Built on sentiment, shaped by migration and reinforced by its job market, Mumbai, known for its wealth, isn’t the only thing the country acknowledges. Far more important is the kindness it provides to dreams and aspirations.
Historically, Mumbai grew not as a political capital but as the financial capital of the region known as the Bombay Province through trade, labour and opportunities. Its identity was never tied to just one culture which meant cooperation became a practical necessity. From mill workers in the 19th century to film crews today, Mumbai’s story has always been one of people from different states working alongside each other. This legacy has had an influence on how people interact, even today, with tolerance if not warmth.
Migration has played the biggest role in shaping Mumbai’s perceived kindness. Millions arrive with the same dream of achieving stability, dignity and a better life. This shared struggle creates an unusual bond among the people. In local trains, strangers help everyone when needed, whether in lifting heavy luggage or providing passage through the crowd. Mumbai teaches its residents to empathise not for idealism but for the journey they will share and story they have lived through each other’s journey.
The job market further reinforces this cultural bond of strangers. Mumbai’s economy, both in the organised and unorganised sectors, depends on diversity. Many students come here seeking a means of living a life that will give them identity and meaning.
On a personal level, I have migrated to Mumbai from Kolkata to study journalism, a field in which I hope to make a meaningful identity and career for myself. As a media hub, this city offers endless opportunities to tell stories across all platforms.
According to the 2011 Census, migrants accounted for almost 43 percent of Mumbai’s population. The vast majority migrated from Uttar Pradesh to Mumbai, followed by Gujarat, Karnataka, Rajasthan and Bihar.
In a country where urban life can be harsh, Mumbai’s willingness to accommodate, absorb and uplift gives it a unique moral texture, one that many experience as a quiet form of everyday kindness.
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