An
open letter to Mr. Nandy
This
is in response to your blog ‘’Why I love Mumbai’’ posted on the TOI dated 11th
June 2012
Sir,
Your blog on the city of Mumbai was delightfully
humorous and entertaining. However, an entertaining/humorous article may or may
not be factually correct. As a 25 year
old, born and brought up in Mumbai, your blog forced me to introspect on the
various points raised by you.
1. I
assume your blog has been written in the wake of pub raids conducted by ACP
Dhoble. I also understand there has been lot of criticism of Mr Dhoble from all
quarters of Bollywood and so-called ‘party’ animals. Sir, all the outcry over him in media, leads
to a conclusion that Mr Dhoble has done something illegal and the patrons of
the pubs are made victims. The truth cannot be much far from it. He was just following
the rules laid down by the law. The rule says only 166 people per 1000 sq.feet
is allowed, and he was just making sure that the rule is being implemented. I agree that this archaic 1960 rule has to be
changed, but for that you have target the lawmakers and not people like Dhoble.
Forget about pubs in Mumbai, we Indians are governed by outdated British laws
be it criminal code or personal code. Never did I found any outcry over these
laws as I witness now over pubs.
2.
Sir, much of the points you have raised
are correct and are worthy of discussion. However, certain points though fundamentally
right cannot be blamed on the city of Mumbai. For e.g you talked about taxes,
what fault did Mumbai do if the central or state governments are levying high taxes?
3.
Mr. Nandy you talked about banning Satanic Verses and art of the ‘city’s greatest son’ MF Hussain. Again, what is
Mumbai’s fault if the government bans both all over the country? Sir, I have a big
objection of Hussain being called the city’s greatest son. Who decided that a citizen
of Qatar who has offended the religious sentiments of majority of population of
Mumbai is the city’s ‘’greatest son’’?? If you think I am one of those
right-wing fanatics, do me a favour sir, and just take a poll across the city
as ask how many of them feel Hussain is Mumbai’s greatest son.
The
recent municipal elections of Mumbai show that so-called ‘high class’ people of
Mumbai don’t go and vote in large numbers. Sir, my point is simple, let them
first go and vote and change the lawmakers. There is no point in targeting the messenger
which in this case is ACP Dhoble.
Sir,
in your blog, I could not find even one single positive trait in Mumbai. This
cannot be true. The city that has given you and millions others so much has to
have something in her. For every negative trait you pointed out, I could two
positive traits of Mumbai.
Wishing
you all the success in your future endeavors.
Yours faithfully,
A proud Mumbaikar
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