76 - FIRE . . .

Builders advertise a very rosy picture for flats to be sold.  The first page of newspapers flaunt exciting images and lucrative offers.

 Hiranandani builders, Thane,  offer 'an address that's lively, convenient and desirable'.   With tennis courts, tree lined avenues, landscaped gardens and an exclusive gymnasium in the building premises.

The Regency Group, Titwala,  promises 'your dream home with lakhs of savings'.  No GST, no stamp duty and no registration.  Besides these promises, they boast of having won various awards, the affordabloe segment by CNBC, environment friendly award,  Times realty award for affordable homes, etc.

RNA builders,Mira road, boast about children's play area, senior citizen garden, 24x7  cctv surveillance, etc.

Rustomjee Thane, advertises that it offers a balcony,a squash court, tennis court, mini theatre, swimming pool, mini golf, party hall, spa, tree surfing, yoga hall etc.

Ekta builders, Goregaon, has a full page ad that  says 'an address that will make your life  luxurious'.
They will give buyers an experience designed by Holyfield gymn, with international equipment, coupled with the finest luxuries and comforts to let you live healthy for your lifetime.  No hidden costs, no club charges, no infra charges, no outgoings.

The Ozone Group, Dadar, has advertised that they are selling lavish homes.  And that 'thank god, money can buy heaven.'  A concierge, a podium, zero bricks, crack free construction, fire safety ducts and a fire lift.

These are a few details of only the full page ads that appear in newspapers.  Besides there are countless offers of flats for sale and hire.  But yet, none are promising  that the premises has a foolproof fire fighting system, except one project that promises 'fire safety ducts'.  But nothing about the wiring, whether it is heavy duty copper or cheap aluminium.  No mention of the trip switches or the fuse box or the common electrical room precautions mentioned at all.

As a layperson, I do not comprehend a few of the items mentioned.  What is a 'dry fountain'??, no outgoing??,  infra charges??,  tree surfing??,  a dedicated fire lift??

There are so many things that can cause a fire, and a multi storey is a death trap, no matter how careful everyone is, because the residents overlook many risks that can lead to a fire.

1)  The wiring in flats is usually cheap aluminuim wiring, and it needs to be replaced with copper electrical wiring.
2)  Trip switches should match the gadgets installed in each house.
3)  The main fuse in the common metre room should also match the number of gadgets installed in each house.
4)  Servants should be trained as to how to handle electrical gadgets like irons,  geysers, ovens, chargers, ACs and also the gas of the cooking range.
5)  Children should be made aware of the dangers of misusing power for video games, mobile chargers etc.
6)  When new gadgets like a washing machine, or a fridge, or an oven are installed, the owner should make sure that the the plug point is matching.
7)  Rats are a major concern because they chew wires of electrical gadgets and that leads to short circuits and fire.

 Once when we had bought a new Godrej fridge, it was installed with a small size three pin plug.  Within two days of use, we noticed smoke and flames ensuing from the plug point and had to take steps to put off the fire,  and thank God we were just leaving the house to go out for a walk, when we noticed the flames.  The company was unapologetic and just replaced the plug with a bigger one of higher ampere.  The plug point that had burnt off had to be repaired at our own cost.

I recall that there was a dysfunctional geyser in the flat when I came to the house as a new bride and I decided to replace it and get it functional.  The shops are freely selling the gadgets one needs but there is no way that I can hire an electrician who is well trained.  I was directed to ask around for a plumber or an electrician among the squatters on the footpath at Nana Chowk or Tardeo.  How was I to ascertain the credentials or expertise of persons that squat on a footpath, waiting for odd jobs?  Some of them look so poor, with tattered clothes.  Anyway, one person came home and fixed the geyser.  The next day when I switched it on, there was smoke where the wire was joined to the main line.  The man returned and put in place a porcelain connector, which worked for a few days and then it also started smoking.  It was a horrifying experience, and I would just wait for the water to be heated by the afternoon sunlight, instead of using the geyser.  Many years later, the entire aluminium wiring of the house was replaced with copper wires and then the geyser too worked safely.  But most of the flats in the building still have aluminuim wiring.

Another time, I dropped the electrical iron and after a few days, there was a minor blast in it and smoke billowed from it, giving me  a fright.  But I switched off the mains and saved the situation.

At a certain workplace the AC went up in flames all of a sudden and it was later discovered that the rats had chewed the inner wiring causing a short circuit and so the flames.  And it happened twice, in different rooms at this workplace.

Recently, an article in a newspaper outlined the precautions that should be taken for the electrical wiring of highrises, by Mr.KKK Nair, an electrical expert.  But where is an expert when we want to install an AC or a washing machine, or even an oven?   The company offers 'free installation' and thats it.  The follow up for any problems have to be handled by others,  whose expertise we have no means of checking.

All schools teach about electricity at the senior levels, but there is no practical knowledge given.  It should be a compulsory subject in all schools, and every student should be trained in simple awareness about electricity gadgets, how to change a bulb, how wiring affects the electrical charges, how electricity is dangerous, how it can lead to shocks or a fire etc.

At bus stops, the advertisements have generators installed to supply power to the lighting at night.  I have warned children not to hug the pillars that support the electrical wiring, even when they are with their parents, who are quite oblivious of the dangers that  that can cause.  The worst aspect of electricity is that it cannot be seen, only felt.

Electrical giants like Kirloskar, Bajaj, Crompton Greaves, HBL, Emco, Havels, BHEL, Siemens, and service providers like Reliance, Tata, BEST, and retailers like Croma, Vijay sales, Kohinoor, Godrej, should all make it a point to educate students and hold camps at crowded slums, and housing societies, to educate people about wiring, amperes, short circuits, fuses, trip switches, etc.

I visit schools during any function like an interschool competition, sport's day  or a prize day or even any wedding and am appalled to see how fans and lights and speakers are installed with the naked wires poked into the plug points, without any earthing wire or plug.  The temporary connections are dealt with by contractors and so no one bothers to interfere,

It is the duty of the concerned principals and administrators, who hire them and pay them,  to be aware of these minor problems that could lead to a major accident.  But who will bell the cat??

66 - IF I COULD, I WOULD . . .

There are a few things that I would like to achieve just by waving a magical wand.  Or even by using the help of the genie of Alladin's magic lamp.  Needless to say that I shall only mention the positive thoughts, because I do have negative wishes too, and would not hesitate to use the wand to get revenge too.

Here are a few things that I would change with a magic wand, in random order.

Walking along or travelling in Mumbai, I hate to see the air conditioners popping out of buildings, because they look ugly and they drip too.  So I would make them very tiny and yet effective, and not an eyesore anymore.

Footpaths with two wheelers on them is one of the biggest problems that pedestrians face in Mumbai.  I wish I could just wave my wand and make them disappear completely.

Visiting any public toilet is a real torture, as they are so unclean, or without basic water or a wash basin, and even the door does not latch or is broken.  I would wave my magical wand and turn the toilets into the most beautiful ones that I had seen in Paris, with perfume and music and clean tiles and mirrors and lots of soap and toilet paper.

Anyone who walks anywhere in Mumbai has to deal with illegally parked cars, on footpaths or on the road.  But the worst part of this is that the drivers are sleeping inside, with their feet popping out of the driver's window.  These tired souls would get a gentle pedicure with my magical wand.  At least then I would be assured of not having to witness dirty soles and soiled, uncut toe nails.

In Pune, there are many footpath stalls, with vendors selling scarves and purses and tee shirts and junk jewelry and footwear and artificial flowers and toys and foodstuffs like corn bhel, kulfi,etc.  All this commerce has a collateral of refuse, which is discarded along the footpath.  At one place, on M G Road in the camp area, the hawkers have stuffed the paper and plastic rubbish into the space between the tree trunk and an enclosed wire meshing around it.  the meshing is very closely hugging the tree trunk and upto two  metres high. which is now filled with the wrappings.  Mr. Adar Poonawala's cleaners would need to put their vacuum suction pipes to good use, but they have not, so I would use my magical wand to clear the garbage and make the vendors disappear too.

At any traffic, sometimes pedestrians just run across at the wrong time, and sometimes the traffic, mainly two wheelers do not stop when they have to.  My wand would then do the needful to restrain both, unless the traffic police have switched off the signals, then all are entitled to do whatever they need to.

Travelling in the train, locally or out of Mumbai, when passengers are throwing trash out of the window, I would let a dustbin catch the thrash and follow the train with a drone.  And whatever garbage is along all the train tracks, I would turn into green grass and pretty flowers and tall trees with butterflies and birds and bees and monkeys.

When I see many vehicles parked outside any police station, blocking the walking space, my magical wand would help me to stack them over each other and clear the space in a jiffy.

It is very depressing to see minors begging or selling flowers or toys at traffic signals.  I would make a very palatial dormitory appear and house all of them into it, and of course take care of all their needs, bathing, clean clothes, education, food, a place to sleep.   The same for old and lonely beggars on the roads, would be housed in a special home, and be taken care of.

When vehicles zip past during the red signal, I should just point my wand to the license plate and the owner's name and address would be registered to the police directly.

Anyone who is sick, especially my family members, I would cure with a wave of my wand.  This I would need urgently too.

During the rain, I would have the latest invention of the Japanese, the drone umbrella, follow me.  I think I am allowed one or two selfish wishes too.

I would want a magical flying carpet, to take me to Australia and Spain and Florida and Canada.

And I would want a mini television set with all the possible channels, in my bag.  So while I have to wait at the bus stop for hours and hours, or sit in a cab in the traffic jam, I would watch the news etc.  No, I do not want a mobile, I want a TV, because I am a TV addict.

65 - THE FITNESS CHALLENGE

Rajyavardhan Rathore started the fitness challenge, and it is getting linked with celebrities, who are boasting online about their fitness regimes.  But the message is so hypocritical.  These 'healthy' persons should also clarify that their fitness also depends on their diet. 

Dino Morea had installed 2 open air gymns at Marine Drive in the year 2016, which were dismantled by the BMC.  And then 'open air yoga' is sponsored by BJP?  So hypocritical!

The Prime Minister posted how he walks on the clean manicured lawns of his official residence.  Where can I walk on one?  The lawn at Nehru center at Worli is off limits for the public,  the one at Priyadarshini Park is fine,  the Governor's bungalow lawn is also off limits, as also the Tata garden lawn at Breach Candy.  It would be ideal if the public could exercise on the Chowpatty beach, but it is too polluted and dirty.  You cannot walk barefoot on the wet sand, without dodging garbage that has been washed ashore, and feces and urine. 

The main problem is that people in Mumbai waste a lot of time and energy in travelling.  I wait at a bus stop for more than an hour.  How convenient it would be if the BEST could facilitate their buses with GPS or global positioning system.  It would enable passengers to predict the exact time that they need to wait at the bus stop.  Anyway, until such a time, it is such a waste of time and energy, just waiting and waiting for the bus to show up.  So, after travelling in a crowded train or a very tardy bus,  where is the stamina for anyone to do exercise?  And where is the place?  Not in a tiny flat.  There are the wise ones who say that you must climb upto your flat by the stairs and that that would be sufficient exercise, but it is not possible to climb 20 or 30 floors when one is tired after a day's work or after returning home with a heavy bag of groceries.

Mr Rathore has a very posh carpeted office/ house, where he is demonstrating his 'fitness challenge' and Virat Kohli and Anushka, are doing their workouts in their personal, private gymn.  As are all the others who have been nominated.  I leave for work by six thirty in the morning, walking along a road that has traffic spewing out smoke and speeding along, dog potty to be dodged, and potholes and uneven footpaths.  I then return by three in the afternoon, but lose all my energy, waiting at the bus stop for more than an hour, and then standing in a crowded bus to return home by five.  It is exhausting just to follow this routine and survive, forget exercising by having to visit a gymn or a garden.  Gymns are expensive and have limited timings, as do gardens. 

But what is the most hypocritical scenario is that, all these famous sports, film and political icons, are not mentioning that good health is not only exercise but a good diet of fruit, protein, both of which are expensive, and so the public satiate their hunger with vada pau, sandwich, samosa, chai, throughout the day, and that is the main area, which affects the health of the middle class people.

So, my fitness challenge to Mr. Rathore and Mr.Modi, is that, show us what you eat and drink, and then motivate us to follow your dictats.

24 - SAUNTERING ALONG COLABA CAUSEWAY

As a child, my family and I visited Mumbai during the May vacation.  A must during our visit was a trip in the iconic BEST double decker bus, route 123, upto the museum at Kaalaa Ghodaa.  Then we would walk upto Regal theatre and continue on a shopping spree along the footpath stalls upto our favourite Kailash Parbat sindhi snack restaurant.

Unfortunately, the double decker 123 has been discontinued now.  But the charm of sauntering along the causeway remains the same.  The pavement stalls begin from Cafe Mondegar, next door to the Regal theatre.  Sometimes, when I feel lost and lonesome, I walk along these crowded pavements and lose my self pity along the way.  It is true that shopping is therapy for the lonely. 

There is such a variety of  goods to choose from.  I cannot use the term 'window shopping' because most of the stalls have no windows at all.  The wares are openly displayed.  Earrings and bangles, broaches and payals, necklaces and bracelets and bindis,  all shimmering and colourful and attractive.  Then come the scarves and the Indian salvars, the western tops and the long skirts and pyjamas with Indian prints and mottos.  Foreign tourists and Indian women too are seen bargaining and buying.  Interspersed are the stalls selling glares and bags and chappals and shoes,  all supposedly at 'cheap' rates, compared to the pucca shops that are present along the pavement on the other side. 

My favourite window shopping stall is the one that displays crystal rocks.  I slow down here, so that I can feast my eyes on the beautiful shimmering rock crystals that adorn this stall.  The interesting stalls are also of the ship-ware surplus objects,  like brass clocks, horns, telescopes, bells and items that have been salvaged during the dismantling of ships.  Some stalls can carve your initials and make made-to-order key chains, with metal and wooden bases, in a few minutes.  Ethnic Indian filigiree articles like jewellery boxes, vases, hookahs and wall hangings are also available.  There are fruit stalls and fresh coconut water stalls,  and the one Indian dancing dolls hawker.  I recall, how as teenagers,  we would always stop and watch in wonder at the two little plastic dolls that danced away without any battery or winding mechanism.  I shall buy one set on my next visit to Colaba.  The seller sits on one side and manipulates the dolls with thin strings which are almost invisible, and it seems as if the plastic dolls are alive.

These pavement stalls are only on the left side of the road.  When we reach the end of the stalls, we always cross over to our favourite sev puri shop, Kailash Parbat. 

There are many more interesting shops along the path.  Top brand shoe shops, watch shops, clothing shops, luggage shops, and of course the restaurants like Cafe Leopold, which became famous during the 2008 Mumbai attacks by the Pakistani terrorists.  And further along is the colaba market,  and then come Sasoon Docks, where From 4 am every morning, the fresh catch of the day is auctioned off to hoteliers.   Near the Colaba bus depot, is the Scenic Port Trust Garden, built along the shore,  from which vantage point, we can view the iconic Tata bungalow. And of course, the 123 bus route continues into Navy Nagar, a stronghold for the Navy residencies,  and the Afghan Church landmark.  This is also the spot where Parsee weddings of the richest of the rich are celebrated at the Colaba Agiary.

So, whenever we visited Mumbai as children,  we would attend weddings and navjotes at the Colaba agiary too.

Sauntering along the causeway always stirs memories of my childhood and that is one of the reasons that makes the walk memorable everytime.


 

14 - THE BUS STOP

The BEST bus routes are the safest way to travel in Mumbai.     But not the most regular mode of transport sadly.   I have waited for more than two hours for the bus to arrive and with no other choice of travel at the spot.  

If only the BEST would have a GPS tracking system at every bus stop,  then commuters could easily realize when a particular bus would be expected.  Preferably access to the monitor should be easy,  similar to the railway monitors that are available on railway stations. I have waited for a bus for almost 2 hours........sad but true.   And on such occasions there is not even an unoccupied taxi available. 

Once,  after having waited for almost an hour, in vain, I decided to walk, and then the bus passed by.
If only a GPS would have been installed,  the BEST would get more passengers too.

Sometimes, due to morchas or certain religious processions,  buses are diverted.  The unaware passengers continue to wait and suffer.  Technology should be used to reduce the trials of humans and the BEST can do so.  The advertiser on a particular bus stop should be made to sponsor the GPS monitor.  I sincerely look forward to this upgradation by the BEST.

Another change that I would like to suggest, is that the steel bus shelters are very uncomfortable to sit because the backrest bars are too close to the perpendicular angle of the seating plank.  the backrest bars need to be dismantled and welded to the second vertical curved supports.  This will enable the passengers to sit comfortably on the seating support.  Presently it is not at all easy nor restful to sit on the  seating,  as the backrest bars are too close for comfort.

Are you ready to revamp your facilities dear  BEST???    You will surely increase your revenue.

One more suggestion, is that, the bus stops should be clean.  Especially the Mumbai central bus depot.  It is your flagship stop.  I pass by every morning and evening.  At both times, there is a garbage pile around the area.  Of course, in the morning I am in a taxi, since the BEST randomly cancels  or changes major bus routes.  The 64 route was randomly cancelled.......then reinstated, after I had taken the initiative to collect more than a thousand signatures (with phone numbers)  and requested the then head, mr Khobargade,  and begged and requested certain MLA's to intervene.  And then the route was randomly diverted...........so unexpected and unexplained and below the belt.

Please dear BEST,  I request you to live up to the acronym you boast about.

12 - .............AND MORE ECSTASY

Shopping for the family's needs is a regular and lonely chore.   Sometimes for vegetables and fruits at the Nana Chowk Bhajigalli,  and other times at the Reliance and Nature's Basket stores at Mahalaxmi.    The pain is that the BEST bus service to my residence  is irregular and taxi drivers seem to purposely ignore you,  if you are in desperate need for one,  with lots of loaded bags etc.    

Today was my first day of school with students, after the summer holidays and I was extra tired.    To add to my sorrows,  the Reliance security misplaced a  cardboard box that I had checked in with them.   When I reached  the bus stop, laden with my bags,  the seating was occupied by some insensitive rich person's driver and he also had the temerity to block the bus stop with the uber expensive vehicle.     Passing taxis were occupied or heading home for Friday prayers.    After almost one hour,  I managed to flag down a cab and he decided to take me along Peddar Road.   

At the Cadbury Junction,  I peer to my left,  whenever I'm on my way towards Kemp's corner.   It has become an involuntary gesture through the years that I have lived in south Mumbai.    No,  you are mistaken if you assume that I am trying to catch a glimpse of the designer clothes' shops.   I am paying my obeisance to the nightingale of India.   The talented and famous Lata Mangeshkar,  who lives at an iconic building at this junction.  

Today,  the sight was an exotic one.   God had decorated her residence around the walls with the prettiest white bougainvillea,  (I think),  in full bloom.    The sight is such a pretty picture that all my woes were forgotten and I felt a sudden peace. 

I would not have agreed readily with anyone,  if they had said that flowers can change one's mood,  because I abhor being gifted flowers that wither and die within a few hours.   But the pure white flowers blooming over Lata Mangeshkar's compound wall,   seem to be a heavenly cloud or halo that is extremely aesthetic to look at.   I  wish that I could 'stand and stare'  to my heart's content. 

Anyway,  the pretty image is embedded into my memory.

1- WHAT MADE ME SMILE 2 - HOLIDAYS ARE FOR....

Holidays for me mean 'extra work'.
House work like ironing, changing bedsheets, cleaning the AC filter,  and worst of all,  catching up with bank work.     Today I got a shock when my pass book was updated and there was a fine of Rs.102 that the bank had debited.    A little research and the fine was credited,   as it was 'a mistake'.

.........discovering the mistake and reversing it,  took almost 80 minutes,  leaving me drained and tired.   O  prime minister Mr. Modi,  how will banking benefit the rural population,  when it is not serving the educated urban population  properly??????

Holidays lead to 'jetlag'.    Completing one task makes me want to just go into a cocoon and chill silently to recuperate.  

But having a family to answer to means that I am expected to fulfill extra requests during holidays.   Shopping for one member's outfits,  shopping for another member's mobile..........paying the MTNL dues,   dropping the BEST cheque,   giving out the society's outgoing.........an endless stream of  errands that makes me want to belong to the stone age era,   this urban lifestyle leaves no energy for music practice or reading a book undisturbed.

The worst outcome of 'holidays' is when I go back to my workplace,   colleagues ask trite questions like- Did you enjoy your holidays?........and I am expected to respond positively.........

I always look forward to holidays  but am quite relieved when they are done.      .