Features: Magazine | Literary Review | Life | Metro Plus | Open Page | Education Plus | Book Review | Business | SciTech | Friday Review | Young World | Property Plus | Quest | Folio |

How do we fare?

PHOTO: K. GOPINATHAN

DO WE HAVE IT IN US? Does anyone lend you a hand on a rainy day?

"Yeh hai Mumbai meri jaan." This line from the famous 1950s song was repeated often after the 7/11 Mumbai serial blasts to describe the city's spirit. Stories of people offering shelter to stranded train commuters in their homes, organisations distributing free food, and of slum dwellers pitching in to recover the bodies and helping the injured. The stories were an encore of the reports in the aftermath of the unprecedented floods the previous year.

In depressing contrast, when rains marooned parts of Bangalore last year, such stories were hard to come by. In fact, we had stories of scalpers fleecing people to push vehicles stranded in water.

So what is this spirit that brings people together in times of disaster (man-made or natural) and do Bangaloreans have it in them, asks ANAND SANKAR.

I have seen that some people help when it matters but most just carry on withwhatever they are doing. They don't seem to show much interest in helping others.

Srinivas, Software engineer

I guess people normally do help others but in this city everyone has a job to do and they stick to it. But again, this city has not had a big enough disaster.

Shyam
Logistics professional

I was in South Africa for two years and have just come to Bangalore now. I think this city is far better to live in than any other in India or South Africa.

Rohini
Homemaker

I don't think Bangaloreans are the most helpful lot. But again, I don't think Bangaloreans have experienced the kind of disasters that other cities have.

Shakun
Software engineer

No, Bangaloreans definitely do not believe in helping others when it comes to a crunch. I don't think anything can change this mentality, it's entirely up to the people.

Sheetal
Student PHOTOS: SAMPATH KUMAR G.P.

Bangaloreans are definitely not a helpful lot. They are all busy with their own work, so they don't have time for anything or anyone else. This has to definitely change.

Trishul
Student

Bangaloreans are definitely a good lot. The time I have been here I have been able to witness that. I guess when you have a disaster big enough people will get together.

Michael
Banker

The mentality to selflessly help people has to come on its own. It comes with the spirit of a city, which Bangalore definitely does not have.

Rinku
Software engineer

I have lived in Mumbai and Bangaloreans come nowhere close to Mumbaikars when it comes to helping out. I guess the spirit has to come on its own, it comes with the city.

Shalini
Educationist

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail