A recent survey by the Reader's Digest describes the Indian city of Mumbai as the 'rudest city' on Earth, causing anger from the city's expats.
Mumbai is 'matter of fact', Mumbai is 'practical' and does not poke its nose into other people's business, and Mumbai is extremely 'polite when required', said non-resident Indians from Mumbai.
"I am ready to punch anyone ... who calls Mumbai rude," said Rekha Nigam from Mumbai, now a Dubai resident.
Do you think Mumbai is a rude city? What are the politest and rudest cities you've ever been to?
Thank you for your response. This topic is now closed. No more emails will be published on this page
I have visited Mumbai many times and never seen any rudeness. The people there are very friendly. If you call Mumbai rude, what do you think New York is? There are lots of people in Mumbai who treat others like family members. When Mumbai was hit by floods last year, the entire city came together to help one another. When the US was hit by Katrina, they made a big issue out of it and had cases of theft and rape. Mumbai is a city that never sleeps. Come on Mumbai, we are right there with you!
Karthik
Dubai/USA
Any city in India would qualify for this title whenever it comes to retail customer service. You can purchase goods worth thousands of Rupees without a single word crossing the lips of the sales person. By and large, shopkeepers in India tend to feel they are doing you a favour and not vice-versa.
Mueller
By email
Mumbai is the city where you will always find a helping hand despite people’s heavy schedules. All the festivals celebrated in Mumbai are celebrated by all the Mumbai-ites together, not by specific castes or religions. It is the best and always will be. I love my Mumbai and I love my India. Mumbai is heaven.
Rozmin
Dubai
I am really shocked after seeing the result of the "rudest city". Last year I was in Mumbai on 26th July during the floods and spent whole night in a car on Eastern Expressway. I saw the local residents come out to help the sufferers whole heartedly.
By email
Anonymous by request
On the contrary I think cities with too much etiquette formal codes of conducts are rude.
Shabbir
By email
I too am a Mumbai-ite working in Dubai. Whilst I agree to my fellow Mumbai-ites I would request them to chill and take it all as healthy criticism. We Indians are lucky to have natural resources, ancient architecture and history, but we have no time to appreciate it. We should take this opportunity for self introspection and work towards a better city instead of trying to bash anyone who has done this survey.
Savio
By email
I've been in Mumbai twice, but never seen any rudeness. The people are friendly and hospitable. Some people may experience some bad moments there, but this is happening all over the world, especially in metropolitan cities. Although I am Filipino, I like the people of Mumbai.
Edgar
By email
"I am ready to punch anyone..", "I will tear apart anyone.." Well what do you call rude then?
Helena
By email
Mumbai is India's city of dreams, where businesses are born, creativity is nurtured, success meets striving, and art, science, trade and culture come together to paint the Great Indian Dream. Mumbai-ites may not hold doors open, but Mumbai is always ready to welcome people from all parts of India to its fold. Mumbai may not pick your papers up on the street. But Mumbai will always pick itself and its people up from the worst. Bomb-blasts, floods, riots and political neglect - they have all come Mumbai's way. Every single time, Mumbai has picked itself up. I remember a Times of India ad that asked - "Chandrasekhar, Joglekar or Kar ... who is the true Mumbaikar?" The answer - all of them, and anyone who wants to hop on. Rock on, Mumbai. We are all right there with you!
Manosij
Sharjah
I have spent beautiful years there. People are not formal and they will say things as they see them.
Sajid
By email
Mumbai is a place of dreams. It’s hard to believe that Mumbai has been labeled as the rudest on Earth. In fact it is the coolest place on the Earth. People of Mumbai are smart, good looking and friendly. No man will go hungry in Mumbai. It is the best place to survive.
Sandra
By email
I would agree that Mumbai-ites are little rude. This is because of the tight schedules. Travelling in over crowded trains and buses is one of the biggest tensions you could have. But there are still a lot of people who would help you as if you were a family member. The best example is the manner in which entire Mumbai came together to help each other during the heavy rains last year.
Aqsa
Dubai
Calling Mumbai as the rudest city reflects an unrealistic image of it. It is true that you might find people passing by not glancing at a nearby accident scene. But they might be extremenly busy, dying to reach their destination. Mumbai can teach you what life is and make a survivor out of you. It is the city that never sleeps. I just love the city!
Dubai
Anonymous by request
I agree that people don't have time to talk to each other but no one can say it's rude. Mumbai teaches me how to be fast in day to day life. I love you Mumbai.
Zeenat
Sharjah
I grew up in Mumbai and can swear that Mumbaites can be very kind and helpful. Many families keep bottles of waters outside their doorsteps for devotees who travel on foot to the Siddhivinak temple from the suburbs. Can anyone forget the spontaneous acts of kindness that Mumbai-ites showed their fellow city dwellers who were stranded in the floods last year? Life in Mumbai is tough and at times uncompromising but we are certainly not the rudest in the world.
Danny
Dubai
I lived in Mumbai for three years and did not feel that it was a rude city. Every year Mumbai gets better.
Vinod
By email
People there are all busy. I love Mumbai even after living in Dubai for 10 years. If anyone were to ask me how I like Dubai, my answer would be there is no place like Mumbai.
Jane
Dubai
It is true that people don’t have time in Mumbai. It’s the best place to make money but you won't hear words like thank you or welcome. I was under the impression that Mumbai was the nicest place in the world until I came to Dubai and realized that I was totally wrong.
Jay P
Mumbai / Dubai
I think people from Mumbai are the most friendly, intelligent and street smart. You can adjust to any place if you have lived in Mumbai. In fact, some of my office people think that girls from Mumbai can outwit most men and women from other states in India.
Rohan
Dubai
It's a shame to hear these results. Of course the human values of care and respect for others will be less in Mumbai. People are busy at work. We Indians have to improve as those values are very important. I wonder if they compared Mumbai to others like Carachi, Daka, Lagos and other African and Pakistani cities?
Raveendran
Dubai
What are you people talking about? Haven't you visited London, New York or France? The people there are much ruder. Please visit these places first and then comment.
Priya
By email
Rude is an unwanted adjective for Mumbai! Independent, reliable, resourceful, accommodating, internationally well known, Mumbai is nothing less than a charm and jewel of India. So all Mumbaites, let's say together "We love you Mumbai and are proud of you".
Henrietta
Dubai
The Readers Digest have not adopted a proper method to measure the rudeness of the city, because in the whole of India not just in Mumbai, saying "thank you" or "please" is not a measure of kindness. With so many different languages and religions everyone has a different method of showing politeness or gratitude. India is the only country in the world where almost all the religions and faiths are able to follow their own religion.
Namasthe
Dubai
Mumbai is one of the most practical cities in the world - you get to see various faces of life in different forms. Of course, like any other place, the saying "survival of the fittest" is applicable.
Nadia
By email
A mistake has occured regarding this survey. I would like to know who conducted the survey and on how many people. Mumbai accepts all types of people. It's certainly not the rudest part of the world.
Suresh
By email
Mumbai is a land of dreams. The fact that social attachments are so strong, even in such a busy city, makes it a dream destination.
Sandeep
Mumbai/Dubai
Even though Mumbai is not the 'coolest' city it is not the 'rudest' either. Each and every big city has its good points and bad points. Maybe the survey team happened to stumble upon more bad points, leaving a bitter experience on them. That does not mean Mumbai is the rudest, although the response that said, "I am ready to punch anyone ... who calls Mumbai rude," must surely come from a black corner of this civilized city.
Panickar
By email
It’s rude to say that Mumbai is the rudest city on Earth. This is nonsense and totally wrong. People are too busy in that city.
By email
Anonymous by request
Rude? Mumbai? Whoever reached this conclusion doesn't understand the term 'rude.' This city embraces one and all. The surveyors should get in the commuters train. Someone will always be willing to give up their seat. Is that rude? People in Mumbai, maybe don’t have time to wile away, but let any tourist who has lost his way say that he was not helped to reach his destination.
Jatin
By email
I lived in Mumbai for 18 years and was there when the last storms shattered the city. After 24 hours the city calmed down and people went back to normal. When Hurricane Katrina went on rage in the US, there were many cases of rape and theft. There were no such reports in Mumbai. I still miss it.
George
Bur Dubai
I absolutely agree with the survey. Mumbai is one of the rudest cities on Earth. I realized this after coming to Dubai where people of all race and religions are so polite and kind. People here take time to ask how you are when you meet them or say thanks before leaving. I'm not saying that people in Mumbai aren't helpful, but they are just rude. I had the opportunity to stay in Mumbai for a few weeks and after coming back, I had a very hard time getting rid of my rude behaviour.
Masuda
By email
From my experience of Mumbai it's a place where anyone regardless of cast, creed or income can live and survive better than any part of the world.
Abraham
Dubai
These people have not seen Mumbai from the inside. They just see the exterior and bluff. Mumbai is a city where people learn to grow and earn. That's why many people from different places migrate there. Don't forget that Mumbai is Bollywood, where many dreams have come true, so please don’t say Mumbai is rude. It is the most lovable place in the World.
Javed
Mumbai
I will tear apart anyone who calls Mumbai rude. Without experiencing the hospitality of city you cannot judge it. It’s a fast moving city and people don't have time to stand and stare. Because of that, people think it's rude.
George
Dubai
No way. It is absolutely the reverse of rudeness. Mumbai is a city of miracles, where anyone from anywhere has the opportunity to survive. Being a Mumbaite, I cannot bear this allegation. I am proud to be a Mumbaite. So please mind your language before saying anything rubbish about my city. Mumbai has great potential for taking care of all kinds of people. I adore and appreciate my Mumbai for its own culture.
Anis
Mumbai/Dubai
"I am ready to punch anyone ... who calls Mumbai rude." Isn’t that rude enough? Guess it goes on to prove that the survey report is true.
Syed
Abu Dhabi
