Timeless jewel

Disclaimer: With inputs from older brother!

From the richest to the poorest, oldest to youngest, everyone identifies with this miracle of Mumbai – the Queen’s Necklace. The Queen’s Necklace is nothing but Marine Drive, and is so called, because when looked at from a high altitude, especially at night, owing to all the sparkling lights of the city that never sleeps, the area around the sea, right from Nariman Point to Chowpatty, is lit up, thus giving the effect of a dazzling jewel.

The places which make up this fabulous jewel, are favourite hangouts for people of all ages and from all walks of life. All of them can be found here, enjoying themselves. Says Nasir Engineer, a student of Jai Hind college (students frequent Marine Drive due to its proximity to the college), “Every time lectures get cancelled, or we don’t feel like sitting for a particularly boring lecture, we come here. It’s so much fun!” There are many others who share his sentiment. Nupur Sariya, who works near Chowpatty, says, “During lunch breaks at work, I come here sometimes. I know it’s sunny, especially in the summers, but then I sit under the shade of a tree on the bench, and just sit back and relax. Alternately, I also go to Cafe Coffee Day on the opposite side of the road in the evenings at times with friends. Just being near the sea gives a sense of serenity and calmness.”

The people who love being close to the sea would anyway have enjoyed going to the sea face, but ever since the beautification project was undertaken – and completed – near Marine Drive, the area has become even more beautiful and inviting. An entire promenade has been created, complete with trees along the way. Another positive step taken towards making this jewel even more appealing, was the clearance of all the hawkers from the main beach at Chowpatty. While it’s true that Chowpatty would be incomplete without its pani puri and bhel puriwalas, they sure were a nuisance when they used to spread right across the beach. Also, the Chowpatty beach is now much cleaner than it used to be before, which is a definite plus.

And who can forget the ghoda gadiwalas! Magnificent chariot seats atop resplendent (or not so resplendent) horses, the breeze in your face while the horse’s hoofs go clippety clop; what more could you ask for? Lower rates for the rides, that’s one thing for sure! A ride from Nariman Point to Chowpatty would cost you anywhere between Rs. 250 – 350! Ask them why they charge so much, and the owners of the carriages – such as Masoud bhai tangewale – say that feeding the horse alone costs so much; like you alone are supposed to be paying for that!

Marine Drive was the very place which saw the man whom we all know as King Khan now, say to his friend, “I will be the king of this city one day.” And, well, the sea bears witness to the coming true of this declaration, and probably many more such beliefs, hopes and dreams, that we may know nothing of. The Queen’s Necklace has become immortal in Indian cinema; right from Ashok Kumar to Akshay Kumar, Sunil Dutt to Sanjay Dutt, and Chalti ka Naam Gadi to Lagey Raho Munnabhai!

However, apart from all the good things connected with the Queen’s Necklace, if one looks closer than the twinkling lights, the water of the Arabian Sea is not exactly crystal clear, but for that, nobody but the public is to blame. Mrs. Shirin Mehta, who lives in NCPA Apartments facing the sea at Nariman Point, says, “It’s great to be living here, but, sometimes, when I’m standing at the window, and see people throwing plastic bottles and whole bags of litter into the sea, I get very upset. Once or twice when I was out and saw this happening, I reprimanded the lady who was tossing things in the water, but she just gave me a nasty look and walked away.”

Mrs. Mehta’s complaints, however, are not the lawmakers’ only worries. Apart from this problem, the law also has to make sure to secure the coastal areas, so that another 26/11 does not take place in Mumbai. After the carnage at the Taj, the Oberoi and the Trident, among other places in South Mumbai, securing the coastal areas has become the need of the hour.

Apart from the pressing and serious matter of coastal security, there is also the matter of the area being a lovers’ point. In this day and age, where everyone has a fundamental right to freedom, this freedom is taken very literally by some. While the stand of certain political parties or the ‘moral brigade’ tends to be extreme on this issue, wherein couples indulge in PDA (Public Display of Affection), some people just carry it too far. Sunita, a young girl, who was enjoying some blissful moments with her boyfriend at Chowpatty, said, “As long as couples do not indulge in behaviour that is over the top and can be embarrassing to others around them, I don’t see any harm in couples sitting together. But this concept of the ‘moral police’ is ridiculous. How can you threaten people for holding hands?” asked a bewildered Sunita, and her partner couldn’t agree more.

Thus, the Queen’s Necklace epitomises the essence of Mumbai – where, irrespective of joys and sorrows, ups and downs, the poor man can enjoy himself while looking out at the sea, or the rich man while relaxing in a horse carriage; for after all, what is this, if not the Mumbai that draws people from around the world, the Mumbai that everyone loves, the Mumbai of our dreams.