Why Mumbai is the actual heartbeat of India.
Mumbai is an irony. It’s the city of dreams and the one that never sleeps. While many complain about its fast pace, the hustle keeps us going — enough to call it home.
I call Mumbai a shield. Neither the raging floods nor the gunshots (26/11) could mar Mumbai. This city has made us so strong that whatever the catastrophe, Mumbaikars will always show up at our work the next day.
I first came to this city as a little girl who only had Bangalore in her heart. This city puzzled me. The way people were willing to go so far for work — from being stuck in massive traffic to traveling in a cramped manner in the local trains, I failed to understand the charm people had for this city.
Back in the day, what my father said really struck me: “Mumbai is roughly 60% slum residents”. Slums are the lifeline of Mumbai, much like its rail line.
Today, despite the deteriorating quality of life, Dharavi (most known for the film Slumdog Millionaire) is the hub of innovation. Dharavi has the highest population density globally. Dharavi has become a unique economy with about 10,000 skilled artisans from diverse backgrounds and thousands of factories. The largest industry here is recycling waste. Notable mentions are the garment industry and the tannery.
The city operates on its services in almost every aspect, yet it is forced to live in cramped quarters with an average living space of just 86 square feet. The spotlight is genuinely taken away from those deserving.
I must also mention the privilege of living in such a culturally diverse city. Mumbai has been home to various communities and religious groups over the years, who have built Mumbai into what it is today—comprising the Kolis (fisherman communities), the largest Parsi colony globally, the largest Jew community in India, and many others. Mumbai is a heterogeneous society where people continue to coexist in harmony.
Mumbai architecture portrays this as an amalgamation of its diversity, past, and what it hopes to be.
Coming from a very food-passionate family, living in Mumbai is an absolute dream. Before COVID, visiting a new Mumbai eatery every week was a tradition. And now it’s been replaced with occasional 11 p.m. late-night drives to South Bombay. I am that friend who tells people where to eat. We gorge on Malwani, Bengali, Parsi, Rajasthani, and other cuisines. We have a few of our all-time favorites, which I must mention.
- Chetana and Shree Thaker Bhojanalay to savour authentic thalis
- Jai Hind and Trishna for everything seafood
- Cafe Leopold, Cafe Mondegar, and Kyani and Co. for some iconic Parsi food
- J . Hearsch for burgers and patties
- Govinda in ISKCON for Jain food
- Tanjore Tiffin Room for delectable Tamil and South Indian food
- Gulati’s and Prashant Sweet Corner for Indian Sweets
- K . Rustoms’s for some exceptional ice cream
As a family, we have our very own version of a Mumbai Darshan, and no matter how many times we go along the same route (each time with someone new), my fascination never ceases; it always takes me back to the first time I saw Mumbai in all its actuality; it was a sight to behold.
Mumbai is wise; it teaches perseverance and hard work. Only the brave can dare to dream; Mumbai gives those dreams the wings to soar above.
And when you think about it, that defines India in a nutshell. We are people with perseverance who, despite hailing from different cultures, come together to dream and to fly. Mumbai might seem like a place with no set culture, and I feel that’s the beauty of it all. Because here, the people are what makes this place — home.
Mumbai is truly home, a place closest to my heart. And as the years go by, this city will always be a part of me wherever I go.
