When organizations like Maharashtra Navanirman
Sena shout slogans against immigrants in Mumbai, beat up traders for not
speaking Marathi and harass the taxi drivers from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh for
taking up jobs that they think rightfully belong to the local Mumbai people,
they forget that megapolis like Mumbai are not built by the local population, and do not belong to Mumbaikers alone, but to the entire world!
If we are not open to accept different
languages, different attires, different cuisines, different appearances, and
different way of life then how will we attract the best talent to our cities
and how will our states prosper economically. Nearly half of M.Ps
who have represented Mumbai in the Parliament have been non-Marathis. Majority
of the rich people in Mumbai are Gujarati, Jain, Marwadi, and Punjabi and they
contribute the lion’s share of taxes. But that does not mean that the Marathis
have not done well; Babasaheb Kalyani of Bharat Forge, Leena Gandhi Tewari of
USV Pharma, Anand Deshpande of Persistent Systems, and Sanjay Kirloskar of
Kirloskar Brothers are all institutions of success. Internationally, figures
like Vivek Ranadive and Manoj Badale have made significant strides,
underscoring global Marathi entrepreneurial influence. Additionally, historical
Maratha families like the Gaekwads and Scindias have amassed considerable
wealth, demonstrating entrepreneurial spirit through enterprises such as Bank
of Baroda.
Mumbai grew into a metropolis over centuries as
it offered hope. And still does. Outsiders' of yesterday and today are insiders
of tomorrow. Dev Anand, Anand Bakshi, Dilip Kumar all arrived from the Punjab
that is in Pakistan today. Bimal Roy, Hrishikesh Mukherjee, Sharmila Tagore,
Biswajeet, Hemant Kumar , Salil Chaudhary came from Bengal and Sachin Dev
Burman from Tripura and enriched the cultural melieu of Mumbai. The Ambanis are
from Gujarat, Jindals from Haryana, Kirloskar from Karnataka but they are big
job providers and wealth growers for the city.
Mumbai has one of the highest literacy rates in
India (94.7%) which is significantly higher than the country's average. The
official language of the state is Marathi; however, sixteen other major
languages are spoken here including English, Marathi and Hindi. The city is the
commercial and the entertainment capital of India and is also one of the most
populous cities of the country. With a high number of migrants and diverse
religious groups, Mumbai is truly a melting pot of cultures. Mostly, the inhabitants
of the city comprise of Marathis, Gujaratis, Zoroastrian Parsis and Konkanis.
Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Jews, Parsis, Buddhists, Sikhs and Jains comprise
of the total population of Mumbai. If suddenly this vibrant and happening
melting pot is stirred by language / culture / religious chauvinists for the
sake of votes, every once in a while, they do incalculable harm to the
reputation of the Maximum City.
Not only from India, Mumbai has attracted people
from all over the world and several foreigners come to work in the film and
television industry, InfoTech industry and food and hospitality businesses. The
city is home to a small population of Bene Israelis who migrated from the Gulf
several decades ago for mercantile reasons. Mumbai is also home to many South
East Asian communities and a small percentage of Europeans such as the
Portuguese and French.
Who is the original Mumbaikar?
The original fisher folk inhabitants of the city
were the 'Kolis' who gave the city its name. They are historically an
Indo-Aryan race of people believed to have migrated from Uttar Pradesh,
Rajasthan, Gujarat and other parts of Maharashtra. Most Kolis were Hindu, but
later, many converted to Buddhism, Islam and Christianity under the reign of
the Mauryan, Mughal and British empires respectively. They got their tag as
fish folk because that is what they did for sustenance. Today, the Koli
population in the city has reduced considerably, to about 48%. Though
predominantly fishermen, Kolis are a mix of different communities with
different professions such as fishermen, agriculturalists and water carriers.
Have these people ever grudged the appearance of a constant stream of migrants
to their home town Mumbai? Then why do they, who came to this city much later,
stir trouble before every election?
Hate has a high cost
Economist Michael Martell cites a shooting incident in a Gurdwara in Wisconsin that left six dead. Not only the gurdwara but the local mosque and the Hindu Temple all upgraded and spent more on their security. Terrorized immigrants curbed their curbed their movements, affecting local businesses. In the U.S the estimated cost of hate crimes in 2019 was USD 3.4 billion! Immigrants are crucial for keeping the services running specially in countries which have unsustainable birth rates. Just as European countries need the North African immigrants to run their factories, U.S and the U.K need Indian scientists, doctors and engineers, India too needs immigration for both investment, education and up gradation. Xenophobia has no place in the interconnected world we live in.
Why is diversity important?
Diversity signifies that the city is open, inclusive and welcoming to all, and the best talents of the world get attracted to it. That is how a city grows into a metropolis and a metropolis into a megapolis! Being tolerant to an alien culture or a new idea is not enough, you have to learn to enjoy and celebrate diversity. Then only the city, state and nation can prosper.
The most diverse cities in the world are:
1. London,
UK
2. Melbourne,
Australia
3. Brighton,
UK and New York, USA
4. Los
Angeles, USA
5. Chicago,
USA
6. Madrid,
Spain
7. Barcelona,
Spain
8. Bangkok,
Thailand
9. Johannesburg,
South Africa and Cape Town, South Africa
10. Montreal,
Canada, Medellin, Colombia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and San Francisco, USA
All these are large and
thriving metropolitan cities, very successful in attracting the best talents of
the world and are relentlessly progressing. I have been to all of them and stayed
for a significant time in the two list toppers. All these cities attract people
for business, tourism and academic pursuit. People do not hesitate twice before
deciding to go to these cities because they invariably feel safe and welcomed.
If a city fails to give this assurance then those who have options would start
avoiding it. Cities have to be friendly and where diversity and inclusivity are
welcomed.
Melbourne is a thriving
metropolis that prides itself on being highly liveable, with cool
neighborhoods and streets that are home to various cuisines,
communities and cultures. Let’s not forget the culinary influence of
Melbourne’s many international communities. Box Hill is known for its abundance
of fantastic Chinese restaurants, while Footscray boasts some epic bánh
mì spots thanks to its large Vietnamese population. Oakleigh is the
Greek heartland for souvas and gyros, and recent waves of migration from
Ghana, Nigeria and Cameroon have culminated in a mushrooming of West African
eateries. The city is filled with lush green parks and has many sporting
options. It invariable has a stacked line-up of festivals and events, a proud
and ever-growing queer community (Melbourne was even voted the fourth most
LGBTQIA+-friendly city in the world in 2022), and a thriving nightlife scene.
London is the epicentre of
diversity where everyone is welcome to show up and be their most authentic
selves. So an Englishman with his coat and hat is seen rubbing shoulders with a
Bengali in a Dhoti-Kurta, a Pakistsni in a Shalwar Kameez, a Jew with a skull
cap and a Somali in his own dress and no one raises an eyebrow or a pointing
finger. The city is one of the most ethnically diverse and
multicultural cities in the world. Around 37% of London's population was born
outside the UK, and over 300 languages are spoken in the region. However, the
extent of ethnic diversity across London boroughs varies significantly. Ten of
London’s 33 boroughs have a majority non-white population, with Newham being
the most diverse borough. The city has 37% Anglo-Saxon British, 14% Black,
African or Caribbean, 19% South Asian, 5% Middle Eastern and North African, 5%
Europeans, 3% Chinese, and 1% Jewish and Latino and the remaining belong to the
rest of the world, and everybody proudly call London their home.
Closer to home, even Kuala
Lumpur is a wonderfully diverse capital city. The city has long stood out as a
shining example of a diverse place that works – and is in fact strengthened by
its diversity. Malays, Chinese and Indians are the major ethnic groups, with
Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism as the dominant religions. A street food
heaven, in KL the Chinese also use Indian spices in their dishes. They combine
different tastes and cooking methods to create a uniquely Malaysian flavour.
American, Italian, Spanish, Chinese, South Indian restaurants are plenty and
equally plentiful are the places of worship. No wonder KL is posing a stiff
competition to a much more cosmopolitan Singapore.
The role of cities in
shaping human history and society goes beyond their physical structures and
economic prowess. Many cities across the world are deeply intertwined with
religious and cultural identities, and these connections have shaped their
development for centuries. In India, cities like Varanasi and Amritsar stand as
living testaments to the power of religion and culture in urban landscapes.
These cities are not just urban centers but are hubs of spiritual significance,
cultural heritage, and religious tourism. The unique intersection of faith,
culture, and urban development offers us a fascinating glimpse into how
religion and culture can influence and transform cities over time. These cities
are attracting tourists but few businesses and industries. The latter will
gravitate towards more diverse and cosmopolitan cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Ahmedabad. If these cities don’t open their arms to
embrace an outsider with a brilliant idea and great skill, he/she will
gravitate towards a more welcoming city. This will only deprive our mega-cities
of the best people and brightest talents.
