Sadda Haq...Aithe Rakh

Marzi se jeene ki bhi main 

Kya tum sabko main arzi doon 

Matlab ki tum sabka mujhpe 

Mujhse bhi zyada haq hai 

Sadda haq, Aithe Rakh 

Sadda Haq..Aithe Rakh

These are a few lines from the song that is currently topping the charts. The beauty of this song is a rebellious attitude with lyrics to boot - it’s a quintessential Rahman number (need to listen to it more than a few times to start loving it). 

In this current state of dichotomy that our country is going through, this song goes much beyond a mere item on a playlist. The dichotomy exists here because India is doing well in terms of economic & trade activity, meeting GDP growth targets and is touted to be the next super power. On the other hand, there are grave issues like the social disparity, illiteracy and corruption plaguing us bitterly. 

This is how the youth of this nation thinks about our present state and the song portrays our chagrin perfectly. The song also reminds us of our Haq: our rights that we have by virtue of being a taxpayer; by virtue of being part of the mandate that elects the government. By virtue of being the civil society! 

What we least expect – the first thing in the morning newspaper - is to read about millions of our money swindled away right underneath us and all we can do is feel as helpless as a poor semi-celeb judging a reality show alongside Navjot Sidhu. We toil hard, curb on our luxuries and read every article with the words ‘savings’ or ‘investments’ in it - hoping to save money. And where does this money end up? In acquiring a flat in some scheme meant for widows of ex-army men; not for us but for babus who are supposed to be the protectors of our money. What an Adarsh we set! 

Who am I to whine about all this?

Once Upon a Time in Mumbai

“These rains won’t last long!” remarked the senile old man sitting beside me in a BEST bus on a rainy and thundery afternoon. “With all the deforestation and urbanization around, it won’t be long when the rains will desert us” he continued. I glanced outside the window and caught a glimpse of the mountain ranges that seemed to have picked up a few tricks from the Mumbai fashion gals and were sporting a size-zero look these days. I got lost in my thoughts...remembered my Class VI geography....’Mountains cause a reduction in the surface winds carrying rains and hence cause precipitation’. I could visualize the old man smirk and say “Elementary my dear Watson!”

If there are two things that catch the attention of new entrants to this city and leave them dumbfounded it’s the “Pace of the city” and “Mumbai monsoons”. What if the old man’s prophecy comes true?? Well considering the incessant rain we’ve received this season this is far from reality! However, right from the Dinosaurs to honest politicians...there are a lot of things that have become extinct in this country and city. But never thought the famous Mumbai-downpour could end up in someone’s to-be-extinct list. This triggered my mind to think of other things that Mumbai might be soon deprived of.

Here’s what I think will be things-of-the-past for good in Mumbai...