The Battle of the Metros

So whats your fav....Delhi or Mumbai?

I think I have experienced Delhi in so many ways that I can be bestowed with a Dilliphile tag. Oh yeah its left me thirsting for more.

As for Mumbai well my experience has been limited.....I find it intreguing....bindass.....and home to the delicious vada pav. Sorry correction, I used to find it the aforementioned xyz.

So have I changed my mind?

Nope.

Its just that thinking about the city now has become a painful experience.

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Blame it on some of its residents.

No not the Mumbaikers which Bal Thakeray talks about but, the immigrants who moved there with scholarly or professional aspirations, whom he hates. And who now see themselves as more Mumbaiya than anyone else. Its starts with the casual but customary, "there is no place like Mumbai, its in a league of its own." K Dude, think that can be said for all the metros of this great land which do possess besides other virtues their own distinct identity. But no "Bombay" is like a different planet. It is like the New York of India (a sentiment expressed by both natural born Mumbaikers and the noveou Mumbaiya). Ok this is a little confusing. Anyways, ok however confusing, being proud of the place you live in is no crime.

But alas! this pride carries along a supercilious tinge (note: Mumbaiya noveu held guilty).

And then it begins.....

"Delhi main woh bombay waali baat nahin hai."
Before you can quite understand where this came from or is headed, a series of attacks are hurled at you.
Bombay/Mumbai has xyz, n xyz n xyz .....blah blah. Bombay has the sea.
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So? whats the point....Mumbai has a sea and Delhi doesn't.....so it becomes inferior???
Well as far as I know Mumbai beaches are nowhere near Kerelaz or Orrisaz. And besides just in case you didn't notice, a different city in a different geographical locations will be geographically different. And besides others it is this difference that makes India so diverse

The second major accusation (oh yeah that is what it can be called done as it is in the usually in the same vein as Karan Thapars heated interview with Ram Jhetmalani http://www.ibnlive.com/news/devils-advocate-ram-jethmalani/26553-3.html) Delhi has no nightlife.
Forget stuff like Noida's Elevate being the largest disc in S. Asia. What you really want to say is that Delhi lacks a party scene. You are right. its not like Delhiites don't jive but, Page3 culture here rings alive with Book launches, Art exhibitions, theatre performances, lectures, classical performances, world music/international lesser known artists performing. Yeah so you see we do party but sometimes this city gets busy doing other things. Baah! but who needs variety and culture right??

Wrong. Next volley. Mumbai is cosmopolitan in the true sense of the word, people from all across the country and the world inhabit it. Sure its one hell of a melting pot. But honey I know that gk is not exactly your strong point cuz else you would know that if you are trying to compete with Delhi's cultural composition you are just preparing to lose.

International.......well the city is home to embassies and hence diplomats from across the globe. And with many of them having their cultural centers or cultural progs here.....the mood here is truly cosmopolitan. And ofcorse if you talk about the country's citizens.....who are definitely more important.......if DU's cultural composition is not enough......try Dilli Haat which brings cultures of 28 states in one place. And who can forget Jantar Mantar which brings protesters from across the country to display the spirit of democracy. So darling, this makes it a crunchy salad bowl. Not only does it make place for people from other places but their culture as well.

Hmm the Mumbaiya is now angry....or in the spirit of the cool city he/she is annoyed.
What is more I forward this link ( http://www.livemint.com/2007/09/15011904/Delhi8217s-Belly--New-love.html) saying this is quite like what I feel and I can see fumes emerging. A defence is being put into place. "This is just stupid, you don't know, you have not experienced the place, you are an ignorant fool. Delhi is nothing in comparison to Mumbai."

That is a defence!!! Makes me wonder if the person has suddenly turned into a spoilt 5 year old who has just had a fight. Oh cummon honey I can handle maturity. Don't sulk.

But it is no use. You have been termed an ignorant fool in this persons head. One who talks about sundry poets like Ghalib having lived here. As if that matters at all.....huh.

Well, what can I say after suffering numerous of this variety this blog was but a natural outburst. Its not an attempt to run down Mumbai, which certainly has its glories worth lauding, but the attitude of the people who are the subject of this post cause like the Mithi river, it stinks.