Tata’s Nano Vs the Indian Tiger!
Kartikeya Singh
kartikeya@delhigreens.org
It is 8:30 PM on January 10th, 2008. I am writing from the famous Ranthambore National Park–known for its tigers–where 80% of the world’s “tiger in the wild” photos are taken. I have been on two game drives and seen no tigers. It is said that here are somewhere between 30 to 40 tigers in this 400 sq km sanctuary. Much has been done to protect the species from certain extinction on this subcontinent of 1.03 billion people. Here the battle that will determine which India wins – the urban/”shining India” or the rural/depressed India – is being waged on the basis of land. As people are moved out of parks to make way for non-community based conservation in this part of India, on the eastern side, of the country people are being bought off (forcibly) from productive farm lands to make way for an auto manufacturing plant. This single manufacturing plant is going to redefine the way the world moves – starting with the Indians.
It is 8:45 PM on January 10th, 2008 and on TV I am seeing the long awaited release of the “People’s Car” by Tata Motors. The car is the cheapest the world has seen yet with a base price of Rs. 1 Lakh – all of this having met the Indian safety standards as well as pollution standards (Euro IV). The idea was to provide a car within easier reach of the burgeoning middle class and despite all the nay sayers, Tata may have pulled this off. It is a four door car with a 33 hrs power engine and it is called the “Nano.” This name being chosen to signify the innovation possibilities (of doing a lot with a little) thanks to improvements in technology. Unfortunately the car may be diesel powered – wreaking havoc on the reduced suspended particulates achieved in cities like New Delhi through forced use of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) by the city’s public transport. However it is said to have fuel efficiency of 20 km/L or 50 mpg – which is just as good as any Japanese Hybrid. And if the world DOES figure out biofuels, then the diesel engine may not be so bad.
Whether this car will truly benefit the “common man,” presumably those living in rural areas as argued by some of the car’s advocates, or simply turn into a traffic and pollution nightmare for the already taxed urban Indian–is yet to be seen. Rest assured its impact will send ripple effects across the globe–be it global fuel price or temperature rise (and I wont even mention the hike in consumption of resources used for the construction of the vehicle–yes it’s steel!).
It is 9:00pm on January 10th, 2008. The world will look back on this day surely. I do not know whether I will see any tigers tomorrow either, but I know that I am a little bit more uncertain about their future in this new India which has turned yet another page on its path of industrialization.
Tigers: Here today, gone tomorrow?
Tata Nano: Coming soon to a store near…you?
*Jan. 11, 2008* I did not see any tigers today and I found out that none have been spotted within the last few days by anyone on a game drive.
________
A 2007 graduate of Furman University, Kartikeya Singh is here in India on a Compton Fellowhip currently assessing the barriers to decentralized renewable energy systems for rural India under the guidance of Sunita Narain, Director – Center for Science & Environment. The above article was written by him from the fringes of the Ranthambore National Park in Rajasthan.
Rob Del Sesto said,
January 20, 2008 at 7:21 pm
I have been a supporter and admirer of India’s wildlife for over 30 years.
But it is getting increasingly difficult; given the news like this that I keep hearing from India regarding the disappearance of their wildlife. The tigers,
the Asiatic lions, the gharials, the water buffaloes… All very sad.
Rob Del Sesto,
Norfolk, Virginia USA
P.S. When will Gujarat finally give up some of their lions for relocation to Madhya Pradesh?
matt said,
January 20, 2008 at 9:26 pm
Hi Kartikeya
Very interesting post and reflections on a changing India.
I’ve seen the news on the Nano and of course are aware of the plight of the tiger. We humans like to keep busy don’t we but it appears we’re not sure what really matters anymore. Industrialization at the cost of destroying all that is natural around us is the road to nowhere. Car or no car.
Swati said,
January 23, 2008 at 4:28 am
Isn’t Development the need of the hour?
They question, and then stare at you, till you blurt out a hesitant “ya….but”. That is it! There you go! You are not allowed to speak anymore.
Development comes first to them. You can’t live in mud-houses, they say…
How do I tell them, “Who wants to live bound by steel anyway, when there would be no green leaves and song of the birds to look out for from that dusty glass window buried in the concrete…”
Kartikeya Singh said,
January 24, 2008 at 5:59 pm
I think one of the biggest saving graces of India’s wildlife will be the expected urbanization that India will undergo by 2030 (50% of population in cities). While this spells disaster for the already over burdened infrastructure, at least it will free up some space in the countryside for (hopefully) vegetation and wild spaces to regenerate. The cities is where the real development challenge will have to be met–yes it is of the hour–but it must be done so equitably and sustainably, not haphazardly. The story of the forests is true–it is what happened in Western Europe and the US, and is a big reason for their regeneration.
As for the lions, I’m not sure when they’re going to be relocated–i’ve always been for the idea of stealing some in the middle of the night and secretly shipping them across the border. But that’s not very professional is it? Time will tell.. hopefully it will be done before its too late.
Govind said,
January 24, 2008 at 6:07 pm
@Swati: I’m glad the question wasn’t put to me…that eventful ‘tomato riced’ day…for I had nothing to ‘prove my point’ anyway. For all I know…hanv’t we developed enough…and what is happening now…isn’t that all in the wrong direction?
Hm…thats an extensive debate. Meanwhile do check out the last part of this rather long thesis…that tries to state how sustainable can development be!
http://sushilyadav.blogspot.com/
@matt: true to the core…
@Mr. Rob Del Sesto : With the reinstatement of the Gujarat Govt., we hope that they would now understand the fact that it is necessarily needed to relocate the lions…even if it is to save the pride of Gujarat.
Tata Nano: some comic relief! « :: Delhi Greens :: said,
January 27, 2008 at 5:10 pm
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