Even as Raj Thakrey's men were holding mumbai to ransom, a piece of news caught my eyes in The Times Of India . It read - Indian students a victim of hate crimes on Australian campuses. Significance of this news in the wake of mumbai violence could not be missed. I wonder how Raj Thakrey would react to this news. Would he be concerned only about the marathi manoos there whose asmita is at stake. Or would he worry about the Indians in general?
The desperation of Raj Thakrey to rake up an emotional issue is understandable. What with assembly elections round the corner and his inability to establish a political clout as yet. While the 'apparent' pertinent question being raised by him and his likes is the crumbling infrastructure of mumbai, the larger question remains unanswered. Are the north indian migrants really responsible for the crumbling infrastructure? This is largely a debatable question. And I am afraid it will elicit biased arguments from people to show allegiance to their respective 'regions' (a new entrant in the already existing divide of caste,creed,sex,religion etc).
What is disturbing is the way whole episode unfolded over a period of two weeks. It is not new for politicians to twist public conscience to suit their selfish ends. When a man is in position of influence, albeit undeservedly, he should not utter anything that might breed hatred. This is exactly what has happened in the past few days. The fallouts are many.
Nashik-Pune industrial belt is the hub of steel rolling mills,electrical and automobile industrial units. Industries in the area have suffered a combined loss of upto Rs 4 billion (approx $100 million) in the past fortnight due to huge exodus of the north indian workers. So you see Mr. Raj, the relationship is largely symbiotic. Ebbs and current of economics will take its own course. Please do not try to disturb it for your own good.
Young impressionable minds have formed their prejudices, if not strengthened them. Next time they come across a UP ka bhaiya or a Bihari, they are going to feed their egos by feeling superior to them. This will certainly not help either of them or the great indian growth story. Ironically, a casualty of the violence unleashed by MNS activists was a maharashtrian man. Little did family of Ambadas Haribhau Dharrao know that he would be a victim of his own identity. The very next day Raj Thakrey aplogised with folded hands in a marathi daily and even went on to suggest that it was not the work of any MNS activist. This piece of news made me grow sick in the gut. He was canny enought to realise that it could impart a small dent in his new founded glory as the saviour of marathi manoos. He did not even leave the tragic death of this man to further his vested interests.
India, I believe, more than a country is a celebration of diversity. By pegging one culture against another, one can influence a political mandate but not the ethos that India has been for ages now. The financial capital of India cannot be reduced to anybodys fiefdom. I do not have the slightest doubt that we will tide over this non issue. Mumbai will continue to be the cultural melting pot and hold on to its idiosyncrasies.
