Why
Malls?
During my sojourns
around Mumbai, visiting a new mall has always been reminiscent to some other
orthodox folk trying out a new restaurant. Although being a total novice to architecture
and civil engineering, for a lack of a better word – which again - proves by
greenhorn credentials, it is the history and emotions of structures that have
always attracted me to them.
Why Now?
After
having come to terms with the fact that I am a ‘mall-hopper’….through leisure, necessity,
& work - even if I chose to believe it or not – as any writer who desires
to keep the words from drying for having been reticent too long – I also
believe malls deserves it places in what I have chosen to ink down thus far–
which although not colossally rampant, continues to wrests its place in cyberspace
– SEO or no SEO.
You
Shall Not Wander…
So quickly
moving on before I wander and make this sentence too long as well …..
Loose
Premise
Be it a
date or a get-together with friends, we more often than not; decide on the mall
first and the hangout later – or am I only one? There are as much check-in for
malls as there are for more illustrious monuments we are endowed with from
periods where details was more art than accurate.
Tenured Titans
However, it
is easy to ignore in the wake of the glitz and glory of these new malls – the ones
that stands proudly enticing and greetings visitors to the one on its way to being
a beacon of the locality of its standing – the poor fate of the decapitated malls
that have long since exhausted what novelty it had to offer or is clinging to a
glory that’s fast fading. These tenured souls stand vigil in a rearguard in a
losing cause amidst the threat an occupation of brick, mortar and steel, that
could come marauding through any time, and any glamour there remains, is more cosmetic
than merit.
It is easy
to romanticize of these fading behemoths as relics that stand stoic in its aura,
but the fact of the matter is, there is more value in decimating and building over
than holding onto them in case it catches someone’s fancy – for they are merely
occupying space in a city that craves it like no other. It is ironic to think
that many of these malls arose from the unfortunate mills that dotted the city
of Mumbai, but as the cliché goes; only change is constant, as one old bastion is
replaced by a new force.
End Too
Obvious
Although I realize
that some of these malls have defaulted on their sell by dates, I – and I am
sure other like them – do frequent them for it holds emotional value – while some
others hoping to be the last stroke on an epitaph that is imminent.
A variety
of factors has contributed to these malls fading away quicker than expected.
Some were not planned well enough and were a result of mad rush to build as
quickly as possible without any semblance of prudence being given a chance.
Other reason has been the mismanagement between the builders and the society –
or the lack of it – that have resulted in the premises not being business
friendly – resulting in collapsing infrastructure, bad press and word of mouth,
summiting to an accelerated demise to the abyss – hyperbole intended – writer feels
strongly about it as he also owns a property in a mall.
Some of the
more famous ones who range from being ignored to the shambolic, to the ‘still hopeful’
to the completely botched, including - Nirmal Lifestyle, Mulund, who still has
some time to go but is a shadow of the glitz it oozed, to Eternity Mall, Thane,
which once used to considered the pride of its locality but is now a ghost to
its own prestige that has long since passed by, to Dreams The Mall in Bhandup,
which still holds potential but could have been so much more, speaks volumes to
what these malls once were, and maybe, just maybe, what could still be. There
are many other I could call to my aid to prove my point, but silently seek aid
for themselves.
Solace
Solace, if any
that could be taken out of the imminent fall of these mega structures is that
new malls that are coming up will have a better chance of fulfilling its
purpose if there are less diversions to mall-hoppers like me – who are driven
by more emotions than solid reasons.
Sign-Off
The truth
remains that some of these malls have been among the forbearers to some of the most
drastic changes in the city during many of our lifetimes, and have been a big
part of what outdoor activity….or the illusion of it - has been for me and many
others.
When these
relics do call it quits, let it be with grace and not play out a BMC demolition
from a sad movie, and may it be a start of something that is only better than
what it was and nothing less.
Could have notched
up more but I know you making it thus far is a miracle for a lesser writer like
me. Thanks for reading. Do share with me what you think of the malls too – the new,
the bad, and the surviving.
Till then – keep hopping.
Thanks - The Mall-Hopper
