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Today in our city we have visitors. Arriving from all over the country and in vast numbers they have traversed many miles in unimaginably harsh conditions to pay homage to their leader Babasaheb Ambedkar whose 50 death anniversary happens to be today.These are some of India's most disenfranchised people. Oppressed, out caste, ground down and forsaken, they are the country's forgotten multitudes, the people who have fallen outside its economic boom, who are untouched by the resurgent economy, unaffected by the spiralling Sensex.
How we treat them will be a measure of our civility, a demonstration of our education and evolvement and an indictment of our level of sophistication. A truly sophisticated person after all discriminates against no one; is at ease in the company of princes and paupers.
So it is not the lakhs of Dalits here today who are on trial for their behaviour as much as we are. They will not be judged by how peaceful they have been, how civilised and how calm, it is we who will be judged by how gracious, polite, and inclusive we are. It is not they who will have to behave --it is us.
Remember these are people who have been hurt by centuries of our neglect. They already feel unwanted and uninvited. How we can make them feel less so will not only be a demonstration of the much-lauded sophistication of us Mumbaikars, but in fact the most basic requirement of humanity and belief in the dignity of human beings.
I watched some of these lakhs of people yesterday queuing up outside a temple near my house. Bedraggled, sun burnt, wide-eyed, they stood with immense dignity and with undeniable strength and courage.
How will we extend our legendary hospitality to them? When we pass them on the streets will we greet them with a smile? Can we find it in our hearts to offer them a glass of water? How difficult will it be for us to overcome our fears and give them a cup of tea? What will it entail for us to treat them not as a public nuisance but as fellow human beings?
And were we to find it in our hearts to embrace this gathering, in spirit and by action, will it harm us -- or in fact neutralise feelings of hostility on both sides? Is the idea of extending a welcome, a gesture of kindness, so outlandish? Am I being a knee-jerk bleeding heart liberal who's completely out of whack?
I don't know. Yesterday after seeing the queues of Dalits I also saw the following two hoardings -- one for an exclusive residential colony which squawked- 'By Invitation Only,' and the other for a premium whiskey which leered -- 'Are you invited?' In the light of Mumbai's unwanted visitors, they both took on an unfortunate tone.
In a city that puts such a premium on being invited and on so-called sophistication -- will we have the instinct for real sophistication by being gracious hosts to our visitors? I hope, for our sakes, we do.
