I spent most of my first couple of days back in Bombay just taking in the smell in part-revolt and part-amusement, but mostly a state of vivid, happy intoxication. I came home one night, after 45 minutes of such vivid Bombay-smell intoxication on a local train, and started reading Shantaram (finally).
On Page 2, as if he was reading my mind and putting in words what I was struggling to, Roberts describes the Bombay smell.
"...it's the sweet, sweating smell of hope, which is the opposite of hate; and it's the sour, stifled smell of greed, which is the opposite of love. It's the smell of gods, demons, empires, and civilisations in resurrection and decay. It's the blue skin-smell of the sea, no matter where you are in the Island City, and the blood-metal smell of machines. It smells of the stir and sleep and waste of sixty million animals, more than half of them humans and rats. It smells of heartbreak, and the struggle to live, and of the crucial failures and loves that produce our courage. It smells of ten thousand restaurants, five thousand temples, shrines, churches, and mosques, and of a hundred bazaars devoted exclusively to perfumes, spices, incense and freshly cut flowers. Karla once called in the the worst good smell in the world, and she was right, of course..."
This city endears itself to me, yet again. So does Roberts' writing – it is simply beautiful. Just a few chapters in, but I think I am going to fall in love with Shantaram.
:: naazita ::
Wednesday, May 10, 2006 at 07:37
Smells
sac said...
Shantaram is such a bloody kickass book, isnt it? in no other city could a book like this have been set. I'm supercurious to see what adding in Hollywood and Johnny Depp does to the brew... JD is no Roberts!
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Heretic said...
Whoa! So you're doing two of the best things one can do--enjoy Bombay, and read Shantaram.
Davids just got under my skin with his vivid descriptions of Bombay--that's the city that residents see, smeel, experience each day, but hardly recognize. It's the first time I've seen Bombay's famous squalor being celebrated for the life it infuses. :-)
Yippee! Gee, you should've planned on a visit to Pune as well. WOuld've been real nice even though it's now around 40 degrees in the day.
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Nicole said...
I love your post about the smell of bombay. its funny, many people asked what is the biggest difference between pakistan and india - and I always replied that it smells different and people would just give me a weird look "what do you mean, it smells different?"....anyways, 16 more sleeps and I will be in Bombay!!! cant wait to escape Delhi and enjoy every minute of my stay in the true capital of india :o) will you be around on may 27-29th?
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WishfulThinker said...
I couldn't put it down till I fininshed the damn thing! Bombay does bring back very pleasant memories I say! Hope to see you there soon! :)
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Rohini said...
Not to mention the omnipresent smell of fish...
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koffeeshop said...
Wow your story reminds of my friend who recently went to Mumbai! The first thing she said to me was, "as soon as I landed and got out of the airport, my glasses fogged up"
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Tartrazina said...
enjoy the book dear! (do hope to read it some day... and not be lazy and wait for the flick!)will give you a call when i'm in Bombay soon! tootles!
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Menagerie said...
I am yet to read Shataram, can't wait! Sounds like an awesome book..
Great to know you are in amchi Bombay :) Have fun!!
Btw, I am liking Hongkong more and more, it's getting on my 'must visit' places...
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Archster said...
hope to get started with that book.
hope to see ya in Bombay!
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WishfulThinker said...
Vatha stop partying and do my tag I say!
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4WD said...
Yea, smell of bombay.... I was born there... and i'd love, i i didn't grow up in pune :)
But, as a consequence, i hate delhi.
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chitgo said...
ms kaazi i daresay this blog needs an update.
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