Twenty-five years is not a long time in the life of a city but so much has changed. Much has been written about the city’s wealth, its burgeoning size and its infrastructural plans and constraints and its world of stars and crime. There is more interest worldwide in the city than ever before. But little note has been made of what it has lost over time.

The media is a clear case in point. Many local publications have closed down or declined. Despite the media boom, Mumbai now is covered increasingly from the outside rather than the inside. The fact has significant repercussions for the manner in which it is covered which is with less complexity and a tendency to exaggerate the sensational aspects in preference to others. The image of Mumbai as the centre of the entertainment industry also has serious consequences for its self-image. The local elite for instance, which may have once consisted of creative minds or socially responsible individuals, is increasingly redefined to exclude all but the rich and glamorous.

The all-round emphasis on consumerism has led to a reduced awareness of serious issues and politics, particularly state politics. Demonstrators that once flooded the central Kala Ghoda area protesting about a host of issues have been moved out to less conspicuous locations. Local demonstrations on political issues, when they do take place, do not get the attention of the mainstream as they once used to. Issues that are hotly debated tend to be about infrastructure or civic issues, issues that affect the immediate environment.

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