Trapped indoors, and resigned to keeping their minds engaged to curb the depressing weather, our sutradhaars think they’ve hit upon a cool idea—awards to celebrate its citizens who represent its oft-hailed spirit that is put to the maximum test in the monsoon
Resilient Mumbaikars make their way through a flooded road. Pic/Nimesh Dave
Pheroze, let’s go over the list once more, shall we? I hope our readers and followers will understand the reasons for these ‘unseasonal’ awards shows. After all, it’s hardly the time when people would like to step out for any kind of ceremony. I mean, it’s the city’s wettest July, and it might not have many takers,” Lady Flora asked her friend, looking a tad worried as she ran her eyes over the list of categories, sipping on homemade pudina chai and nankhatais from Paris Bakery, Sir PM’s all-time favourite bakery in the area. In fact, he was relishing these baked goodies at their indoor adda at St Thomas Cathedral, until he realised that his friend’s tone demanded his full attention.
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Tapping the crumbly particles off his slightly damp trenchcoat, he lowered his bifocals to read it carefully. A few minutes later, he looked up at Lady Flora with a broad smile, and said, “I think the average Bombaywallah would fully relate to this list. It’s a tribute to them, and this city, both of which this newspaper conveys through its pages, so let’s go ahead and share this sneak peak of our top categories and winners for this inaugural edition. We hope you appreciate the list.”
Unsung heroes award: This goes to the countless folk from the BMC and Mumbai’s police force who patrol dangerous spots that are prone to flooding and by the many promenades that see throngs of people, mostly rain-time romantics and revellers, who throw caution to the wind Road rockstar award: BEST’s service that ploughed through the waters, high tide or otherwise. After playing saviour to its citizens during the pandemic, they’ve come to the rescue once again during this long-drawn wet spell.
On track award: Our OG aka Mumbai’s lifeline—the local ‘dabba’ has floated, swum and basically stayed in decent shape despite overzealous rain patterns this month. Our salaam to the workforce who guide our trains, keep our rail tracks safe and in working condition; not to forget railway staff manning the platforms, come rain or shine.
Survivor award: This goes out to the many faceless, nameless vendors and streetfood providers who offer sustenance and succour to lakhs of daily commuters helping them tide over these unpredictable times to much-needed fresh food, be it a vada pao or a Bombay sandwich, despite the downpour.
Autopilot award: Okay, so continue to have a bittersweet relationship with the auto rickshaw wallah who, the suburban junta will collectively swear, has become a different beast in the past decade or so. However, there are Good Samaritans who emerge from the din and grim, grey landscape. These folks ply their three-wheelers with amazing calm and manage to manoeuvre moon crater-like potholes with control and presence of mind that would put Lewis Hamilton and Co. to shame.
Essentials excellence award: One of our oldest bunch of service providers in the literal sense, the milk and newspaper vendor, and the bread/paowalla, are some of the folks who ensure we can wake up and follow our early morning routine as always, despite the rain often being at its fearsome worst in the mornings.
Delivery done right award: Be it the OGs—dabbawalas, the aggregator-backed delivery folks or courier service staff, we salute them for trudging through all kinds of rain levels to ensure we get our packages – from lunchboxes to urgent documents and whatnot – our heart also goes out to these angels.
Weathering storms award: Our Koli fisherfolk have our sympathy and we must celebrate their resilience despite all kinds of storms, literally and otherwise, caused chiefly by infrastructure projects like the Coastal Road Project. The onset of the rainy season means their boats must lie ashore and can head out only after the monsoon winds phase out, and it is safe once again to resume fishing in the Arabian Sea. Our good wishes are always with this indigenous community who we owe so much to.
Lifetime achievement award aka Survival of the fittest award: The undisputed winner here is the resilient daily working professional in the city. The long commutes, the delays, the waterlogging, the inexplicable struggle to reach work and home every single day is the stuff of urban legend. With robot-like efficiency, this population is back the next morning, doing the same drill. With the familiar Bombay-style focus.
mid-day’s Features Editor Fiona Fernandez relishes the city’s sights, sounds, smells and stones...wherever the ink and the inclination takes her. She tweets @bombayana
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