Four major flash mobs In Mumbai

 

When: 27th November 2011
Where: Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus
By whom: Organised by Shonan Kothari
How many people: 200
For what: Entertainment
A day after the 3rd anniversary of the terrorist attacks in Mumbai, commuters at CST gawked as ordinary people from the crowd suddenly broke into a gig while the station speakers played ‘Rang De Basanti’ for a period of four minutes. This sparked off other flash mobs in the city.

When: March 24th, 2012
Where: Gateway Of India
By whom: Members of Raghani Studios, Goregoan (w) and Students of the St.Xavier's and St.Mary's School.
How many people: 1300
For what: To celebrate the spirit of Mumbai

Also known as 'Mumbai-I love You' this was India's biggest flash mob. Kamal Raghani director of Raghani Studios ( which provides technical service for feature films)  and the vision behind the colossal flash mob that danced to a rhythm especially composed for the purpose says,” Mumbai is a city that has given such opportunities to people. This (the flash mob) was my way to celebrate the city's spirit and play tribute ti it”
When asked how such a large number of students managed to keep the flash mob a secret, 18 year-old Azhar Khazi (one of the students) says, “We were not told the location of the mob till two days before the final day. Our teachers in school had strictly warned us from spreading the message about the mob and we kept quiet about it”

When: 29th July 2012
Where: Chowpatty Beach
By whom: Students of Wilson College, Chowpatty
How many people: 500
For what: To protest against female infanticide.

Contrary to conventional flash mobs which are supposed to be kept a secret from the public, the organisers of this flash mob which was called ‘Dance For A Life’ asked people to join them through Facebook and other mediums of communication. Why? Pranjali Chauhan, a student of St.Xavier’s college and a participant of the mob says, “Flash mobs should be about drawing peoples' attention to a social cause. Just because it was commercially sponsored and had a Facebook page, doesn't mean the people present weren’t astounded.”

Unfortunately the police asked the students to stop their music in mid performance, to which Chauhan further added, “Stopping the music was completely unfair. As we were told that we had got permission to play it for a while. Just because they are in power they cannot go back on their word, right before the beginning of an event. Flash mobs don’t really cause public inconvenience. They are done for the public.”

When: 8th March
Where: International and Domestic airport.
By whom: Members of the Rotract Club Of Jaihind (RCJC)
For what: To create awareness about women trafficking.
How many people: 20

This flash mob was performed on women’s day and was part of RCJC’s project-Cheekh (The Cry) that aimed to create awareness of the injustice inflicted by the Indian society on women. Charmi Mehta student of Jai Hind College and the initiator of the event says, “I feel flash mobs have a great scope in cities like Mumbai, where they are able to grab the attention of a public constantly on the move”.

Flash mobs have spread like wild fire globally, since their conception in New York. Is it possible that they are just a trivial phase of popular culture?
Param Mirpuri, a student and dancer feels, “Flash mobs help all sections of society to come on one platform because they don’t require particular skill or talent. They will have a great role to play in future humanitarian movements.”