Bombay

Bombay

The official name's now Mumbai, nevertheless, it will always be Bombay to me. Today's post is about a 'What-if' scenario, one I think when I see wonders and horrors of  present Bombay. It is - What if the British retained and leased Bombay in 1947 the way they did in case of Hong Kong?

One thing was for sure, Bombay would have continued the liberal capitalistic outlook fully under the British, amidst the soul drenching, povertarian, socialism unleashed by Nehru after 1947. Just like HK became the oasis of free markets even when China fell into the abyss of communism under Mao, a far greater tragedy then Nehru's socialism. There still remained a beacon of ideals in HK for the Chinese, and Deng later reversed after 1978 the disastrous policies of communism, and advocated market economy. I am sure he had the success of HK and Singapore in mind when he did this reversal.

Even today, it is South Bombay, built by the British, which is the finest in whole of India, in capitalist culture and values. Just look at this magnificent structure to know what Bombay was under the British.

What Indians built in Bombay after the British left that can be even remotely comparable with this structure? Even the so called skyscrapers in Nariman Point are tiny structures as compared to the skyscrapers in other cities.

If British would have retained Bombay, we would not have seen flight of talent, capital and intelligence, and stinking increase in poverty in ways we saw under socialist system. It would have remained a free trade zone, with trade with all major economies, and better use of its natural harbour. Similar to what Singapore became. And, it would have remained largely liberal; it is still liberal but there are still regional chauvinistic fools all around. It would have attracted the best talent pool from India and other parts of world and would have been a world city, which sadly it is not today. It would have better town planning, no rent control acts, and certainly, no slums. And the wonderful opium bars and jazz clubs would have continued. And Bollywood? That may not have happened or happened elsewhere!

Well, if wishes were horses.... Still there is scope of improvement. It should first be separated from any state, the mayor should be given powers more than the CM. It should be declared a free trade zone with separate set of economic laws then rest of India.

Today's listening pleasure - Bach

Very few drops of ocean that is western classical music I have tasted, So, knowledgeable readers kindly excuse me about my understanding, which I have none.

I was zapped by listening to Bach's Air first time I heard..Recently I saw and heard this version on Boston Symphony Orchestra page on FB and it's lovely. Enjoy.

Happy 331st birthday to Johann Sebastian Bach! Here's a clip from Nov. 22, 1966 of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, led by Erich Leinsdorf, performing "Air" from Bach's Orchestral Suite No. 3. (Video credit: BSO, Inc. and WGBH)
Posted by Boston Symphony Orchestra on Monday, March 21, 2016