There were great times open fields where we could play cricket matches
Movie tickets were Rs. 2 Fewer cars no rickshaws only taxis and walking was fun.
Andheri was really far away suburb.
Now people tell me that India is doing great I wanted to see it first hand.
As plane landed in the night, Still a huge crowed at the airport but still not so bad. Took taxi to go home in Andheri. Great hotels next to the airport Not bad at all. Taxi stopped at a traffic light and I saw an old man sitting out of what seemed like a small one room house in the middle of that hot sweaty night. And I could see at least 5-6 more people sleeping inside. No electricity, light was from a candle. They were sleeping in the middle of all that chaos of noise, fumes and dirt. Old man looked resigned not even sad. This was at 2 Am.
And I thought somewhere on the road to progress many more (read millions and millions) have been thrown out of these exists of poverty. It seemed worse than when I grew up.
I saw many more things in that visit to convince me that we are not there yet but worse we could be going backwards for majority.
RE:Exits on the road of progress
by vernon lopez on Jun 27, 2007 10:35 PM Permalink
It is absolutely true about the vast open fields in Andheri( E) & vast open march land in the West till about 10 yrs ago. Today the East is Prime location for Hotels, businesses & residential buildings. This attracts seasonal migrant labourers from outside the city who work in construction sites & day labourers many choosing to live this way to save money & send to their families. True, many have little choice but with no city / municipal laws to prevent such a situation it will not stop.
RE:Exits on the road of progress
by kishan kakarla on Jun 27, 2007 10:01 PM Permalink
Good post.. You mentioned that you had lot of playgrounds in mumbai when u were young. I want to know what happened to those. I am from a city in Andhra and we too used to have similar spacious grounds which disappeared completely when I visited that place last time. It was very sad...
RE:RE:Exits on the road of progress
by No Returns on Jun 28, 2007 12:52 AM Permalink
As Vernon has posted East is taken over by the industry and Hotels.
In Andheri West today, there are just buildings and buildings everywhere. We used to play where Juhu Scheme ends and now that is completely gone. Only buildings reamin from JVPD to Lokhandwala to 7 bungalows. The land where there are no buildings are taken over by slums.
I feel when we enter Mumbai we enter in our own cocoon of Air-conditioned cars and apartments. Our only window to outside world is the TV. This window has shut down our minds and the windows to the reality.
But not long ago we used to travel hanging out of an almost empty Churchgate Andheri train with that cool breeze on a warm days watching the beautiful sea side and some fields. Walk around chaurchgate in a farily nice air. Visit the summer fair in cross maidan.
Take a double-decker bus ride in the front seat and the bus would really ride not crawl.
RE:Exits on the road of progress
by Ram Sharma on Jul 05, 2007 06:04 PM Permalink
dear no return
development is measured by gnp, which is wrong. it should b measured by happiness of the people. in the name of materialistic development, we r destroying our ecology and increasing global warming, though it does not increase happiness. your own observation also points to same conclusion.
now a days there is too much stress on money. people think that if they have lot of wealth, they will b happier. but it is not true. the proof is that ambani brothers r not on talking terms despite huge amount of money they have.
intelligent people must find some alternative to the present method of development and measure of development.
