A cosmic manifestation

There is a persistent rumour about town that most Mumbaikars didn't celebrate New Year's Eve in Mumbai, with any ostentation because of t...

There is a persistent rumour about town that most Mumbaikars didn8217;t celebrate New Year8217;s Eve in Mumbai, with any ostentation because of the D8217; factor. Given as I am to fighting, if the cause is close to my heart, I feel the only fitting reply to threat and intimidation is a firm resistance. Fear is an emotion which starts as seemingly normal but eventually preys on its victim to a point of no return.

Cowardice, born of an ineffectuality to deal with one8217;s inner emotional conflicts may be triggered by an external stimuli but eventually manifests itself as a character trait. By refusing to kowtow to threats we are helping to make our city a safer place. A common will when exercised across the social spectrum will in no uncertain manner send a message, We shall overcome8217;. Most bullies are cowards themselves, at the first sign of strong resistance they prefer to look for new victims someplace else. Now that the State Government is displaying a will to tackle the menace posed by the extortionist, it8217;s timeour citizens played a more constructive role to prove that we are proud inhabitants of our city. Why should we let a motley bunch of thugs, who operate from safe havens and have expendable trigger-happy minions doing their dirty work, change our lives? Sooner than later a life in the fast lane of crime catches up with the perpetrators and in our lifetime, if there is a strong political will, most of these dreaded criminals will meet their comeuppance either through gangland killings or because the long arm of the law has finally caught them in a binding noose.

Till then we have to continue to live our lives in the most constructive way, as we normally would. Why should we not celebrate weddings, birthdays and anniversaries the way we choose? It8217;s our life. How can we be dictated to by fear, to change the spirit of the city whenever an event is celebrated?

The NRIs who arrive in India in droves in the winter season failed to put in an appearance this year. The loss to the exchequer from the hard currencybrigade is not easy to extrapolate. The loss to small business is easier to estimate and the word is that most designers, jewellers, estate agents, all reported dismal sales this season. A lot of this media hyped fear psychosis, spread like bush fire and now we are feeling the real pinch. People are spending less and without the circulation of greenbacks in exchange for made in India products and services, we are surely getting deeper into an economic depression. The good news is that there now exists a feeling of Mumbai being a safer place, due to a crackdown by the law enforcement agencies. People are beginning to re-plan postponed wedding celebrations and other festivities which means we can all go back to reclaiming our city8217;s right to live and celebrate. I urge all of you, please don8217;t let fear take away our right to live.

We can belt tighten because of a need for austerity but not because we fear. The D8217; factor has touched the lives of many but enough is enough. The buck has to stop somewhere and ithas. On my part, I am willing to do whatever is needed to highlight issues which deal with the upliftment and protection of our citizenry. Let8217;s bring pride back to Mumbai lets deal with our petty fears and conquer them and let no third person or force, dictate to us how we should live our lives. Our constitution guarantees us our freedom, let us exercise this right everyday in thought, deed and action, it is our only real protection.

On Christmas Eve, I witnessed an extraordinary evening of talent, fine-tuned to perfection for a searing social cause AIDs8217;. Ms Smita Thackeray, the attractive, enterprising bahu of the Thackeray clan, through her Mukta Trust hosted an event that saw professional and mega talent go hand in hand. UB were the generous sponsor8217;s and all the artistes performed with emotion and commonality of purpose to spread AIDs Awareness. The show started with Swiss precision on the dot, so I missed Lata Mangeshkar, Urmila Matondkar and my friend, singing sensation ShiamakDavar8217;s opening acts. My companions that evening were Shefali and Arjun Khanna, Kishen Mulchandani, Sanjeev Chowdhury and Shweta8217;s gorgeous husband Clemens Brandt. We sat in the first row to the right of the stage and swung straight into the mood, to experience first hand a visual treat. Akshay Kumar and Salman Khan did swashbuckling, spectacular stunts, then danced and strutted their stuff. Govinda danced with manic, passionate intensity like the legends of yore. Karishma and Jackie lent their voice to the cause. Shweta Shetty belted her new song like a true professional 8212; a chart-topper this one, with a laser show to kick start her segment. Smita Thackeray, Vijay Mallya and Dr Gilada made short, touching speeches and when Shah Rukh brought 10 tiny tots on stage only to tell us they were HIV positive, there was an audible gasp of disbelief from the vast audience. A moment of reckoning perhaps?

A R Rehman played a fitting finale to this evening, which had assembled a hothouse of great talent to help anoble cause. The city needs more fearless, enterprising ladies like Ms. Thackeray. She channeled her energy through this spectacular event, managed by Sohail Khan, to set an example of what can be done if one is true to a cause. I laud Smita for this Herculean effort pulled off with such elan, she is a champion. Let8217;s take a leaf out of her book and learn to help worthy causes even on a mammoth scale, because that is the true spirit of Mumbai.JAI MAHARASHTRA!