TEMPLE ON THE COAST
Sea link has gained to be an international landmark in the Mumbai skyline. It has also enhanced the prominence of suburbs and more particularly the Mahim bay. Mumbai will no more be identified by the Gateway of India and the marine drive –the colonial legacy. The addition of sea link which offers a panoramic view of Worli sea face and area around has diluted the importance of the other ‘city’ landmarks. Many visitors look forward to driving in/out of sealink in order to experience the thrill of moving above the sea and watching the skyline and the promising bay which has been created.
Most of us whilst speeding in our cars ( two wheelers are not permitted) look up only toward the tall towers but if we slightly depress our angle of sight we will witness sprawling hutments of worli sea face . Image makers may make face and pass remarks on the ugliness of the sight but that is the truth. It keeps reminding us that the select few who have sped ahead have done so at the cost of the people in the poor hutments who are the true inheritors of the worli village and the sea face. The capitalist intruders will soon swallow the remnants of their existence. Who will protect them?
On a careful look there stands a small fort probably it is the Worli Fort ( Worli I think was one among the original 7 islands of Bombay). What role that Fort played in history is not known, may be it is just symbolic, though behind the remnants of Worli village a Naval establishment looks toward the sea and during the British time its guns protected the harbour from enemy aggression. But the question is that who will protect the people and their temporary/semi-permanent residents from the might and greed of builders.
Perhaps that small temple which is so distinct among the hutments making a mark with its bright orange/pink colour, the flag fluttering atop.
When the citizens have no hope from the State they rely on such symbols of protection and solidarity and that is why among such areas we see flowering of religious structures. For secularism to flourish the poor and unprotected must be secured by the firm power of the State so that they do not have to seek recourse to powers beyond. Religion should play role only for spiritual enlightenment and be a personal matter and not a symbol of public posturing.
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