Mumbaikars down but never out

Bollywood seems to have a great impact on Mumbai''s leaders. This is because Bollywood is very much in Mumbai and leaders nowadays spend a great deal of time with filmstars at parties and functions.
A minister sharing a word or a joke with ''thanda matlab'' Aamir Khan or Shilpa Shetty at a cassette release function or a birthday bash of a sizzling star have become a regular Page 3 fixtures.
No wonder, the leaders, too, have started selling dreams to Mumbaikars, like the great dream merchants of Bollywood.
Singapore is passe, now Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee wants Mumbai to be better than Shanghai. When Sharad Pawar was the chief minister of Maharashtra, there had been a lot of talk of making Mumbai like Singapore. During Sushilkumar Shinde''s tenure, the focus has shifted to Shanghai.
This might just be possible. With several attractive high rise buildings, spanking new multiplexes and malls, newly-developed business areas like the Bandra Kurla complex and the opening of numerous international outlets like Pizza Hut, McDonanlds, Mumbai city adorns the Singapore-look.
But, what about the potholes, traffic congestions and vehicle pollution? What about slums and the filth? The indisciplined crowd and lack of civic sense? What about crime? Where do we stand in these parameters vis-a-vis Singapore?
And Shanghai? Following Vajpayee''s ambitious declaration, the Chinese city''s name will become the new buzzword. Soon everybody, from babus to babes, netas to abinetas, will start talking about making a Shanghai out of amchi Mumbai.
But the sad reality is Mumbai will not remain even Mumbai of today. A directionless government, inactive civic authorities, and an insensitive police force have led to rampant corruption and laxity among Mumbaikars.
Given the current situation, Mumbai is heading more the Patna way rather than becoming a better version of Shanghai.
The series of bomb blasts over last six months in the metro, including the Gateway of India and Mumbadevi temple blasts which claimed 52 lives, speak loudly about the collapsing law and order situation.
Power cuts were quite frequent till some months back. Mumbaikars always live under the tension of water scarcity. Even with a good monsoon and lakes supplying ample water to the metro, Mumbai faces a shortage of 100 million litres of water each day. And this figure will keep on growing with every new person coming to settle down here.
Hawkers have taken over roads in several areas and there are not enough space for people to walk or for vehicles to ply. Illegal hutments, which are supposed to be ''kuchha'' single story structures, have become ''pucca'' one-storyed structures at many places.
Suburban trains, Mumbai''s lifeline, carry four times their capacity.
This is just the trailer. The actual picture is much worse.
Will these change when Mumbai turns into an Indian Shanghai? Do our political leaders have will to change all this even at the cost of inviting the wrath of majority of voters? Mumbaikars have wizened up to such offerings from the political dream merchants and no longer take them seriously.
But Shanghai or no Shanghai, Mumbaikars continue live life enthusiastically despite all problems. And with the benevolent Lord Ganesha visiting the state, for 10 days Mumbaikars, nay Maharashtrians, will enjoy life king size.
There is no trace of fear of bomb blasts or the daily grind in the metropolis. Mumbaikars take time out to catch up on oft neglected relatives and friends, go puja pandal hopping throughout the day and most of the night and pray to Ganpati Bappa for a prosperous year ahead.
That''s the spirit of the die-hard Mumbaikars.