Leaders from across the countries gathered in Copenhagen and ignited the element, fire in them and caused emissions there. Did they come up with any solution? There will be different opinion on anything and everything. This Kyoto Protocol is quite mind-boggling. How would they cut emissions?
Our life-style and negative emotions are responsible. Actually we are born to live in the woods among animals. Instead we cut the food chain and make shelters to escape from carnivorous animals. We make shelters more and more comfortable and luxurious. But we don’t want to share our shelters with more members. Because of this attitude, ‘hum do hamaare do’ we multiply into nuclear families. Gone are the days of ‘hum do hamaare dus’ and many more living together under one roof. We are getting more and more selfish. So we have to build space-saving high-rises. Concrete buildings cover almost all the space. Soon the earth will become a concrete ball. When concrete buildings heat up in the Sun they generate more heat, whereas, soil heats up to a limit because soil has moisture. Human beings are land creatures but they want to fly in the air and float in the water. so we have made planes and ships to travel through air and water.
To cut greenhouse gas emissions we will have to give up everything we do now. Stop wearing clothes, stop using electric and electronic machines, stop electricity generation, close all mills and factories for ever, stop manufacturing vehicles and so on. Can we stop all these things? If we wear clothes the mills have to work with smoking chimneys and we need detergent to wash clothes, which needs a factory. All these things are interlinked. All works depend on electricity now. The only way to cut emissions completely is to wipe out the industries that provide a livelihood and go back to the Stone Age.
We will have to stop even eating. If we eat we will emit. All creatures on this earth eat and emit. It is natural. Nature can tolerate what is natural. What Nature cannot tolerate is man-made things. We need fuel and fire to cook food. Mumbaikars eat more junk foods—batata vada, vada pav and all that and emit more than others. No wonder if Mumbai’s atmosphere is remain smoggy. All those junk food produce emissions go into the air; the rest goes into the ocean—just kidding.
Don’t blame villagers, who live in a natural way, for global warming. Some city people think burning firewood is the reason for global warming. Emissions from burning firewood are a fraction of smoking chimneys of mills and factories. Actually city people are responsible. Mumbai’s temperature is always higher than that of interior Maharashtra. The reason is concrete buildings, vehicular traffic, excess usage of electricity and lack of greenery. Improving infrastructure means making the city a concrete desert. Temperature varies from place to place across the country also across the world. Then how can they reduce temperature rising to 2 degree. There is no concrete proof to what cause global warming. And there is no instant solution for the same. Nature itself causes disasters. Human beings make it more disastrous.
See, how greenery is helpful to us. Greenery absorbs the Sun light; absorbs the rain water; regulates the wind and help binding the soil. Thus it controls these four elements, fire, air, water and earth. We use these elements changing their particular course.
Monday, December 21, 2009
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Village Life
Though village is a better place to live in environmentally, life is tough there. Daily household chores will drain your energy. There is no tap water, no gas for cooking. If you want to have three square meals a day you have to work hard. Drawing water from the well, cutting fire-wood, burning fire-wood to prepare food, grinding spices with grinding stones, washing utensils outside the house and washing clothes outside or in the pond are a tough task.
I am from a joint family. My grandfather had a large joint family where more than 20 members were living together. My grandfather had a farm, here a moo, there a moo, everywhere a moo, moo instead of here a bow, there a bow. Cattle are needed for farming. There was only one female dog which lived for about 25 years. His joint family had vast acres of farm land and a house made from stone and mud and a large compound around it. Now I feel it was only a dream. Our family tree is uprooted by the bad weather of the household. The seeds are shattered here and there. It was not because of family feud. There was no one willing to continue the family profession. When educated generation migrated and settled elsewhere family members reduced to 3-4. When those few members, who came in a stage that they cannot manage the farming, sold the house and land property. There were many servants for farming and household chores. Servants were honest and dedicated then. Now we don’t get workers for farming. They also want to be educated or go for works that yield a better wage. It happens, when all want to be educated and a better life. Educated young generations don’t want to become farmers. Agriculture is not a cheap profession. Agriculture sense is needed, more than that is how lucky you are. There is no way to protect the open farm lands. Anyone can lay hands on them. Fortunately it didn’t happen to us. People were honest then. To protect the crops from pests, locusts, birds, rodents, cattle and bad weather is a tough task.
My grandmother had a separate house with a 50 cent plot where I spent my school days. I had to work hard. I had to make even cow-dung cakes. It was a boon that there were fruit bearing trees and plants in our house compound. And we grow vegetables. We would get the grains sufficient for a year from our farm. So we didn’t have to buy these things from outside. We had to buy only groceries. My mother would manage the household with an income of mere Rs.50 in the 60s and 70s. What will we do with 50Rs. now? I had to shuttle between my grandparents’ separate houses as a messenger almost all days. I missed the organic food ever since I left my native village to Mumbai. I would get to eat a lot of fruits—custard apple, guava, jack-fruit, goose berries and a variety of mangoes. I would eat even berries of neem tree. A dip in the pond at dawn would revive me. Only large houses like my grandfather’s were illuminated with electric bulbs. All other homes had dark nights. I had to study with a kerosene lamp. However, life was peaceful then.
A century old one or two storied mud houses withstand weather because we will not do any alterations once they are built. We don’t allow any activities on upper floors; don’t even let children play there. Upper floors are only to sleep. Houses are located at a distance because every house has at least a small piece of land around it. So what? You just sneeze, the entire village will hear. In other words, you cannot do anything without the consent of neighbours. They will stay ears pricked and eyes wide opened. Though houses had no proper bolts and locks we didn’t have to fear robbers. There were no daring robbers then. Now the situation has changed. Crimes started in villages too.
Early to bed and early to rise’ is the villagers’ habit that makes them healthy and wise. No one will dare to go out after nightfall. Dimly-lit lanes would remain isolated till dawn. Street lights that have 15 w. bulbs don’t make any difference in the pitch darkness and that too only for main lanes. The lamp posts stand on the lanes gloomy throughout the nights without seeing anyone. People return from movie will be the last ones to sleep. Most of them are workers. Though they don’t have three square meals a day they will spend money for film. Women from respected family might have seen a few selected films in their life time. There were make-shift sheds in a 5 mile radius as theatres. Some entertainment loving people would organize a stage show once a while. A few would gather to watch. Dimly-lit stage with gasoline lamps wouldn’t fascinate anybody much. Shops for essential things were a few but there will be country liquor shops everywhere. One thing good is there are no garbage hills or overflowing drains. Villagers have Nature sense. Though they are aware of the natural disasters deaths rarely occur by snake-bites or drowning. Villages are gradually developing. Because of the arrival of TV, computer, early to bed and early to rise is changed in to ‘late to bed and early to rise’ so wisdom also goes out of them. Village life totally depends on agriculture. Converting farm lands into residential plots is something inappropriate that they do. Since food is the main resource it should not be done. A dream house will give only day dream, not food. Development of villages means destroying landscape and greenery. Villages should be developed without spoiling its beauty. At least villages should remain as it is.
I am from a joint family. My grandfather had a large joint family where more than 20 members were living together. My grandfather had a farm, here a moo, there a moo, everywhere a moo, moo instead of here a bow, there a bow. Cattle are needed for farming. There was only one female dog which lived for about 25 years. His joint family had vast acres of farm land and a house made from stone and mud and a large compound around it. Now I feel it was only a dream. Our family tree is uprooted by the bad weather of the household. The seeds are shattered here and there. It was not because of family feud. There was no one willing to continue the family profession. When educated generation migrated and settled elsewhere family members reduced to 3-4. When those few members, who came in a stage that they cannot manage the farming, sold the house and land property. There were many servants for farming and household chores. Servants were honest and dedicated then. Now we don’t get workers for farming. They also want to be educated or go for works that yield a better wage. It happens, when all want to be educated and a better life. Educated young generations don’t want to become farmers. Agriculture is not a cheap profession. Agriculture sense is needed, more than that is how lucky you are. There is no way to protect the open farm lands. Anyone can lay hands on them. Fortunately it didn’t happen to us. People were honest then. To protect the crops from pests, locusts, birds, rodents, cattle and bad weather is a tough task.
My grandmother had a separate house with a 50 cent plot where I spent my school days. I had to work hard. I had to make even cow-dung cakes. It was a boon that there were fruit bearing trees and plants in our house compound. And we grow vegetables. We would get the grains sufficient for a year from our farm. So we didn’t have to buy these things from outside. We had to buy only groceries. My mother would manage the household with an income of mere Rs.50 in the 60s and 70s. What will we do with 50Rs. now? I had to shuttle between my grandparents’ separate houses as a messenger almost all days. I missed the organic food ever since I left my native village to Mumbai. I would get to eat a lot of fruits—custard apple, guava, jack-fruit, goose berries and a variety of mangoes. I would eat even berries of neem tree. A dip in the pond at dawn would revive me. Only large houses like my grandfather’s were illuminated with electric bulbs. All other homes had dark nights. I had to study with a kerosene lamp. However, life was peaceful then.
A century old one or two storied mud houses withstand weather because we will not do any alterations once they are built. We don’t allow any activities on upper floors; don’t even let children play there. Upper floors are only to sleep. Houses are located at a distance because every house has at least a small piece of land around it. So what? You just sneeze, the entire village will hear. In other words, you cannot do anything without the consent of neighbours. They will stay ears pricked and eyes wide opened. Though houses had no proper bolts and locks we didn’t have to fear robbers. There were no daring robbers then. Now the situation has changed. Crimes started in villages too.
Early to bed and early to rise’ is the villagers’ habit that makes them healthy and wise. No one will dare to go out after nightfall. Dimly-lit lanes would remain isolated till dawn. Street lights that have 15 w. bulbs don’t make any difference in the pitch darkness and that too only for main lanes. The lamp posts stand on the lanes gloomy throughout the nights without seeing anyone. People return from movie will be the last ones to sleep. Most of them are workers. Though they don’t have three square meals a day they will spend money for film. Women from respected family might have seen a few selected films in their life time. There were make-shift sheds in a 5 mile radius as theatres. Some entertainment loving people would organize a stage show once a while. A few would gather to watch. Dimly-lit stage with gasoline lamps wouldn’t fascinate anybody much. Shops for essential things were a few but there will be country liquor shops everywhere. One thing good is there are no garbage hills or overflowing drains. Villagers have Nature sense. Though they are aware of the natural disasters deaths rarely occur by snake-bites or drowning. Villages are gradually developing. Because of the arrival of TV, computer, early to bed and early to rise is changed in to ‘late to bed and early to rise’ so wisdom also goes out of them. Village life totally depends on agriculture. Converting farm lands into residential plots is something inappropriate that they do. Since food is the main resource it should not be done. A dream house will give only day dream, not food. Development of villages means destroying landscape and greenery. Villages should be developed without spoiling its beauty. At least villages should remain as it is.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Beautiful Villages
A village is beautiful with greenery, ponds, farm lands, open houses and surrounded with dense forests and hills. Lush green paddy fields look like a green carpet spread across the village. Paddy fields dance to the whistle of the wind is something worth to watch. When the wind passes through the paddy grass blades it makes a melodious whistling sound. When open paddy fields cover with a thick fog from sunset to sunrise in winter we need a thick blanket to sleep. Village is calm and not crowded. The atmosphere will be filled with calls of birds and other creatures. Different kinds of birds will sing in different melodies. Since the houses are surrounded by trees and plants many species of birds can be seen around. So we don't have to go to any park for bird watching. Villagers don't wait and watch birds either. It is nothing new to them. Only I would get immersed in the calls of birds and other creatures. Crows will sing a classical note at times. They say it is for guests to come. Want to believe? Cocks around there will crow on time early morning in a gap of 5-10 minutes as if to wake up all. So there is no need of alarm cloak. Cattle grazing around will keep bellowing. When cicada creaks you will have to plug your ears. Comparing to Mumbai’s, dogs, cats, rats, bats and crows population is less.
When day creatures finish their activities by nightfall and rest at their shelter, night creatures start their activities. Owls, male and female will hoot responding each other. Foxes will howl in high pitch. Mass howling is really annoying. They come out to have a feast with crabs they get from the paddy fields. Night birds will sing at night. Fire-flies are like stars on the earth. But they can be seen only in a particular season. Toads, male and female croak responding each other is funny to hear. Jungle fowls will crow at night sometimes. The villagers are very superstitious about that bird. They say if it crows somebody will have to go. Its calls would take my breath away. When my grandfather was living, a jungle fowl came and landed on the roof of our house and started calling. Its calls can be heard from distance places, not to speak of if it is closer it will be loud. The calls have a peculiar vibration which is eerie. I was only a 3-4 year old. My grandfather got annoyed and tried to shoo it away by pelting a stone. Annoyed by the stone-pelting it flew down in a swift to peck him on the head. He ran into the house. If it touched somebody it should be considered as absolutely inauspicious. Thereafter my grand father was bed-ridden and he passed away when I was a 6 year old. You don’t have to believe in it. It must be a co-incidence. In the summer months dust devil can be seen in open places. The wind blows giving out a whistle like dog's howling. Once I was standing on the veranda of my house I saw the dust devil on the nearby lane. I told my grandmother, "See how it looks!" Suddenly it came with a force and lashed me and passed through the back window. Dust got into my eyes. Scared I stood there for a while. My grandmother started scolding me for calling the devil. People say, embers will break out suddenly on the way while walking in the darkness. Only men might have seen it. Women cannot go out at night. There are reptiles in the compound. Sometimes poisonous snakes will crawl into our house. I had to fear wicked human beings more than these things, still I fear them.
The greenery that looks beautiful in the day becomes fiery at night. The trees stand like monsters. Silhouettes of the tree would scare me in my childhood when looking at them constantly. I would watch the Moon playing hide and seek. In Moonless nights I would count the stars. I still like the toys we would make from palm leaves. A grass will not grow without my consent in our house compound. I like to see caravan steadily moving on the lanes. I prefer bullock carts to these life-taking vehicles. If all were born like me there would be only bullock-carts on the roads. I like village very much. But I cannot go back. My family took root deeply here in Mumbai. Now it is too old to transplant.
When day creatures finish their activities by nightfall and rest at their shelter, night creatures start their activities. Owls, male and female will hoot responding each other. Foxes will howl in high pitch. Mass howling is really annoying. They come out to have a feast with crabs they get from the paddy fields. Night birds will sing at night. Fire-flies are like stars on the earth. But they can be seen only in a particular season. Toads, male and female croak responding each other is funny to hear. Jungle fowls will crow at night sometimes. The villagers are very superstitious about that bird. They say if it crows somebody will have to go. Its calls would take my breath away. When my grandfather was living, a jungle fowl came and landed on the roof of our house and started calling. Its calls can be heard from distance places, not to speak of if it is closer it will be loud. The calls have a peculiar vibration which is eerie. I was only a 3-4 year old. My grandfather got annoyed and tried to shoo it away by pelting a stone. Annoyed by the stone-pelting it flew down in a swift to peck him on the head. He ran into the house. If it touched somebody it should be considered as absolutely inauspicious. Thereafter my grand father was bed-ridden and he passed away when I was a 6 year old. You don’t have to believe in it. It must be a co-incidence. In the summer months dust devil can be seen in open places. The wind blows giving out a whistle like dog's howling. Once I was standing on the veranda of my house I saw the dust devil on the nearby lane. I told my grandmother, "See how it looks!" Suddenly it came with a force and lashed me and passed through the back window. Dust got into my eyes. Scared I stood there for a while. My grandmother started scolding me for calling the devil. People say, embers will break out suddenly on the way while walking in the darkness. Only men might have seen it. Women cannot go out at night. There are reptiles in the compound. Sometimes poisonous snakes will crawl into our house. I had to fear wicked human beings more than these things, still I fear them.
The greenery that looks beautiful in the day becomes fiery at night. The trees stand like monsters. Silhouettes of the tree would scare me in my childhood when looking at them constantly. I would watch the Moon playing hide and seek. In Moonless nights I would count the stars. I still like the toys we would make from palm leaves. A grass will not grow without my consent in our house compound. I like to see caravan steadily moving on the lanes. I prefer bullock carts to these life-taking vehicles. If all were born like me there would be only bullock-carts on the roads. I like village very much. But I cannot go back. My family took root deeply here in Mumbai. Now it is too old to transplant.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Thirst for Blood
Come winter and the mosquito population starts rising. Though they breed in water our houses and plants are their dwellings. There are mosquitoes as tiny as small black ants. Some mosquitoes breed on the plants. They make a cocoon out of leaves. It will look like lumps on the leaves. Once as I broke it open mosquitoes came out. Night is day and day is night for them. Mosquitoes may be blind as bats. I haven’t seen them get through a gap wide enough for them to enter.
They barge in by sunset and starts attacking. Their weapons are tubular needles attach to their heads. The virus applied needles are powerful to kill humans. These blood thirsty creatures will not let you keep quiet. They prick with the needles constantly and threaten in the ears, hmm, hmm, give us blood, or else we will not let you sleep. I say I will not give you a drop of blood; I am ready to fight. Swat and kill; it is the only way to get rid of them. Big mosquitoes are easy to swat. Small ones sting too much and are not visible. They make me do hip-hop. I get a rash all over when they bite. the needles can pierce through even thick clothes. I swat all mosquitoes that come closer to me with a cloth to avoid my hands get dirty and will not miss the target. I don’t want to become PETA’s pet. They might say trap the mosquitoes gently in a mosquito-trap and leave them outside. Mosquitoes like tea. When I make tea in the evening they will be ready in the kitchen hovering around the utensils. I bribe them with tea but they don’t seem pleased; will not leave me without getting a drop of blood.
A few years ago a man came with a device at the door and tried to convince me how effective the device is at the best of his communication skill. He had brought it a bag full to sell like kanta batata. I asked him how it works; he told me just plug it in and turn on the switch; mosquitoes will run away. I was impressed and bought two pieces in stead of one at a bargain. I bought it because I was desperately seeking a repellent. I plugged the device in seeking an auspicious time in the evening and waited for the result. As he said mosquitoes run away from the device but came towards me with a vengeance to sting more than before. I stopped using the device after two days. My money went into the pocket and he made me a fool. But I didn’t worry about the money I lost, instead I felt pity because these sales girls and boys have to roam around the entire city whether it rain or shine and climb up and down the stairs to earn a livelihood. It is a tiresome job and all they get is frustration. Residents will slam the door at their face.
All companies that making mosquito-repellent boast of the efficiency of their products. No repellent seems effective. Mosquitoes get immune to them in two days. Good knight doesn’t say good night; All-out doesn’t get them all out. Coil smoke will fill in the room and go into our lungs and irritate the throat. These power and money wasting devices are not only useless but also could kill us slowly due to inhaling the fume. Fumigation can kill other harmless creatures also it is harmful to us. Burn coils; burn everything; burn down your house if you want. Nothing will happen to mosquitoes. If you want to sleep well use net, or toss and turn all the night.
PS: Obama angers Peta: US President Barack Obama has apparently left People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) unhappy by killing a fly during a television interview, for the animal rights organization is now sending him a device that allows users to trap a house-fly and then release it outside—it is a stale news from TOI.
Isn’t it ridiculous? If we can’t kill a fly how can we live on this earth? And what is use of protecting a fly? It will go straight into other creature’s mouth. What they think about the animals which become prey to other animals? Why don’t they protect them?
They barge in by sunset and starts attacking. Their weapons are tubular needles attach to their heads. The virus applied needles are powerful to kill humans. These blood thirsty creatures will not let you keep quiet. They prick with the needles constantly and threaten in the ears, hmm, hmm, give us blood, or else we will not let you sleep. I say I will not give you a drop of blood; I am ready to fight. Swat and kill; it is the only way to get rid of them. Big mosquitoes are easy to swat. Small ones sting too much and are not visible. They make me do hip-hop. I get a rash all over when they bite. the needles can pierce through even thick clothes. I swat all mosquitoes that come closer to me with a cloth to avoid my hands get dirty and will not miss the target. I don’t want to become PETA’s pet. They might say trap the mosquitoes gently in a mosquito-trap and leave them outside. Mosquitoes like tea. When I make tea in the evening they will be ready in the kitchen hovering around the utensils. I bribe them with tea but they don’t seem pleased; will not leave me without getting a drop of blood.
A few years ago a man came with a device at the door and tried to convince me how effective the device is at the best of his communication skill. He had brought it a bag full to sell like kanta batata. I asked him how it works; he told me just plug it in and turn on the switch; mosquitoes will run away. I was impressed and bought two pieces in stead of one at a bargain. I bought it because I was desperately seeking a repellent. I plugged the device in seeking an auspicious time in the evening and waited for the result. As he said mosquitoes run away from the device but came towards me with a vengeance to sting more than before. I stopped using the device after two days. My money went into the pocket and he made me a fool. But I didn’t worry about the money I lost, instead I felt pity because these sales girls and boys have to roam around the entire city whether it rain or shine and climb up and down the stairs to earn a livelihood. It is a tiresome job and all they get is frustration. Residents will slam the door at their face.
All companies that making mosquito-repellent boast of the efficiency of their products. No repellent seems effective. Mosquitoes get immune to them in two days. Good knight doesn’t say good night; All-out doesn’t get them all out. Coil smoke will fill in the room and go into our lungs and irritate the throat. These power and money wasting devices are not only useless but also could kill us slowly due to inhaling the fume. Fumigation can kill other harmless creatures also it is harmful to us. Burn coils; burn everything; burn down your house if you want. Nothing will happen to mosquitoes. If you want to sleep well use net, or toss and turn all the night.
PS: Obama angers Peta: US President Barack Obama has apparently left People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) unhappy by killing a fly during a television interview, for the animal rights organization is now sending him a device that allows users to trap a house-fly and then release it outside—it is a stale news from TOI.
Isn’t it ridiculous? If we can’t kill a fly how can we live on this earth? And what is use of protecting a fly? It will go straight into other creature’s mouth. What they think about the animals which become prey to other animals? Why don’t they protect them?
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Heaven That Turned Into Hell
A year ago this day-26/11/08 was a dark day for Mumbai. It was actually the darkest day by lunar date—the day before Amaavasya. Mumbai had to go through an ordeal. Mumbaikars were daydreaming till then. Suddenly they woke up from deep slumber and sweet dreams to see the unexpected and untoward incidents.
26/11 terrorist attack was an external problem and ended in a day. What about the increasing crimes that can never bring under control? When I say this it doesn’t mean I am not sympathetic towards those were killed in the attack. I watched the horror on TV until it brought under control. I pray to god for innocent people who lost their lives—may their soul rest in peace. 26/11 is a bad day for me too. Every year either I take ill or something would happen to me on that day. Last year I was alone at home that night. This year I got up in the morning feeling unwell.
Mumbai became a crime city. Murder, suicides, burglary, mugging, chain-snatching are on the rise. MNS attack is worse than those of terrorists. MNS Raj ko raj karne ko dil taras raha hai. Knowing that getting power is a pipe dream he throws tantrums and goes berserk. Vehicle accidents are a daily horrible sight. Mumbai’s roads take at least one life everyday. Does every citizen need a vehicle? Do they buy cars for their own convenience or is it just for luxury? When cars go empty with only one person it is only to block the roads and add more to pollution. People should use public transport instead. Bikers are prone to accidents. These adventurous youngsters not only put their life at risk but also of others. Accident prone people should avoid driving. The irony is that usually accident prone people take such risks. Others will not be adventurous. Two-three decades ago one or two accidents had occurred; even it was a shock to hear. And the jam-packed local trains—when some travel inside others travel outside. It is a Herculean task to get into it and get off.
And the clustering-slums are an ugly sight and their living condition is pathetic. People migrate to this city with the hope of finding a better job. But where is the job? They don’t get either a job or permanent accommodation. They are forced to live in slums. If they can’t find any work robbery becomes their profession. Those who cannot find a job better to go back to their native places rather than making the city more crowded. This problem can be solved if other states also provide job facilities. All these problems are not enough to diminish the enthusiasm of people living here. Their minds get seasoned seeing day to day problems. When something happens only to a few people others may don't feel the loss because there is still a large crowd. After all human beings are self-centered by nature. God forbid, anything didn’t happen to my near and dear ones till now. Touch wood!
When I migrate to Mumbai (then Bombay) in 70s it was really a heaven. I was surprised to see the freedom people enjoy in this crowded illuminated city, especially women who were travelling at midnight without fear. You cannot have the freedom in remote villages. No one will dare to go out after nightfall because villages are not illuminated or crowded. Extravagance of electricity in the city makes one travel 24 hours.
I narrate this story of a man who had come to Bombay from our village in 60s when the city was not so crowded. Seeing the crowd he developed a serious mental problem and had to send him back to his village—must be Xenophobia. I don’t know what happened to him later.
Since people were nice the crowd didn’t scare me. There was nothing to fear except some pickpockets. Now one’s own house is not safe. There was a time I would leave the front door open. Now I don’t even open the door for strangers. I get more and more paranoiac as the crimes increase in the city.
Yai, dil mushkil jeena yahaan, jara hatke, jara bachke yai hai Bombay meri jaan……This film song when composed it was not much meaningful then. Now I find it more meaningful. Heaven turned into a hell now. The name changed from Bombay to Mumbai must be the reason. Name starting with ‘M’ usually has a fate or criminal tendency. I wish that Bombay of 70s had come back. The serial ‘Tere Mere Sapne' that started recently is a story not only of one Sarju also of all slum-dwellers. Something should be done for the increasing population, traffic and clustering slums.
26/11 terrorist attack was an external problem and ended in a day. What about the increasing crimes that can never bring under control? When I say this it doesn’t mean I am not sympathetic towards those were killed in the attack. I watched the horror on TV until it brought under control. I pray to god for innocent people who lost their lives—may their soul rest in peace. 26/11 is a bad day for me too. Every year either I take ill or something would happen to me on that day. Last year I was alone at home that night. This year I got up in the morning feeling unwell.
Mumbai became a crime city. Murder, suicides, burglary, mugging, chain-snatching are on the rise. MNS attack is worse than those of terrorists. MNS Raj ko raj karne ko dil taras raha hai. Knowing that getting power is a pipe dream he throws tantrums and goes berserk. Vehicle accidents are a daily horrible sight. Mumbai’s roads take at least one life everyday. Does every citizen need a vehicle? Do they buy cars for their own convenience or is it just for luxury? When cars go empty with only one person it is only to block the roads and add more to pollution. People should use public transport instead. Bikers are prone to accidents. These adventurous youngsters not only put their life at risk but also of others. Accident prone people should avoid driving. The irony is that usually accident prone people take such risks. Others will not be adventurous. Two-three decades ago one or two accidents had occurred; even it was a shock to hear. And the jam-packed local trains—when some travel inside others travel outside. It is a Herculean task to get into it and get off.
And the clustering-slums are an ugly sight and their living condition is pathetic. People migrate to this city with the hope of finding a better job. But where is the job? They don’t get either a job or permanent accommodation. They are forced to live in slums. If they can’t find any work robbery becomes their profession. Those who cannot find a job better to go back to their native places rather than making the city more crowded. This problem can be solved if other states also provide job facilities. All these problems are not enough to diminish the enthusiasm of people living here. Their minds get seasoned seeing day to day problems. When something happens only to a few people others may don't feel the loss because there is still a large crowd. After all human beings are self-centered by nature. God forbid, anything didn’t happen to my near and dear ones till now. Touch wood!
When I migrate to Mumbai (then Bombay) in 70s it was really a heaven. I was surprised to see the freedom people enjoy in this crowded illuminated city, especially women who were travelling at midnight without fear. You cannot have the freedom in remote villages. No one will dare to go out after nightfall because villages are not illuminated or crowded. Extravagance of electricity in the city makes one travel 24 hours.
I narrate this story of a man who had come to Bombay from our village in 60s when the city was not so crowded. Seeing the crowd he developed a serious mental problem and had to send him back to his village—must be Xenophobia. I don’t know what happened to him later.
Since people were nice the crowd didn’t scare me. There was nothing to fear except some pickpockets. Now one’s own house is not safe. There was a time I would leave the front door open. Now I don’t even open the door for strangers. I get more and more paranoiac as the crimes increase in the city.
Yai, dil mushkil jeena yahaan, jara hatke, jara bachke yai hai Bombay meri jaan……This film song when composed it was not much meaningful then. Now I find it more meaningful. Heaven turned into a hell now. The name changed from Bombay to Mumbai must be the reason. Name starting with ‘M’ usually has a fate or criminal tendency. I wish that Bombay of 70s had come back. The serial ‘Tere Mere Sapne' that started recently is a story not only of one Sarju also of all slum-dwellers. Something should be done for the increasing population, traffic and clustering slums.
Monday, November 23, 2009
A Day for Loo
On World Toilet Day, show solidarity with those who don’t have sanitation facilities by squatting on Girgaum Chowpatty
Go to Girguam Chowpatty Thursday evening and you will be greeted with a sight you see on Mumbai’s railway tracks every day—several people squatting in a row! Relax, the event is not going to be about pooping in the open though, it is an awareness drive for World Toilet Day, November 19—a Mumbai mirror report.
We, human beings have made a day for everything and have been celebrating it every year. We celebrate birthday, Independence Day, teacher’s day, mother’s day, and father’s day, etc. There is a day for loo too—sounds funny. November 19 Thursday was the World Toilet Day. Thinking about it may be disgusting but it is a serious issue, especially in this crowded city. We have such problems because we happened to be not just human beings, being civilized modern ones. Animals don’t have loos in the forests. How they manage? Their excreta don’t pile up. It will mix with the soil and nourish the same and the colour of it camouflage with the soil. They have freedom to squat anywhere on the earth. And they don’t have to clean up loos and the choking drains.
Imagine the plight of labourers who clean up the drains for us. They are also human beings doing such dirty jobs. Don’t they feel it disgusting? I feel pity for them. Seeing slum-dwellers squatting near the railway tracks is not so disgusting what is more disgusting is overflowing drains. My stomach gets upset seeing the labourers cleaning up the choking drains. Then they have to clean up more.
There were no permanent toilets in the villages. Now villages also are developing. So they started building toilets with septic tanks. But the septic tank will overflow if too much water is used to flush out. Loo in our village was a pit in our own plot laid with two logs on top to sit and screened with palm leaves and that too will be made only for large houses. Poor peasants had open air loos in their plots. The condition of the loo was unbearable, especially in the rainy season. That’s why I have been thinking for years to build a hygienic loo but without flowing drain. I am not succeded in making one yet. It still remains a pipe dream. Does anybody have idea to make a loo in that way? People will like to become architects and interior decorators but how many people will want to become toilet designers? It will be a chee, chee thing for most of them. But it is a matter of health and hygiene.
Public loos are a better place for graffiti writers. Such filthy inspiration may come to the mind while sitting quiet in a filthy room. They know people will read them more than the blogs. Long queues for loos can be seen in this city. I have read somewhere about the mobile loos that run in this city. Will they wait to finish? We don’t give much importance to the smallest 3x3 room in our flats. But we cannot live without it. Even repair work of that room is a nightmare because we cannot stop answering the call of Nature. There is no better solution for sanitary problems.
Go to Girguam Chowpatty Thursday evening and you will be greeted with a sight you see on Mumbai’s railway tracks every day—several people squatting in a row! Relax, the event is not going to be about pooping in the open though, it is an awareness drive for World Toilet Day, November 19—a Mumbai mirror report.
We, human beings have made a day for everything and have been celebrating it every year. We celebrate birthday, Independence Day, teacher’s day, mother’s day, and father’s day, etc. There is a day for loo too—sounds funny. November 19 Thursday was the World Toilet Day. Thinking about it may be disgusting but it is a serious issue, especially in this crowded city. We have such problems because we happened to be not just human beings, being civilized modern ones. Animals don’t have loos in the forests. How they manage? Their excreta don’t pile up. It will mix with the soil and nourish the same and the colour of it camouflage with the soil. They have freedom to squat anywhere on the earth. And they don’t have to clean up loos and the choking drains.
Imagine the plight of labourers who clean up the drains for us. They are also human beings doing such dirty jobs. Don’t they feel it disgusting? I feel pity for them. Seeing slum-dwellers squatting near the railway tracks is not so disgusting what is more disgusting is overflowing drains. My stomach gets upset seeing the labourers cleaning up the choking drains. Then they have to clean up more.
There were no permanent toilets in the villages. Now villages also are developing. So they started building toilets with septic tanks. But the septic tank will overflow if too much water is used to flush out. Loo in our village was a pit in our own plot laid with two logs on top to sit and screened with palm leaves and that too will be made only for large houses. Poor peasants had open air loos in their plots. The condition of the loo was unbearable, especially in the rainy season. That’s why I have been thinking for years to build a hygienic loo but without flowing drain. I am not succeded in making one yet. It still remains a pipe dream. Does anybody have idea to make a loo in that way? People will like to become architects and interior decorators but how many people will want to become toilet designers? It will be a chee, chee thing for most of them. But it is a matter of health and hygiene.
Public loos are a better place for graffiti writers. Such filthy inspiration may come to the mind while sitting quiet in a filthy room. They know people will read them more than the blogs. Long queues for loos can be seen in this city. I have read somewhere about the mobile loos that run in this city. Will they wait to finish? We don’t give much importance to the smallest 3x3 room in our flats. But we cannot live without it. Even repair work of that room is a nightmare because we cannot stop answering the call of Nature. There is no better solution for sanitary problems.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Staring Menace
People stare at me too much, not to speak of the villagers. I don’t know the reason. When I walk through the lanes in my village, some people would stand aside and stare at me till I reach out of their sight. They behave as if I am an alien. I often think whether there is any peculiarity for staring. There is nothing abnormal in my dressing up. I don’t use cosmetics, even talcum powder. Some women I meet there have nothing to talk just sit back and stare at me. They don’t think I have emotions of a human being. Some women would check me by every pore on my body as if I am a show-piece and say, I am weak there is little blood in my body. Doctors also say I am anemic even if I have 100% haemoglobin. They think I am on a fast forever. I might be born underweight. I am fed up of all these interpretations on my body and complexion. My complexion is like that, “tere angon pe champa ka rang chada,” at least a poet was there to understand. OK, I am thin and I don’t look healthy. Then why these stares, stares at me? I don’t understand. Is it because of my clear fair skin or is it envy or hatred? These questions remain unanswered. When I observe other good-looking women I understand not all are a target of staring.
I stand in front of the dressing table, which has a wall mounting mirror, and ask, “Mirror, mirror, on the wall, am I the fairest of them all?” Mirror says, “No, there are several who are fairest; you are only a fraction of them.” I ask again, “Then why do they stare at me?” Mirror says, “I don’t know, ask them.” I feel like asking them. If I ask it will go against manners. Starers don’t have to keep any manners. How long can I go with my ‘grin and bear it’ nature? Curiosity doesn’t kill the cat. Their curiosity does kill me. I can’t stand staring. I feel uncomfortable. I twist like a worm that got hurt, in front of these starers. Even animals feel uncomfortable with constant gaze. If you stare at a dog or a cat constantly it will close and open its eyes every now and again. The irony is that the very starers can’t stand staring of others. Constant gaze is a real menace, if it is with envy or hatred it is worse.
Eyes are meant to see the light of this universe and needed to live on this earth. Eyes are related to the element, fire. So some people use them as agnibaann to burn others. If only they used their eyes to observe and understand things properly! A few are gifted with a third eye. Imagine the plight of a blind person. Eyes show your emotions. You cannot hide it.
I stand in front of the dressing table, which has a wall mounting mirror, and ask, “Mirror, mirror, on the wall, am I the fairest of them all?” Mirror says, “No, there are several who are fairest; you are only a fraction of them.” I ask again, “Then why do they stare at me?” Mirror says, “I don’t know, ask them.” I feel like asking them. If I ask it will go against manners. Starers don’t have to keep any manners. How long can I go with my ‘grin and bear it’ nature? Curiosity doesn’t kill the cat. Their curiosity does kill me. I can’t stand staring. I feel uncomfortable. I twist like a worm that got hurt, in front of these starers. Even animals feel uncomfortable with constant gaze. If you stare at a dog or a cat constantly it will close and open its eyes every now and again. The irony is that the very starers can’t stand staring of others. Constant gaze is a real menace, if it is with envy or hatred it is worse.
Eyes are meant to see the light of this universe and needed to live on this earth. Eyes are related to the element, fire. So some people use them as agnibaann to burn others. If only they used their eyes to observe and understand things properly! A few are gifted with a third eye. Imagine the plight of a blind person. Eyes show your emotions. You cannot hide it.
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