Aam Aadmi
The people of Mumbai truly define this land of hopes. The spirit of Mumbai unites people of various cultures and religions who live here in harmony. The janta of Mumbai are the ones who work for the betterment of the city. By organizing events like cleanliness drives, protests against social evils and also marathons, the common man promotes healthy habits and etiquettes. The janta which comprises 20.5 million makes Mumbai the 4th most populous city in the world.
Mumbai Police
The police force of Mumbai engages in a highly commendable routine. They manage the activities of this city with utmost efficiency. On occasions like Diwali, Ramzan, Ganesh Utsav and New Year’s Day, while everyone is enjoying with their respective families, it is the police who are “on duty” at all times. Mumbai being high on alert at any given time and having faced attacks like the 26/11, the police force is on its feet every single day.
Celebrities
The glitz and glam of the B-town celebrities is what also makes Mumbai so special. Let alone the people from other states, but Mumbaikars themselves are mesmerized by their presence as well. The celebrities and socialites, no matter where they travel, also have an affinity towards this city. They too play a major role in giving handsome amounts towards charities and supporting social causes. They are also indirect contributors to Mumbai tourism as the bulk of tourists come here with the hopes of catching a glimpse of them.
Dabbawalas
The Dabbawalas of Mumbai are known to be the subjects of Supply Chain and Logistics case studies of many renowned researchers. They deliver over 2 lakh lunchboxes in a month with a six sigma precision. Their daily routine includes collecting hot “dabbas” from the homes of the working people and delivering them during lunch hours. They also deliver the empty boxes back to the homes. They use abbreviations and a colour coded system of sorting the “dabbas” at the railway stations. Even on heavy monsoon days or delayed train schedules, the dabbawalas are right on time. The award winning movie The Lunchbox was also based on this concept.
Entrepreneurs
As the saying goes “If you can sell it in Mumbai, you can sell it anywhere in the world”. Business sense is very often inborn in the Mumbai entrepreneur. From the raddiwallah opposite your house operating from a makeshift stall, to the taxi owners who hire out their cabs, from the shoe polish boys at railway stations to the business tycoon in his high rise office, the desire to strike out and make it rich is an inherent quality that sets the Mumbai business men apart.
Street food wallas
Ask a Mumbaikar what his life would have been if there were no street food walas in this city and he would be speechless. Rich or poor, the Mumbai chaat is loved and enjoyed by all. The people selling street food work 365 days making the same pav bhaji or pani puri day in and day out. But only in Mumbai will you see people coming in BMW’s as well as on cycles to eat from their favourite stall wallas.
Rikshawallas
The auto rickshaw drivers really bind this city. Most of the people here depend on Public transport. Their work or home priorities demand them to be on time. The auto rickshaw drivers come to our rescue always when we need them, be it to reach the station in order not to miss a train or reach office in time. They are like our buddies and when they go on strike it feels like doomsday for Mumbaikars.
TV Production crew
Ever heard of a daily soap being shot in any other city apart from Mumbai? The answer is obiously ‘no’ as the whole idea of any daily soap or reality show that Indians are addicted to is conceived and executed entirely in Mumbai. These people work 18 hours a day shooting and bringing out the best of emotions for their audiences. I think that the television would have no meaning without their contribution.
BEST Bus Drivers
BEST buses are actually the lifeline of Mumbai. They carry lakhs of passengers every single day. In the recent years they also came up with luxury BEST AC buses for comfortable travel (at exorbitant rates of course). Reaching on time to schools, colleges and work places wouldn’t have been possible without this major mode of public transport. If the drivers are on a strike on a particular day, then reaching your place of work can be as good as a veritable trip to hell. Flooded streets, jams, or regular road accidents do not hinder the expert prowess of the BEST Bus driver.
The household Bai
Most Mumbai homes run effectively all thanks to the efficient Bai who single handedly manages the sweeping, swobbing, vesels and often cooking much to the relief of the household. Even the strongest resolve cannot prevail when the Bai asks for a raise. On the day of their absence the entire house is at sixes and sevens, and the frustration of the housewife is most often vent upon the poor husbands and children. Don’t be surprised if you see husbands being kinder to the Bai than to the wife, it’s all part of the show to make the Bai feel she’s an irreplaceable part of the family.