When we talk about Mumbai, the first things that come to our mind are Bollywood, glamor, money and a never ending rush. The city that never sleeps carries with itself the pride of never taking a moment to stop and look, all in the name of ‘Spirit of Mumbai’. But what exactly is this spirit that drives the people of Mumbai to extreme levels of indignation just to survive.
This viral video captures the daily routine of thousands of Mumbaikars trying to catch a train to reach their destination. The shocking level of risk these people are taking just to get on board a train can scare anyone. But to the eyes of the people of Mumbai who have to live through this everyday, it seems normal. This is where the spirit of Mumbai comes into play. It has normalized such dangerous things as way of life and expects every newcomer to adjust accordingly rather than asking for better things.
Imagine leaving your home for work and waging a physical battle just so you could reach your destination. The thought seems absurd but that’s the reality in metropolises like Mumbai. The crippling and insufficient infrastructure of these cities have taken a huge toll on the living conditions of poor and middle class families.
This is not something new. This problem has persisted for a long time but the bigger problem has always been the denial of it. The city of dreams could no longer wrap adverse living conditions and serve it as the Mumbai way of life.
