:: Delhi Greens ::

Well, that’s what many people seem to be reciting during this year’s monsoon. The reason for such a wish being the menace caused by rainfall that leads to traffic havoc and raises people’s irritation level even as it brings down the city’s mercury level.

Since the announcement of our new campaign “Delhi Monsoon 2010”, the graph of excitement and anticipation for this year’s monsoon has been going up and down…down and up. The scanning of news on monsoon and how the city is interacting with the hide and seek game of the monsoon has brought out some interesting facts to study and discuss.

The long-awaited monsoon reached the capital on July 5, Monday after a six-day delay. According to B.P. Yadav, Director of the India Meteorological Department, “even though the city missed its usual monsoon date of June 29, the rainfall for this season will be good.” But the news that flashed across many newspapers in the days that have followed and people’s reaction has varied as to what “good” is expected from the monsoon.

By 7th July news sources across the Internet flashed how Monsoon had knocked out Delhi and Haryana. Heavy rains and windy conditions disrupted operations at the IGI airport for about half an hour. Classic cases of civic negligence came forward with large sections of the busy Aurobindo Marg connecting Central Delhi with Gurgaon and South Delhi caved in after an evening of downpour. The result, both sides of the main road had to be blocked for traffic all the way from AIIMS to IIT-D, leading to massive jams on all the roads in the area. A reputed media agency revealed this to be the result of covering up of a storm-water drain at Gautam Nagar by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) last year.

Problems after problems have been running through most of the news channels on monsoon 2010. Yesterday’s sad news of lives being lost only added to the unfortunate and dismal situation, that is now the monsoon menace in the capital. It is reported that three persons, including a woman, were killed in rain-related incidents as heavy showers lashed the capital in the evening. A woman died due to wall collapse and two men were electrocuted when they came in contact with an electric wire which fell off a pole due to the rains in Chandni Chowk. In yet another incident, a three floored building came down killing the entire family which resided in it.

Few good news were reported related to the monsoon. One being the most common declaration of respite from the killer heat of Delhi. The rest, or if any of it exists, is hardly discussed or talked about. Why the monsoon, for all its blessings, never gets due respect and appreciation skips many a minds just like the rain clouds that skip Delhi so often. Do we ever wonder where all our drinking water is coming from, why we need rain, and the importance of such short lived season as the monsoon in Delhi?

The Delhi government has asked residents of low-lying areas along the Yamuna river bank to remain alert and if possible shift to safer places. 50, 000 cusecs of water may be released from the neighbouring Haryana state as it has been witnessing incessant rains since the past two days. Remembering the Yamuna that has been nothing more but a drain, and for which a cleansing solution is so sought after, a flood on it sounds a bit unimaginable. A natural process of cleaning or rather the natural way a river should be, will be a good eye opening picture for many people in and around Delhi.

Relating the problems to its causes and analyzing the impacts will definitely bring to light many neglected issues that need simple yet urgent solutions in the city. Prevention is always better than cure. This phrase has stood true through all time, and our city planners and authorities need to integrate this wise saying in all developmental planning and throughout the implementation phase. The coming days will bring respite from the heat but are we missing out on the larger picture of such short relief.

Join the Delhi Monsoon 2010 campaign! Treat yourself to many known facts and unknown issues

A peacock opens its feathers in Delhi to welcome the brief spell of showers that transformed the city weather overnight. Delhi has been facing more severe heat waves each summer and owing to several urbanization impacts such as the urban heat island effect, construction works, etc.

The monsoon in the city is thus much awaited and its importance is felt even more each passing year. Water is indeed a limiting factor when it comes to sustaining urban development. Going by the drying of lakes and water bodies in and around the city, a successful south-western monsoon has thus become critical for survival.

Image courtesy Dr. Faiyaz A. Khudsar

Also Read:

• Burning Delhi Awaits the Delayed South-west Monsoon

Every Monday the formal shops in our locality are closed in Delhi. I love to visit the markets on that day. The small informal traders put up stalls using bamboo sticks and iron bed and wooden platforms or just on a sack on the road and trade for about four to five hours usually in the evening. It is fun to see these stalls and the merchandise that they sell.

Everything is for sale from old and new clothes to furnishing to vessels and trinkets. There is even a dedicated lane for selling fruits and vegetables. I enjoy watching the stall owners and the consumers interacting with each other and among themselves.

That six feet by six feet of space on the road is of vital significance for those four hours to these people. The vendors have a system in place that caters to their needs. There is a water boy who sells water so the vendor (mostly a man, there are only a few Lamani’s- Gypsie women selling knives) does not have to leave his place. Then there is a boy who sells fried hard puris for snacks for the same reason.

Their merchandise is displayed in a very orderly manner and with beautiful patterns.The prices seem to be pre-determined. So no one goes below the minimum agreed upon. There seems to be an unwritten rule that whoever is about to finish his fresh fruit and vegetable stock will sell it first at a discount. He is allowed to advertise the price and actively solicits the consumers. Last but not least the cops too manage the discipline the market by ensuring they stay beyond an imaginary line along the roads so that the vehicular traffic is not completely stopped.

I walked into the Monday merrily observing the vegetable vendors and appreciating the freshness of the fruits and vegetables. I found ‘our’ formal fruit seller selling fruits too. We got into a conversation and I asked him ‘How come?’ to which he said ‘I have to have my feet in both the markets…’ Then he left me in mid conversation to join the crowd.

There was a big commotion. A crowd gathered, some one was being beaten up and his merchandise disrupted. I saw him joining in too. Then the cops came and the crowd quickly vanished. One vegetable vendor who looked visibly bruised went back to his stall or what was left of it. ‘Our man’ came back. No one said anything to the cop including the victim.

‘Our’ fruit seller shared ‘this new vendor was acting too smart and trying new tricks to take away customers from others. We were watching him all this time. But when he crossed the limit today, we had to teach him a lesson. I too ‘washed my hands’ on him. But I punched him lightly. Who knows tomorrow may be my turn’.

I asked what happens to the vendor who was beaten up. He explained, disrupted merchandise is punishment enough for him. He said if he is smart he will learn to conform quickly. If he is not he will not be able to survive here. He has a choice…don’t we all?

Image courtesy s_w_ellis via Flickr

Walking in the Lodhi Gardens, what captured my eye was the flocking instinct of black birds. They were all sitting gathered on a wire in a row with each one of them facing the same direction. Every few minutes they would fly away and sit again on the same wire. I have no idea as to what prompted the flying. There was no clearly defined leader yet they all seemed to follow something. A similar behaviour can be observed among swifts, pigeons and parrots. While crows and falcons that gather around dump sites do so in a hierarchy.

We have an equivalent of this behavior among nomadic tribes, zoom cultivators and hunter gatherers as I learnt during my recent trip to Mizoram. We are the only animals who are capable of collective actions that go beyond just gathering together. For that to happen we need to maintain the uniformity of language and communication over time and space. We, in its modern day equivalent, do it through conferences and meetings of professionals and on chats and facebook, etc.

The need to communicate is to stay connected. Just as we need each other to biologically reproduce, we need each other to socially reproduce so we can communicate with each other and relate to experiences. Spoken language alone is not enough. Social reproduction allows us to create civilizations, Taj Mahal, Sanchi Stupa, Jantar Mantar, etc. that can only happen when societies feel connected and are able to go beyond everyday existence to create something magnificent.

Interestingly my field work in Delhi slums showed that the migrants into the city too follow this behaviour. Those that come into the city in search of labour do not settle randomly. They settle near people of their ‘own type.’ The single male migrants live as paying guests with people from their own village, region, who eat the same food and speak the same language. So often, in spite of them being slums, one finds unique constructions of these huts.

The 14th of November, also known as Bal Divas, is the birthday of Chacha Nehru–our first Prime Minister and to put it in the current context–Rahul Gandhi’s great grand father. Continuity, complexity of relationships and interrelatedness to the web of life is the celebration.

A beautifully done film festival called CMS Vatavaran recently reflected it. One film of particular appeal was a Japanese one titled Kishke filming complex environmental issues with a very simple narrative. At the very first level, it is the story of a little boy named Kishke–about 10 years of age–who has just lost his grandfather. Once when had spent a summer with his grandfather on the sea coast village in North Japan, he had made a promise to his grandfather that he will plant a seed in his name, when he is no more. He now lived with his mother in Tokyo and has just had a summer break. Before the school closed for the break, he learns about the various environmental problems that cities in Japan have faced since 50’s due to industrial pollution, smog, water pollution, mercury poisoning, etc.

Very subtly, the film comments on the present. When Kishke walks back to his house in an apartment block, the backdrop is that of factories letting out white smoke. He lives with his mother alone, as his parents have separated and are on the verge of divorce. He spends many an evenings alone as his mother is coping  with this stress by drinking. He is shown to buy his own food from the nearby restaurant and misses the family, when he sees his classmate out with his parents. Each frame is well thought of. Multiple and complex interpretations are possible and it is left for the audience to use their imagination.

He fulfills the promise he made to his grandfather. He takes his pocket money and travels alone to the same island. He has to take a train, a flight and a bus to reach it and even gets lost once.  He is helped on the way by strangers who are only inspired by his commitment. He is not irresponsible or running away, just committed to the cause. On the way, he inspires others equally committed to the cause of saving the planet. A woman marketing executive in a chop stick manufacturing company in her thirties wanting to market reusable and eco-friendly chop sticks. An environmental activist, in his 50s, who has successfully enrolled villagers to clean up the beaches, and village council to treat the waste harmful to sea creatures. Finally, there is a Professor of Oceanography in his 70s, with an assistant in his thirties studying the coral reefs. Kishke succeeds in not only finding the seed and planting it but also becomes cause in the matter of bringing his parents to communicate with each other.

The film is very creatively produced with layers upon layers of interpretations in each frame. The final one that I am most inspired is about Coral Reefs that are multi-coloured when alive and get bleached when dead. Its parallel to human institutions that we create to sustain ourselves–leading to our complex multi-coloured cultures–is uncanny. Losing out on our institution of marriage and family and the impact it will have on our society in the long run is a parallel to the bleached and dead reefs.

Image Source

When we say ‘Our Delhi’ we mean it is our city, the city belongs to us and not to all those ‘others’ who are coming to the city in search of jobs or higher education. Therefore we have some preconceived notions about who we consider as outsiders, migrants. The popular belief about migrants is that they are losers, dregs of society who could not adjust to their parents or neighbours. Or they are here to compete with us and taking away our jobs. And that determines our attitude toward migrants.

The difference between migration and exodus is why people leave their origin. Migration is a choice that they exercise. Exodus is persecution and plight. Interestingly even animals migrate from one habitat which is basically seasonal, and for better options and opportunities. Why can’t we grant the same grace to us humans?

The Human Development Report 2009 was recently released by UNDP with the theme as migration. The report highlights that contrary to popular belief, no such clear migration pattern emerges in mobility and development. On the other hand, the report indicates that people from developed countries tend to migrate to other developed countries, and people from developing countries tend to migrate to other developing countries. Elites from developing countries migrate to developed countries where they are ready even things that they would not do in their own country, work wise.

Mobility and development are related and mobility is a reality. Mobility allows us to better our social development indicators for us, our family, and our next generation. The impact of migration on migrants and on the host population are both positive and negative. Finally the report says that not the poorest of poor, but those relatively better off, those who can afford to be mobile, migrate. Interesting isn’t it? My own field work in East Delhi Slums substantiates this.

Starting from the 70s, our skilled Delhi/ Punjabi rich agrarian farmers migrated to Canada, while the south Indian skilled craftsmen migrated to the Middle East and our top of the top class doctors to USA. In the 80s and 90s, the IT boom attracted our skilled professionals.

You know of any such friends or relatives and their stories? How about sharing some of those with us?

Deepawali is the festival of lights and celebrations!

Let us make sure it is an enjoyable experience for every living being as much as it is for us. After all, there is no joy greater than than the joy of making others happy!

This Diwali, BE THE CHANGE! Do Not burst crackers and make others aware about the adverse impacts it has on ‘our common environment’.

The environmental impact of bursting of crackers are both visible as well as not so apparent. While the noise pollution caused by the crackers is highly disturbing even for humans (young and old alike, very dangerous for pregnant women and infants), they at least understand and expect the noise.

Animals are caught unaware, and get scared as well as very disturbed by the noise. While we know the impact on domesticated animals such as dogs, who can be seen running around to the central parts of homes or in cupboards..and the stray ones just running around here and there…the impact on our winged friends is little understood.

Birds are the worst hit owing to just the noise pollution part of the bursting of crackers. The pungent smoke only adds to their misery and impacts there entire body system. This also has long term effects that need to studied…and also leads to a selective selection of some birds (like pigeons, who’s excreta leads to asthma) and the disappearance of certain other birds like the common sparrow.

Diwali Greetings from Last Year:

This man-made selection both disturbs the urban ecology and also causes discomfort for an extended period of time. So, one day of crackers bursting actually leads to an year full of misery. Light pollution is another aspect of Deepawali that often goes unnoticed.

The bursting of crackers also adds to the suspended particulate matter (SPM) in the city. The SPM value is almost doubled on the Deepawali night than on any other day. This is, of course, a nightmare – a disaster for patients suffering from lung diseases including asthma. This also adds on the pollution load of the city and the SPM often remains accumulated on the leaves of plants for days after Deepawali. This reduces the area available for photosynthesis and brings down the ability of green plants to feed themselves.

Everything else, from the way the crackers are made (usually by small children), to the polythene packaging material (owing to the large consumption pattern) and the potential hazard contributes to the pollution related to Deepawali and affects all life forms in the city.

The toxic chemicals that make up the explosives and lights are released into the atmosphere with just one large bang…and while the festival is actually about celebrating life and glory…strangely…we do that by releasing poison in the air which is manufactured with processes that are no less lethal.

Tips to Readers for a More Enjoyable Diwali:

• During the festival-shopping, think before you buy, think what you are buying.
• Instead of crackers, buy yourself a gift–something you have been wanting for long, buy few more for your friends and relatives.
• Remember to keep your ecological footprint in mind when shopping for the festival. Buy only what you think is really really important.
• Avoid plastic bags when you are buying anything. The chance that they would be disposed off by burning are more around this time.
• DO NOT burst crackers near a green space or even a park. If you must, choose an open area for this.
• Last, but never the least, remember Deepawali is (and should be) about lights and celebrations, not pollution and death.

May this Diwali be a celebration of vitality and abundance to all of us. Let me be authentic about who I was before I started writing in this blog. I tended to look at vitality as something that is limited to what I could provide and the planet we live on, to have limited resources. Therefore the constant concern for me was, what would create the necessary energy? The easiest option I chose was always to nap or sit before the TV surfing channels so that I would have enough energy to get into action. I realized that no amount of rest and recreation was enough and I became lazy and bound to home.

Fifty Blogs down the road (yes! unbelievable isn’t it?) I realized that you are the creators of my vitality. With the Blog I am committed to creating a possibility of a green and clean city while still maintaining its unique cultural heritage. Participating in your lives and creating the future of our city, is what keeps me vital.

The possibility for the future city is right here, right now, moment by moment. It is the actions I take of writing the blog or talking to people in social gathering or with residents of my society with whom I share my ideas and listen to their ideas, support them to maintain a clean and green society is participation.

It does not take much, simple actions like walking to the market place or taking the Metro, or a cycle rickshaw if I have loads to carry. It is these little things that we do every day that matter in making the possibility of a Green City: real and alive.  After all this is our city and we should support each other to create something new, green and vital.

Vitality is abundant. Participate in the game of life. When you are up to creating something, that is when you are most vital. So participate in celebrating Diwali: go visit people. Enjoy. And be happy.

You reading the blog with attention and taking time out to comment on it is really awesome. These feedbacks are what creates supportive environment in which I am able to go beyond my personal level of vitality for the blogs. Thank you.

Revisiting the Commonwealth Games preparation, only 365 days left to go. This is a big challenge before Delhi our city and our commitment to something bigger and better and of  international quality. Besides this the sports facilities of international qualities that the Games will support would continue to benefit our youth even after the Games. We will have 71 Nations participating in the Games and accompanying them and their coaches and other support staff will be spectators. There would be tourists not just international but domestic from other states too. We have begun restoration of our historic monuments, like the various Lodhi tombs and redevelopment of Connaught Place. This would not have happened other wise.

With tourists comes traffic. Infrastructure development is essential to ensure the smooth flow of traffic. Just today we saw the chaos, that the blocking off roads for the visiting Commonwealth Games federation representatives has caused. We can see this as a price worth the international status for our city or we can say why bother. Let us choose, make a commitment to something larger than our every day existence, and make this future happen. Let us be all in it together. Let us do it!

Our Chief Minister was very honest and truthful about sharing her nervousness and confidence of making up for the lost time. Very frank about the issues before her government especially the multiplicity of authority and coordination between them and her commitment on behalf of her government to give their best. But most importantly her accepting the concerns of Commonwealth Federation Chief about the indiscipline and power shortage as issues to be tackled rather than as criticism against the existing administration, to be defended against.

It is interesting to note that in our country the public works culture has created a certain breed of civil contractor for any public works. They see the visit to the construction site, by authority accountable for ensuring quality, as an occasion to pumping up the ego of bureaucrats, so that the quality of the work done, becomes relatively less important.

Setting up microphones, pandals and an audience to clap during the site visit is a typical sight. We did see these Pandals and microphones put up to greet the international inspecting team, but it seemed to have had limited impact. Here is may be an occasion for introspection of our own public works culture.