Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Past Imperfect!

Past, has most of the time, brought a smile on my face. I cherish my memories of the 'good old days'...

I used to wonder, how will it be, to be able to relive/re-experience the past.
Then came along social networking sites like Orkut & FB.
Soon, there was a flood of know/some-what known faces.
A lot of 'networking' on social networking sites later, I got back in touch with many of my old friends (some foes too, but thats a different story & will come back to it later)... Many, I would have never found, but for the social networking sites.

Many 'conversations' followed. Chats, mails, sms, phone calls... Distance suddenly became immaterial. I entered my past with gay abandmonment, to relive it all over again.....

But, life is all about moving on... The initial euphoria died its own death. The friends remain & will for ever but, the equations have changed.
It is sometime difficult to take in that friends who were so close once, have become aquintence. Some, surface only when it's time to wish on an occassion. Few, don't even do that!

Let's stay in touch, I guess has become the most common, never followed line.
Yet, there is a silver lining.

Wednesday, March 03, 2010

Whom does Bombay belong to?

'Aamchi Mumbai' is a very old term know to ALL who have ever lived or been to the city called Bombay.
I love the city and have spent some wonderful years living & working in the city. Bombay belongs to me... Most definitely it does.. But some say NO.

Some recent, politically motivated acts have created unnecessary discussions on, whom does Bombay belong to?
I was never good in History but have some basic knowledge in its right place.
So, I know that Bombay was once a clutter of seven islands, disconnected from each other.
The earliest inhabitants of the place were a community called 'Kolis', a fishing community. So, the kolis are the 'original' natives of Bombay & the city is theirs!

During 3rd century BCE, the place was ruled by 'Maurya Empire'. The kingdom originates from Magadh (modern Bihar, eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bengal)with it's capital at Patliputra (modern Patna). So, the next claimants to the city are the very people who are being asked to leave Bombay, the Biharis & UPiets.!. By the way during the Magadh empire, art, culture, development of city as Hindu & budhist centre started to take root.

The city was later taken over by 'Sihara dynasty'. What little I know of the dynasty, points that they originated from Southern part of the country and/or outskirts of present day Maharastra. So, South India has a claim on the city too.

Around 14th Century, the city went under islamic rule, the 'Gujurat Sultanate', with there base in Ahemedabad. During this period the Haji Ali mosque was built. So, Gujurati's have a claim on the city too.

Later, through a treaty, the city came under Portuguese rule & then under English rule. The economic & infrastructural development were the highlights of the city in 19th Century when it was under the British rule. We all our aware of the first railway line laid between Bombay & Thane. This was the period when the foundation of Bombay becoming a business hub was laid. Many business men from Kutch, Sind, Gujurat got attracted to the city. The reclaiming of land from the sea to join the seven island also happened during British rule. So, Britishers have a big role in making the city what it is today.

The presence of Maratha's is noted ONLY during the independence struggle.
Post independence too, Bombay was not part of Maharastra, it was an independent state named Bombay State.
The Government buckled under pressure & in 1960, Bombay became a part of Maharastra.

Considering this background of the city, how can ANYONE claim whom the city belongs to? The whole thing seems as ridiculous as saying that Delhi belongs to UP!
Infact, it would have made perfect sense had the city been left alone as a separate state/UT.

I love the city, it is one of the best place to stay in the country, let's not spoil that. But, is anyone listening?

Time Zones