when do ppl taking responsibility of this nation and fellow humanbeings?
lets start by not taking false pride in our city, in our nation and in ourselves.
lets not create more ghosts for the future India to deal with!
oh..so...didn't mean to post it thrice!!!!
At least your government hasn't invaded another country on flimsy and spurious pretexts and caused the deaths of tens of thousands of innocent people, including its own citizens.
I think individual humans will always be greater than any government. I hope so, anyway!
Hi guys,
Mumbai is a city where people learn from their mistakes very fast and have to adapt to a very difficult lifestyle, that is the only difference between mumbai and another place in india. there should be no hullobaloo that mumbai's poeple are strong and it takes time to get us down, these things come natural to the human race or the indian people for that matter.
When people overcome a calamity of such a large scale, we should not congratulate ourselves for surviving, but question overselves the reason for this to happen!
NIce post at that... time and again we are seeing that its the people who rise back against adversity.. the govt help does work but it is the people.. who can help. There are many who have been doing their bit .. and it helps more I think if the help comes from the masses.. hoping from the govt seems to be useless.. :(
Hi Rahul,
Very articulately put. You are probably one of the few who believe in actually putting into practice what you preach. All said and done, how many of us get up in the morning and tell ourselves - today I'm going to make a positive difference in some needy person's life, and actually go out and do it? Let's not fool ourselves, let's not feel great after signing a cheque for charity. Why is the onus only on NGOs to do the rescue and relief, be it a disaster situation or a underserved area of society? Why can't the common man take on responsibility too, in whatever small way possible? We remain mere humans, humaneness is lost, a rarity.
Fatima
Hi Rahul,
The fact is the youth of mumbai are oblivious towards their responsibility.
Recently a newspaper asked General Knowledge questions to students of 10th/12th and above and i was amazed at their ignorance. How do we expect responsible behaviour from them?
In 1993, i along with a pal of mine had staged protest regarding pathetic conditions of the road and threatened to boycott corporators elections. In the process, i had received threats and had been pressurized by family and friends to give up the protest.I received a tremendous response from the local public. surprisingly the members of the road development federation of the area threatened to take me to court for advising people not to vote. It was a gamble, we received immediate support from a particular corporator, he developed the road from his funds and eventually the area got the road after 20 years.I was just 23 than, but today when i talk to the youth, their chalta hai attitude or apne ko kya kind of behaviour puts me off.
Not always true, there is definitely a section of youth who are extremely aware and highly sensitive to the needs of society. We should endeavour to encourage and motivate this section.
Zara
Not always true, there is definitely a section of youth who are extremely aware and highly sensitive to the needs of society. We should endeavour to encourage and motivate this section.
Zara
Not always true, there is definitely a section of youth who are extremely aware and highly sensitive to the needs of society. We should endeavour to encourage and motivate this section.
Zara
you're really captured the icarus-like spirit of the bombayite! :-)
Very well written...one of the best posts I've read about Terrible Tuesday.
I hope you continue blogging...narcissistic it may be, but which form of creative expression isn't?
Your site is exactly the kind of sites which make the net surfing so fun. Extensive methods for this: http://www.fish4less.net , No proof of ideas
Very informative site. Good job. Extensive methods for this: http://www.fish4less.net , No proof of ideas
i have long marvelled at the spirit of the mumbaikar, who takes adversity as a part of life. but the floods also were a pointer, that though we are human, and resilient, we cannot fiddle around with NAture. Our grabage disposal systems, cavalier attitude towards the existing ban on plastics are all an assault on a city already burdened by a huge population. When Preity Zinta raised a cleaniness drive, in Bandra, it was greeted with scepticism. BUt i think, that if each one takes a personal responsibility, things can change. we are human, and as such are different from animals in our ability to change, manipulate and control our environment....oh and lest anyone forgets, also capable of thinking !
great thoughts, rahul, and exactly what I expected from you. keep writing and providing food for thought, and action , too.
regards, tejaswini.
i have long marvelled at the spirit of the mumbaikar, who takes adversity as a part of life. but the floods also were a pointer, that though we are human, and resilient, we cannot fiddle around with NAture. Our garbage disposal systems, cavalier attitude towards the existing ban on plastics are all an assault on a city already burdened by a huge population. When Preity Zinta raised a cleaniness drive, in Bandra, it was greeted with scepticism. BUt i think, that if each one takes a personal responsibility, things can change. we are human, and as such are different from animals in our ability to change, manipulate and control our environment....oh and lest anyone forgets, also capable of thinking !
great thoughts, rahul, and exactly what I expected from you. keep writing and providing food for thought, and action , too.
regards, tejaswini.
hi rahul, ur article shows how much u r concerned in improving the present governing system which is least intrested in showing commitment to their responsibilities. i request to give a visit to my
blog too - www.chimbulala.blogspot.com
I realise I might be out of topic but check out this collection of best song lyrics http://www.lyricshosting.com
Rahul,
You are a compassionate person who is always present when calaimty strikes and respond more with action than words , I guess if the same is done by the government machinery , situations like the one during the floods will be less painful and perhaps we would be better prepared to face the consequences.
I just hope more people emulate you.
Ispita.
When is ur next post coming. This is bad u know, making someone used to a drug , then denying it is bad.I have decided to make one post daily till Rahul saab comes up with his next post
An admirer
When is ur next post coming.
An admirer
I read in an interview by Mr. Bose on his huge fan following among women, that, he always wonders that, what does a woman find attractive in a man 5'6" tall and with 26 switches across his face? Well Mr. Bose should know that attraction is not muscle deep, its about the persona you have, and perhaps women in particular, prefer to be ruled by sentiments than by vision.So I guess he has the answer, of the question , which bothers him eternally. Thats why may be women are from Venus and men from Mars.
Dear Mr. Bose,
I on behalf of the members of Alzheimer's Society Kolkata would appreciate if you can help us raise awareness of Alzheimer's through the comming Kolkata marathon. Please let me know how we could contact you.
Looking forward to your support.
Thanks,
nilanjana maulik
secretary
ARDSI
hi rahul.....
this is the first blog im reading....as soon as i got to know about this site and that u r writing in it i wanted to read urs first.....cos u've impressed me a lot with ur straight forward and very acceptable justifications on a few issues...i've seen those programmes in tv channels.... and again im happy that i've made the right decision to read urs first.....its admirable that u r what u r.....
Hi Rahul Dude:
This article is so cool. You are not only an excellent actor, but also a great writer too. Wow...I am proud of you. I am proud of your movies. God Bless you dude. By the way, if you are ever in Chicago, please please email me, I'll be your driver if I am not at school. I wouldn't mind missing school for you either...LOL...Your ability as an actor touched me. Even this writing too dude...it's awesome....Jesus, What are those Bollywood producers and directors thinking? Hei, when i am there, sign my movies...Okie dude? Keep the article coming...i would love to read those...God bless dude...peace out
Hi Rahulji:
Are you and Konkana dating? Please don't get upset...I am just curious...I shouldn't be....but but...
Post a comment
Thanks for signing in, . Now you can comment. (sign out)
(If you haven't left a comment here before, you may need to be approved by the site owner before your comment will appear. Until then, it won't appear on the entry. Thanks for waiting.)Thanks for signing in, . Now you can comment. (sign out)
(If you haven't left a comment here before, you may need to be approved by the site owner before your comment will appear. Until then, it won't appear on the entry. Thanks for waiting.)
Recent Posts
- 07/08/08: Excuse Me, How Does It Feel to Be Poor?
- 06/08/08: Open Thread
- 05/08/08: Can the Mystery of Consciousness Be Solved Objectively?
- 05/08/08: Returning to the Mat
- 04/08/08: Outlook - Perspective - Meinung - Pensiero!
- 04/08/08: Is the Universe (including life) a Purposeless Accident? Science of Purpose: Part 1
- 04/08/08: Given that, at base, we are One being, should we always bear in mind that even the most conflicting of views will have common root connections?
- 03/08/08: Stampede in India
- 03/08/08: Are We an Accident?
- 03/08/08: Weekly Intent - Kevin Boon
Recent Comments
-
lida commented on We are still, human.
Hi Rahulji:
Are you and Konkana dating? P -
lida commented on We are still, human.
Hi Rahul Dude:
This article is so cool. -
arvind commented on We are still, human.
hi rahul.....
this is the first blog -
Nilanjana Maulik commented on We are still, human.
Dear Mr. Bose,
I on behalf of the members -
Admirer commented on We are still, human.
I read in an interview by Mr. Bose on his huge
Hi Rahul,your narration is very picturesque.I am so sorry for everyone who has suffered.may be you can tell all of us where we can send checks,like a nonprofit organisation that will help the poor in Mmumbai.Thanks. God bless.