After being in Mumbai (Mumbaikars would never agree that Navi Mumbai is a part of the Mumbai experience) for almost a year now, I have found some delightfully quirky habits of Mumbaikars. The first one of course is the constant reassurance they need that being Mumbaikar is a very prestigious matter.
I've realized that Mumbaikars have a huge need to be reassured that Mumbai and Navi Mumbai, although they share the same name (partly), would never converge to be one entity! It truly would probably never become one entity but there are glimpses of the Mumbai life in Navi Mumbai and considering they are across each other's borders, some of the life experiences have rubbed off into Navi Mumbai. While this is no reason to draw parallels, do not even for a moment or in passing, mention to a Mumbaikar that a person from Navi Mumbai is also a Mumbaikar. You will not hear the end of that argument. On a serious note, I understand the feeling because I do not appreciate the reference of a Kanndiga to a 'Madrasi'. . . you know, the whole story of 'fine feathers make only a fine fowl and not a peacock' :).
The second one that stood out for me was the wait at the railway station - Mumbaikars are very proud of their local train network, and they should be. Waiting at the railway station however is a very interesting pastime. You'll see more than half the crowd who are waiting for the train, leaning into the track to see if the train is arriving. I wonder if in their minds, the train is so tiny, that if they do not constantly keep checking, they could miss it?! Considering the number of people leaning out of the train and jumping off of it when it arrives, it is unimaginable to me that they'd miss the arrival.
The crowd management technique is unique to Mumbai - People are so used to maneuvering and hustling in a crowd that even when they find enough space to walk around others, they tend to bump into you! After a while, you go with the flow and bump into a few of them on your way!
I'm sure I will be acquainted with more fascinating habits in the days to come and I can't wait to get to know them! It is a part of the whole Mumbai experience! Oops. . . here I go again, calling my meager 'Navi Mumbai life' as the 'Mumbai experience' ;)
Note: Mumbaikar in this post is a simple reference to a person staying in Mumbai and in no terms does it refer to a person from any particular community.
I've realized that Mumbaikars have a huge need to be reassured that Mumbai and Navi Mumbai, although they share the same name (partly), would never converge to be one entity! It truly would probably never become one entity but there are glimpses of the Mumbai life in Navi Mumbai and considering they are across each other's borders, some of the life experiences have rubbed off into Navi Mumbai. While this is no reason to draw parallels, do not even for a moment or in passing, mention to a Mumbaikar that a person from Navi Mumbai is also a Mumbaikar. You will not hear the end of that argument. On a serious note, I understand the feeling because I do not appreciate the reference of a Kanndiga to a 'Madrasi'. . . you know, the whole story of 'fine feathers make only a fine fowl and not a peacock' :).
The second one that stood out for me was the wait at the railway station - Mumbaikars are very proud of their local train network, and they should be. Waiting at the railway station however is a very interesting pastime. You'll see more than half the crowd who are waiting for the train, leaning into the track to see if the train is arriving. I wonder if in their minds, the train is so tiny, that if they do not constantly keep checking, they could miss it?! Considering the number of people leaning out of the train and jumping off of it when it arrives, it is unimaginable to me that they'd miss the arrival.
The crowd management technique is unique to Mumbai - People are so used to maneuvering and hustling in a crowd that even when they find enough space to walk around others, they tend to bump into you! After a while, you go with the flow and bump into a few of them on your way!
I'm sure I will be acquainted with more fascinating habits in the days to come and I can't wait to get to know them! It is a part of the whole Mumbai experience! Oops. . . here I go again, calling my meager 'Navi Mumbai life' as the 'Mumbai experience' ;)
Note: Mumbaikar in this post is a simple reference to a person staying in Mumbai and in no terms does it refer to a person from any particular community.
