MY NAME IS MUMBAIKAR AND I AM CONFUSED!

There has been a lot happening in Mumbai over the last two weeks. There are stands being taken, opinions fired out and reactions garnered over the Shiv Sena, Shah Rukh Khan, MNIK, Media, IPL, Pakistan, Terrorism etc etc etc... However I have not been able to formulate my thoughts for the want of inconsistency of us all and the over eager forces of media whose vested interests every time seem just too glaringly obvious!
I am unable to gather the confidence to understand the difference between economics and emotions! I find myself lost between stakes as vital as money and safety as opposed to idealism and emotions!!!

I know one thing for sure that there is a lot of pent up frustration amongst all of us that is waiting to find an outlet. Some pass it out by taking a vacation or having a drink while some get angry and become aware overnight!! In both cases, after a while life returns to routine!!
I am sure there are ideals and values within all of us but I am also sure our plate is so full that we neither have the energy nor the patience to pursue our brief outbursts of social awareness. Thus, at the end of it all we end up looking foolish and exploited!
The spirit of Mumbai used to excite me until I realised it’s more like a soda bottle that’s shaken once in a while before opening up. The fizz promises a splurge but what follows is a meek trickle that dries out!
I hurt some of my friends when I did not support candle marches post 26/11 and I may seem cold to many whose souls are presently burning with a desire to make that all important difference! However I am very conscious of this being a Media age...a time where the tube dominates our mind and runs our lives. I have realised the need of the broadcaster to feed the channel and tabloids 24*7 with the fodder to fuel our fascination with destruction. I can sense the silence and noise that the government conveniently makes and i get scared when i see the fear amongst our governing bodies to be exposed in turn if they expose the big clouted law breakers!!!
I also understand the need of every individual to earn money, to pay the bills, the taxes, to resolve those fights at home, get over the break ups and loses, to go for the weekend dinner with family or celebrate that special day and also beat those traffic jams where we spend half our lives...there is too much to do and so little of time!!!
I am being cynical but I am definitely not yet rigid and thus there is hope! But to believe that, as a potential promise would be falling for the well marketed ‘Spirit of Mumbai’ concept that makes more economic sense than social!!
We don’t need a spirit that fizzles out or a fire that gets put out. We need a very consistent effort on a daily basis by each one of us in a very tiny yet determined manner...until then we must accept very blatantly that if nothing else- WE ARE A MUMBAIKAR AND WE ARE CONFUSED- and are thus being herded by those who can see through our directionless and restless minds!!

SHIV SENA IS BATTING ON A VERY BOUNCY WICKET!!!

The Shiv Sena was loosing its ground(Not cricket ground!). They had no issues that they could fight for and those could truely be called as "Issues". Uddhav Thackrey has not been an impressive leader and they are still relying on the charisma of Bal Thackrey whose frailing health is not helping the sinking party. The MNS is creating furthur problems to Sena which anyway was in trouble as the Raj Thackrey syndrome is causing grave damage to their thinking and working.

The assembly results made it obvious what otherwise was only whispered and murmured. The Sena supreme accused the Marathi Manoos of back stabbing him and ended up distancing them further more from the saffron brigade. As if all this was not enough, they come up with a disastrous goof up like the attack on Sachin Tendulkar!!!!!! Of all the people...Of all the millions of sane and insane issues around, they end up picking the most sanctimonious of all!!! Running down the national icon of international repute-our very own and dearly loved- Sachin Tendulkar!!! WHY??

How can someone be so naive? How can someone who has been in the political arena for above 40 years and has emerged and sustained on nothing else-(issues, i cant think of any) but sensing the pulse of the people -go so wrong at this crucial hour??

I am still willing to concede that mistakes happen! An article once written in the surge of emotions cannot be held as testimonial of someones entire IQ and identity, so the first article in Saamna was a blunder but NO- they did not stop!! They go on and on and on...

Statements are made like Sachin did not make it possible for (an out of form and under performing) Kambli to stay in the national team so -shame on Sachin!!! In other words the one who does his job sincerely is a traitor to the marathi cause?? Sachin said he is an Indian first so- Shame on Sachin. What does that mean????

Is there no one in this entire Sena enterprise who can think well for themselves and advise the party decision makers that they must save the very little grace of theirs by shutting up...at least now!!

This is beginning to seem like an ideal case study of a downfall for the desperation is getting the better of them. The helplessness is beginning to seem very obvious.- They attacked Sachin Tendulkar as guardians of marathi manoos!!!!!!!! Hasava ki radava aamhi??