मुम्बई रियल फस: क्लास Divide

Mउम्बाई-करस अरे सो गेनेरोउस, व्हें ब्लामिंग कसते एंड क्रिमिनल प्लोइतिसिंस ऑफ़ थे स्टेट ऑफ़ बिहार..बुत आफ्टर रीडिंग थे बेलो न्यूज़..शोव्स ठिर रियल पिक्स...कान्नोत बेलिएवे थिस कैन हप्पें इन २१स्त् सन्तुरी इन अ सिटी लिके मुम्बई..गोद ब्लेस इंडिया..

The upwardly mobile classes in Mumbai would not like their servants to climb up the social ladder just as quickly, it seems.Perpetuating an age-old class divide in the city that started with many low-rise buildings insisting that servants use the stairs even if there was a lift, residents of a swish 36-storey residential complex called Marathon Next Gen (or Marathon Towers) in Lower Parel have told their domestic helps, drivers and other servants not to travel along with them in the building’s elevators and use a separate lift instead.The residents have put up a circular on the building’s notice board saying that of the six lifts in the building, servants, drivers, cooks and courier boys are supposed to use only number 5.Work on Marathon Towers, which has nearly 280 flats, started in 2004 and flat-owners moved in here in 2006.A majority of the building’s occupants are unabashedly in favour of such discrimination, and those, like Prabha Ojha, 55, who opposed the move, found themselves outnumbered when the subject was debated at a residents’ meet recently.“It enraged me when I heard my servant was to use a separate elevator. If he can stay with me in my house, take care of household chores, make my life easier, why should he be subjected to such discrimination?” asked Prabha Ojha, a resident.However, other residents feel the separation was necessary.“The servants sometimes crowd the elevators. With this demarcation, the residents won’t have to wait. At times, the servants themselves hesitate to use the same lift when the flat-owners are using it. The rule makes it simpler for them too,” said Nathmal Jain, 72, a resident.Jain said renovation work was on in some parts of the building, so labourers, plumbers and electricians came in throughout the day. “If they are allowed to use all lifts, they keep going to and fro all day and the elevators are not available for our use,” he stressed.Rama Broker, 65, who stays on the ninth floor, said vendors, delivery boys, washer-men and workers visited the building regularly. “If all elevators are allowed to be used by all and sundry, there are chances that the visitors, guests or owners will have to wait. So what if there is a separate provision? This makes things easier for all,” she said.Shiksha Daga, another occupant, raised the usual ‘class’ question about ‘cleanliness.’ She said, “The drivers and servants chew gutkha that gives a very foul smell. It is better that they use a different elevator.”Reddy S, another resident, however said, “I feel there is no need for separate lifts for servants. If it is an issue about power-saving and making things smoother and simpler, there are better ways of doing so.”‘Security is the issue’Explaining the idea behind the circular, Alok Wadnere, estate manager of Marathon Next Gen said, “The foremost reason is security. There are numerous people coming into the complex. Most of them come to work at the building or deliver some stuff at the flats. If we allow use of lifts without demarcation, people will tend to misuse the facility. Each house has more than one domestic help and there are outsiders. Sometimes guests have to wait while others use elevators. This is not done with an intention of causing discrimination but only to make things easier for our occupants,” he added.The servants crowd elevators. With this separation, the residents won’t have to wait. - Nathmal Jain, a रेसिदेंत...
Such discrimination is not really new in the city। Several low-rise buildings still insist that servants use the stairs and not the lift.A 20-storey building on Napeansea Road had laid out such rules in the late 60s, when it came up. The building has 120 apartments spread across two wings, each of which has four lifts. Servants are supposed to use the service lift that is otherwise used for transporting goods.Kishore Pasari, a resident of the building said once his music teacher, who obviously did not care much for his appearance, was mistaken for a servant and asked by security guards to use the service lift. A plush building at Nariman Point too has a rule that restricts servants, couriers, drivers and other workers from using the building’s four main lifts. They have to take the service lift. A resident said the rule was inevitable as there were too many servants in the building.

Why the comment moderator is not showing comments, looks like this moderator is indirectly favouring CLASS-BASED INDIAN SOCIETY.Hope these high class people don't ask GOD for special road.
- Contributed by TalkBack , hihowdoing@yahoo.com on Friday, March 14, 200807:40 AM
Hope when these people die GOD should also have separate queue for them.A queue where not many people are standing in front of them HELL's Road is the name.Mr Nathmal Jain, you are Jain and as I understood your religion teaches "Ahinsha, love ", is it just bull-shit then since you have family name Jain.Hope tomorrow you don't ask for separate road, separate sky, separate road which goes to HELL.Even late Dhirubhai Ambani started at low level, so what you are feeling proud about.
- Contributed by TalkBack , hihowdoing@yahoo.com on Friday, March 14, 200804:30 AM
you know its quite interesting: This form has a note in the bottom saying: "Fields marked * are compulsory". On the contrary, none of the fields are marked with * sign. How stupid of Mumbai Mirror.. . lol
- Contributed by chhagan , chhaganbhujbad@yahoo.co.in on Friday, March 14, 200804:29 AM
You idiots!!! I have nothing to say but to laugh at your mentality!!! Residents don't have to wait- but servants have to? Why? just because you guys live in a high-end society, you think you people are kings? Aren't they humans? The creator is the same you idiots! there are 6 elevators in the building? are all the elevators going to be full every single time... I mean think about it- who are you to differentiate someone from using an elevator or not? Just because living in an high-end building, its your ego that differentiates them. At the end of the day, you losers eat food from their hands and even walk on the floors that are mopped by them!!!!
- Contributed by chhagan , chhaganbhujbad@yahoo.co.in on Friday, March 14, 200804:28 AM
Such class divide will take India to the dogs!! I am glad I moved out long time ago. All the reasons cited here seem to be flimsy to me. There are service elevators in the west too but the purpose is to haul heavy and bulky packages/ boxes etc., not to discriminate against people.
- Contributed by Raul , ajaxvalencia@gmail.com on Friday, March 14, 200804:11 AM