Spirit
The “SPIRIT” of Mumbai has been applauded by all, recently as
well as in the past. The bomb blasts of 1993, the supercell downpour of 26th
July 2005 or the train bomb blasts of July 2006 and other similar happenings in
between, have brought forth this spirit.
What is this “SPIRIT”? Take the bomb blasts of 1993, on the
next day, the City was back on its feet, apparently working normally. Is it
really the spirit which brings back the average Mumbai citizen back to the same
trains, buses or areas which were the scenes of natural disasters or terrorist
attacks or is this done out of desperation? This is the question that has
started haunting several citizens.
Given the geographical position of Mumbai City, a long chain
of islands with very little breadth, the citizen has to travel some distance
short or long to make a living, to obtain a satisfactory education, to do just
about everything routinely. There appears to be very little choice, but to go
out and continue his or her routine whether it rains heavily and there is
flooding on the roads and on the railway tracks or there are some terrorist acts
in public places.
Pesticides
Someone up there does not seem to be liking the so-called
cola giants. They are once again mired in controversy regarding the level of
pesticide in the aerated drinks that they manufacture and sell. A couple of
years ago the same issue had been raised.
The two companies Coca-Cola and Pepsi have issued large
advertisements and press statements trying to explain their side of the issue.
There have been demands from several quarters for a ban on the colas. In some
places a ban has already been imposed. Unfortunately the authorities do not seem
too keen to make a factual and objective investigation and report on the issue.
Whether this controversy will go the way of the earlier one or not, is anybodies
guess.
