The Rich Are No Longer Isolated From Realities of India
There isn't a place that I frequent when I go back home that hasn't been hit by the 10 attacks that began late Wednesday at India's commercial capital that targeted premier landmark establishments of the city I grew up in and the city I long to go back to.
I was looking forward to flying back home to Mumbai for winter break from school here in Los Angeles as I do every year. I was looking forward to going back to my home opposite The Oberoi Hotel in Nariman Point. I was looking forward to catching up with the Bollywood film releases at the Metro cinema. I was looking forward to meeting my high school friends over peanuts and a pint of Kingfisher at Café Leopold and most of all I was looking forward to making the incredibly tough decision between the scrumptious sushi at Wasabi and the sinful date pancakes at the Golden Dragon restaurant at the Taj Mahal Hotel; a decision that perplexes me every weekend I spend back home in Mumbai.
Neither Mumbai nor I, as a Mumbaikar, is a stranger to terrorism. Many of us have just grown accustomed to living in it whether it be the bomb blasts in 1992 or those aboard Mumbai's local trains in June 2006. But after these 10 attacks that began Wednesday night, the city that never sleeps has fallen to its knees.
No matter what chaos erupts on the streets of Mumbai or the rest of the country the Taj and the Oberoi are places that we would go to be isolated from it all. These hotels are like The Waldorf Astoria in New York or the Ritz in Paris: they never close their doors and are always bustling. They function smoothly and mysteriously through bomb blasts in neighboring buildings, fires, bomb scares, disastrous floods and storms. But these, they couldn't withstand.
Nariman Point, where the Oberoi stands tall, is the financial hub of India's commercial capital. It's where the largest multinationals have their Indian offices and the biggest corporate honchos do business. The hotel is one of the oldest and tallest buildings in the city, a defining image of the affluence of South Mumbai and among the most expensive real estate in the world. It's a place well guarded - where the city's "never-say-die" attitude resounds.
The Taj Mahal hotel has housed every major celebrity including The Beatles, Bill Clinton and Prince Charles. A patriot founded one of the city's most famous landmarks, the Taj Mahal, in 1903 as a revolt to the British who disallowed Indians to enter luxury hotels in India. It is a symbol of Indian hospitality with a remarkable 100-year-old architecture that continues to crumble in the fire. The Taj Mahal Hotels represent the elite Indian, a place of affluence and exclusivity yet familiar to all.
I am saddened by the death of my high school biology teacher Mrs. Randhawa at the Taj Hotel. She got seperated from her husband who hid from gunmen behind a pillar for three hours. Helpless, he could only presume his wife died in the gunfire.
And as my mother calls me shaken and afraid with sights of victims, hostages and blood on the road between my home and the Oberoi and as friends and family call to share their stores; how they escaped or how they are concerned for their loved ones who haven't, a small part of me is happy that the rich are no longer isolated from the realities of India. On December 12, when I land back in Mumbai, I hope to see a change, a renewed sense involvement and empathy for the vast majority of the country that live in the fear and horror of terrorism.
Not only have these attacks caught the attention of the flagbearers of the nation but they have involved and consumed them. The carelessness and disinterest with the rest of the population's concerns that often went disguised as the city's brave spirit will no longer hold. People say we will come out stronger and more resilient. This time, when I go back home, I hope we grow weaker. Because that's what it will take for the city's affluent to unite with the rest of the city. Maybe now India's millions of voiceless victims will be heard.
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International terrorism has learned a very profound lesson - it only takes a few people to wreck havoc on an economy. Look at the trillions of dollars lost in the markets post 9/11. Look at the huge drop in Mexican tourism with the rise of kidnappings and drug murders. Now watch as the life-blood of the Indian economy, outside companies contacting for Indian technical services, crumbles. My plans to visit Mumbai on behalf of a client looking to contract with an Indian company to manufacture pharmaceuticals has been, at best, put on hold. I have friends scrambling to return to the US from Mumbai, Goa, Pune and other areas where they were doing high-tech business.
I have enjoyed my visits to India and have become very familiar with the diverse culture and the potential of the people there. Yes, I have seen shocking poverty and feel there should be more shame expressed for the deplorable conditions so many are forced to live in. However, I have also seen, first hand, the engine that was driving the rise of Indian middle class. I am so afraid that machine will be shut down due to the evil works of a few religious fanatics.
The Indian regular police is pathetic, keystone cops. They were present in troves in Mumbai's train station and none shot back. The journalist who took the 2 pictures there asked them to shoot, but they cowered among the crowd and didn't.
They are poorly trained, sport old, rusted pistols, look in pretty back physical shape often. This is the same police that in India is quick to accept bribes, take money from foreigners, scheme visitors at the airports. Don't tell me is not true, I have experienced this several times myself.
I hope these policemen in question are at least fired, discharged from the force dishonorably. On the contrary, the commandos behaved bravely, and should be commended.
In the US or Israel, these terrorists would not have lasted long.
pls do not make this about poverty ,they are the only minorities who do not care much about education which is free in India ,the moderate muslims who do get an education work well & live peacefully ,these are just losers who need an excuse to become shahid (matyrs)...
from all minorities check how many do badly in India ,we have Parsis & Khojas (shia Muslims) who escaped perscution in Persia ,Christians ,Jews ....all do well ....stop collecting pity for such idiots ...
do you know how badly infomed the are about world affairs ,always a victim ...
My bro in law ( I am married to a moderate muslim ) who dropped out of college for no reason ,walked in one day when I was visiting my in laws with a paper about albanian muslims & their plight...I was just thinking what a loser ,he cannot see his career but he want to think about some bro in some distant place
BTW we are doing well here ,while he is struggling back home ....what a nut ...
if you waste your opportunities in life you cannot blame the world .or that the world is not fair to you
I am an Indian chrsitian ...love my country ,love my USA too
Dude , Tell Your Mom to Leave Now , things could get Worse .
There's a lesson here for the rich and the wealthy (see Chris Rock to understand the difference) in the U.S. In no way am I justifying violence against anyone, but it is important to understand that extremely bad economic conditions - especially when there is well-justified perception of unfairness - grease the path to political extremism and violence.
if you keep all comments from people from Mumbai pending then this discussions is pointless
a better insight of the region is a must ..
Mumbai is like NY it is a city built by Immigrants ...it takes time to make it in mumbai ...my parents hard work made me successful enough to do well in Mumbai & US ....what you see are people who have moved from all over the country for work in a big city ....Mumbai is not a cruel place to be ...it is a fast life ...ask anyone who has lived there ....I travelled by train every day just to get a feel of that life although I could have easily worked in fly business or in suburbs ,but I wanted to see south Mumbai & started my career in The Oberoi tower .....what a sad time.....so many people earn their livelihood in the service industry ...this time of the year we would be busy with guest from US ,UK & Europe ...which ,meant more employment & more tips :)
this season there will be a lull ....
But it is a city that will come back stronger
pls give mumbai a chance ,it will take time to build a great city ...now the citizens can demand more security for the city ,most money that is collected in taxes (which is a lot ) is used for pet pork projects by ministers for their states /towns ,sadly the average mubaikar works too hard lives with hardships and complains little ....time to change that ....
I have ask my siblings to start talks of a basic level making their votes count whe elections comes ...maybe it will take time but good to start now ...
Politicians are alike in any country ....need to stop their greed ...
The stark contrast you see in cities like Mumbai are due to the large immigrant populations who put up tents near railway tracks ,my parents were immigrants from Goa too ...it takes a generation to settle in Mumbai ,my parents worked hard so we could all get an education .When I was training at the Oberoi's I visited such an immigants place in a shanty far from the hotel ...they were happy & positive and were so proud of what they had achieved ,their 2 kids were doing well in school .I was visiting to buy some saris from his wife who made a little money for her fly ....there is Good in Mumbai pls believe me ...my sis works for Brits she has started a blood drive in her office ,my young bro works for US company has started talks of taking basic provisions to fly whose relatives are victims .
I have promised to help out with cash .....it takes time to build a great city ,we shall overcome all this
All Mumbaikars pls help by contacting your relatives in Mumbai & pls pls help directly or thru known org only ...do not hate all muslims ...their aim is too divide us ...do not let them win pls
To mommamia526,
Are you for real ...muslims isolate themselve due to religious beliefs .it is never a case of minorities & Hindu majority...I am a Indian Christian ...2% of the billion population ....lived in Mumbai all my life
Muslims who are educated (remember eduaction is free ) and get along have a brighter future while does who follow strict codes & live in their own worlds face problems ...Also most people take work seriously so do not pity the laundry washer in India he lives peacfully and tries to earn a decent wage to bring up his fly ...My dad use to sell food on beaches ,blow glass give tutions to support us,today he has 3 stores in Mumbai ,5 kids who are all doing well
It is time moderate Muslims speak out .....the radicals are taking over their religion ...I have asked so many of my colleagues after the 1993 serial blast in Mumbai,they are too afraid ....I help the fly's affected by the blast hope & pray sensibility & love prevails in Mumbai ...we are trying to organise blood drives & collect money to buy suppplies of affected flys thru our contacts in Mumbai ...also contacted my Catholic church in Mumbai so I could donate ...pls pray ...the BPO industry does pay high income tax which goes to build a lot of infrastructure in rural India ,I know so as my 4 siblings work for US & British companies in Mumbai ,plus all 4 along with my Dad
Nommcain's sense of the world must be going to epcot on holiday ...there are too many Americans & Brits in India who simply love to travel...travel entails risks.....a lot of europeans in coastal cities too ,My beach property is rented to a german couple in Goa ...very nice people ...I admire people who take the trouble to understand people of other cultures ...so many times I have cooked for foreigners ,shared a table or newspaper at a local tea house ....a good experience ....Mumbai is more than a commercial capital of India ,it is an emerging intl city where all people come for different reasons .And I pray that never changes ...shame on you for your comments ...the staff at both hotels shielded foreigners and helped them out risking their own lives ...can you not admit that there a few bad people and a lot of good people too
To Nomcain
The money you spend at a luxry hotel in India does feed a fly or two ,with dignity ...I trained /worked at the Oberoi in mumbai ..it helped pay for my college fees and gave me a good start in my career ...knowing 1st hand that most of the staff worked to feed educate their flys it is a very ignorant statement to think that no one benefits from the service industry ...and about your comments about americans going to THESE type of countries ...these countries have more than just business deals ...stop labelling India like some terrorist country .we are struggling just like any other country did before overcoming poverty etc ....we got independence just about 60 some yrs ago..
I have asked my siblings who work for your outsourced companies to arrange for blood drives & collect neccessities for victims flys ...that is better than just hoping for things to happen or criticize someone's country ....if the rich join in ...it would be great ..
My dad is a contracter for mumbai police so when things are a bit quiter we will see if we could arrange for better body armour thru donations from the rich Indian American community here
BTW we did donate cash & blood for 9/11 too...
Do something ...
.Globalization is a wonderful thing -.- as the rich unite to bring it into being so does the level of terrorism.....Is it the scales of justice balancing themselves ?.? Globalization is against the working classes, removing protected jobs to the money of CHEAP. In it's wake it destroys QUALITY....
..You may not apply for a job you are un worthy...
..Your loan was turned down / your credit limit lowered / your car insurance was just raised because you aren't smart enough, no college education, no degree.. bad work record....
.
..While the rich continue to look down upon the poorer people with contempt -.- " the queen of mean "said only the poor pay taxes the rich write them off"....-.- Mayor Mike Bloomberg - Billionaire New York City Said " you can not tax the rich - they will leave -.- while giving Wall Street every tax break it asks for because it would leave"...............
.
..You Stir The Pot Of Dis-Content -.- and ask why people are un-happy.........
"A small part of me is happy that the rich are no longer isolated from the realities of India." and "When I go back home, I hope we grow weaker. Because that's what it will take for the city's affluent to unite..."
These statements really turned me off because they have the echoes of a similar satisfaction that Al-Qaeda and others displayed with the destruction of the symbols of wealth and affluence in the US.....the two towers of the World Trade Center.
Sorry, Mr. Goenka, I'll give you the benefit of the doubt.... but there are other ways of getting the attention of a societal group without bombs, guns, and terror.
Only someone very young would hope their country is weakened by these terrorist acts! I simply will not agree with you, sir. India is being led into the 21st century by the continued ascendance of its upper and middle classes. These classes have put millions of Indians to work in their businesses and continue to do so. The very fact you are being educated in the US tells me you come from people who can afford to send you here. In all probability, you will return to your country and help advance its businesses through the education you received here. The fact that the partition of India allowed the Muslim sectarian violence to grow and prosper has been a problem since the partition and it is one that both the Indian and Pakistani governments have done little to address in an appropriate way. What you missed in your column is that your education and the furthered education of all Indians can go a long way to address the sectarian problems in India. You cannot build your happiness and your future on the unhappiness and the past of those who came before you. Look for ways to help your country, rather than denigrating those who are trying to advance it.
spoken like a true capitalist
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