By Sundar Aaron
Business Head, PIX
The reason I decided to sit down today and write about Mumbai and New York City is a selfish one- I have been living in India for the last nine years, but still cannot fathom how ridiculously similar Mumbai is to New York. So here goes...
Mumbai is often described as the city for dreamers - people who dream of making it big, more often than not without a plan. The city welcomes one and all to give what you want the most – a dream job or house or car – just be prepared to understand that the journey to your goal will be (let’s say) wild!
Colaba to Andheri feels like travelling through many cities at once with constantly changing neighbourhoods and surroundings; something that remains consistent is the energy. The fact of the matter is that you can be from any part of the country, be anywhere, yet you will encounter at least five people everyday who are in awe of Mumbai.
New York City strangely enough is very similar to Mumbai with different ethnicities and culture as you travel from block to block. NYC has always been the dream destination of many professionals and students and, of course, tourists from all around the world. Like Mumbai, the city too is the most populated in the country and continues to live up to its reputation of one of the world’s most sought-after metros in the world. The cities exude phenomenal energy which keeps everyone going, be it the terrible rain or heat in Mumbai or bone-numbing cold in NYC. Both the cities have genuine magnetism and make you feel like you are right in the centre of the world!
Let me not take any credit away from Mumbai, after all, there is a saying ‘If you’ve lived in Mumbai, you can live anywhere in the world’. You can send a Mumbaikar anywhere and he will feel at home.
I grew up in the States and living in India was a far-fetched thought, let alone settling here. After living in Mumbai for almost a decade, I cannot imagine living anywhere else, heck I’m sure my dogs can’t either!
