Bombay Musings

This picture made me nostalgic for the city that was my home for over 27 years(good luck to guessing my age).Moving to a second tier city has me thinking quite often on the pros and cons of living in a megapolis(by Indian standards).
Blame it on the fact that "you can take a person out of Bombay but not Bombay out of the person", but the pros far outweigh the cons (at least for me).

The Pros obviously being:

• An absolutely cosmopolitan city (mini India, if you will) respecting traditions but with a heavy western influence.The exposure to different ethnic group practises and cultures really opens your mind to the diverse yet similar nature of us - homo sapiens.
• The freedom to follow your dreams big and small(yes even illegal, immoral ones), the immense opportunity available, for starters.
• Where one's individuality and personal space is valued(the fact that time is money may have a lot to do with it).
• The varied avenues of entertainment for all ages(and before you protest), countless beaches, A national park, mini parks all over.
• Relatively safer place for women and collaborator in their empowerment.
• Good and intelligent use of science and technology tempered with Eco friendly ways.
• Where your religion, caste, race doesn't matter(98% of the time) in any sphere of life.
• Festivals and celebrations give community a whole new meaning.

I could have gone on all day and still not be finished...

Now for the Cons:

• Pollution and Blatant commercialisation
• You may have neighbours you may never interact for years with.
• Stark division between the wealthy and the not so, disregard for rules(especially teenagers).
• Increasing intolerance and xenophobic tendencies.
• Burgeoning population and inadequate infrastructure.
• Loneliness(elderly and the singletons) and lifestyle diseases, stressful lives.

As you can see, given a chance, I would catch the first available flight to Bombay, take everything the city throws my way..."Good, Bad And The Ugly" and never leave.

Well, as the Saying goes,"if wishes were horses,beggars would be kings". ;D