The Mumbai Vibe

The Mumbai Vibe is my personal struggle to express the sensation that this city is. Much like the city itself, I go through a commotion of emotions in my mind when I think of everything Mumbai is to me, and what it could be for my readers who are pretty much the bunch of friends who I forcibly get this blog read by. ('Know' your audience, they said.) My ma told me, when I was younger, every single time I would travel to Mumbai for summer break, I'd be dancing when we were an hour away from the town. Now I'm 20. And I'm still just as smitten, I can promise. Maybe because I was born there. Maybe because I am one of the several who can see past the busy traffic routes. Or maybe now, this city has taught me that I have an hour to get past traffic so I might as well be patient and enjoy listening to my favorite song on repeat. Maybe because I am one of the several who can see past the swift, uninterrupted life. Maybe I've just gotten used to the hustle-bustle. Or maybe now, this city has taught me how to find peace in the crowd, how to pause and reflect. Maybe because I am one of the several who can see past the the daily struggles of fighting for a place in the local train. Or maybe now, this city has taught me that it is a struggle to make yourself visible here at first, but once you do, there's always a little room for you. With a constant reminder from the lady behind you to keep moving ahead of course, or else you might miss the opportunity you set out for. The pictures I captured are a representation of the words on them, which are also what Mumbai is for me.

Fearless;

Moment it was captured: This picture is captured at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, in Colaba. The primary reason to associate the word 'fearless' with this particular picture is due to the fact that it was the location of the 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai. Rebuilt. Restructured. Resuscitated. It stands stronger than ever. Mumbai is fearless. Fearless because it refuses to tone down its spirit. Fearless because of its resilience to rise back up despite falling a 100 times. Fearless because of its people who stand together persistently as strong pillars, especially at the wake of misery.

Humane; Moment it was captured: A line of pigeons gathering in for their usual evening session to discuss how their day went. A crow comes along. Hesitant at first, the pigeons fly away. One after the other, they all come settle back in, beside and around the crow. Mumbai is humane. Compassion is the vibe in the air. The people may appear busy, but stop and ask for directions, or for any help whatsoever, a Mumbaikar very rarely chooses to go against that accommodating vibe.

Paradoxical; Moment it was captured: A mansion-like house, surrounded by tall walls and shut windows, almost as if to say you're not even worth peeking. The man looks up, as high as the vision of his future seems to be, looks back down at his bicycle, pats the seat and rides away with a determined smile on his face. He is a man with a plan.

Mumbai can be both a mother who attends to listen to you speak endlessly about your dreams, and a father who intervenes with a reality check. A realistic city of dreams, maybe?

Unapologetic; Moment it was captured: After a long rough day at the internship, and multiple rain mishaps, I finally managed to get a tile of a space at the edge of the local train. I started cursing the city, for its ungracious, harsh behavior. Just when I said "can it get any worse?", the train stopped functioning for about 15 odd minutes with me continuously jostling so I don't fall off. "I never saw a wild thing sorry for itself." Mumbai, with its raw, toughening lifestyle is just so. A carefree and unapologetic soul. A place where effort is result. A place with a no-bullshit policy. Thousands of people arrive, try to realize their dreams. Some succeed, some fail, some leave, but some stay forever. And it is for those some who stay forever, that Mumbai holds up this ego.

Smitten; Moment it was captured: It could literally be narrated as a minute long Bollywood love-story. She parked her bike, looked behind to leave enough space to help him park his. Not enough space, the tyres stroked past each other and stayed that way. So did their hands. Mumbai, much like the bicycles in the picture and all the pre-existing Bollywood magic, is smitten with love. I mean, look at those pink flowers just laid out to match the setting. Mumbai falls for you, when you need it to.

Safe to admit, I will forever be in love with 'The Mumbai Vibe.' -Manal Bole