Beyond Mumbai
Mumbai life is all very well known what with it being the employment capital of the country. But one’s life experience on leaving Mumbai to small town India needs some elaboration.
At the outset, life which used to be on high gear falls to first gear. Life moves from a high pressure zone to a vacuum.Time in minutes and seconds looses its meaning, as there is no running to catch the 08:04 local. The lifeline of Mumbai, the local train gets replaced by the local bus or the two wheeler or even the bicycle. The fast walk to the nearest station turns into a leisurely stroll to the nearest bus stop or the easy ride on a two wheeler. No jostling for seats or standing space in overcrowded local trains, less chances of getting an angry stare on unknowingly stepping on another’s toe, or getting stamped upon, or getting a hard elbow nudge on your face, nose or head from another who feigns ignorance of your presence near him.
Once in office,which is usually a small branch in a small town, no company security to greet you or stare at you, no identity cards demanded of you, sometimes no access cards required, you usually walk in unnoticed, settling in your seat, unlike in Mumbai where one normally heads directly to the washroom, to swipe the sweat on one’s face, to straighten their collars and hand cuffs, to anxiously see whether their attire has been crumpled or stained with a fellow commuters sweat, courtesy the local train.( One cannot help it as Mumbai is highly humid and humanised)
On the work front, no timewasting meetings to attend in the mornings, no coming face to face with your boss, less speak of strategy and more of routine work to be done. You are not part of video conferencing or concalls, and less of sleep inducing trainings to participate in.The flip sides are many, like a question mark on career advancement since you are more likely to be overlooked, no office canteen to take care of your belly, no get-togethers to enjoy, casual leave cannot be had casually, and privilege leave is not your privilege always, as most of the times you do not have a replacement.If at all you get leave,you find yourselves working from home.You are often required to be a jack of all trades to handle the roles of an office assistant, supervisor, errand boy, finance assistant, HR personnel, in addition to your core professional role.
But after all this you do get back home from work not late in the night and not too tired, leaving your better half heave a sigh of relief, and your kids happy. There is still something left in you to read newspapers, watch TV and savour life.
You may finally call it a day and go away into the sunset, as the poet said, unknown, unlamented and unsung, but having lived life, on your terms, and not always on boss pressure and market dictates.
Mumbai life is all very well known what with it being the employment capital of the country. But one’s life experience on leaving Mumbai to small town India needs some elaboration.
At the outset, life which used to be on high gear falls to first gear. Life moves from a high pressure zone to a vacuum.Time in minutes and seconds looses its meaning, as there is no running to catch the 08:04 local. The lifeline of Mumbai, the local train gets replaced by the local bus or the two wheeler or even the bicycle. The fast walk to the nearest station turns into a leisurely stroll to the nearest bus stop or the easy ride on a two wheeler. No jostling for seats or standing space in overcrowded local trains, less chances of getting an angry stare on unknowingly stepping on another’s toe, or getting stamped upon, or getting a hard elbow nudge on your face, nose or head from another who feigns ignorance of your presence near him.
Once in office,which is usually a small branch in a small town, no company security to greet you or stare at you, no identity cards demanded of you, sometimes no access cards required, you usually walk in unnoticed, settling in your seat, unlike in Mumbai where one normally heads directly to the washroom, to swipe the sweat on one’s face, to straighten their collars and hand cuffs, to anxiously see whether their attire has been crumpled or stained with a fellow commuters sweat, courtesy the local train.( One cannot help it as Mumbai is highly humid and humanised)
On the work front, no timewasting meetings to attend in the mornings, no coming face to face with your boss, less speak of strategy and more of routine work to be done. You are not part of video conferencing or concalls, and less of sleep inducing trainings to participate in.The flip sides are many, like a question mark on career advancement since you are more likely to be overlooked, no office canteen to take care of your belly, no get-togethers to enjoy, casual leave cannot be had casually, and privilege leave is not your privilege always, as most of the times you do not have a replacement.If at all you get leave,you find yourselves working from home.You are often required to be a jack of all trades to handle the roles of an office assistant, supervisor, errand boy, finance assistant, HR personnel, in addition to your core professional role.
But after all this you do get back home from work not late in the night and not too tired, leaving your better half heave a sigh of relief, and your kids happy. There is still something left in you to read newspapers, watch TV and savour life.
You may finally call it a day and go away into the sunset, as the poet said, unknown, unlamented and unsung, but having lived life, on your terms, and not always on boss pressure and market dictates.
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