Delhi- Images of Delhi in my mind
Just two and a half years ago, when I landed in Delhi, some of my immediate family members cautioned me about the toxic environment in Delhi.
No, by the toxic environment they did not mean the quality of air here, it was neither about the dirty politics of Delhi, nor about the chaotic images of Delhi that emerged during the outbreak of COVID-19.
We were also a little worried, the image of Delhi seen in print media or social media and hearsays was not as green, as we might have expected.
It was December 2021 when we came to Delhi. The world, especially India, was trying hard to stand strong even after the tragic, painful second wave of COVID-19.
It was a serene winter morning when we came here and found a typical Delhiite vibe. Very soon, Delhi became my other home, though I was still worried about the chaotic image of the city.
Many viral videos of Delhi Metro make me think beforehand.
Cases of road rage, where people openly wave guns and create unnecessary chaos in the surrounding area over trivial issues, are equally common in Delhi.
Despite being the capital of India and a heritage city, Delhi is far away from respectable common sense and controlled behavior in public places.
Maybe this sounds judgmental from my side, but this is true in the Delhi case.
Diving into work culture, lifestyle, ethics, public conduct, and other aspects of Delhi is undeniably challenging.
Delhi- A complex city
Delhi is too hybrid to categorize singly. To date, I haven’t met an original Delhite.
They are true Indians, all coming from different routes and roots making it vividly vibrant.
Yes, this is true. One of my new neighbors told me that it would be better to settle in my birthplace rather than living here and to my surprise she was a Punjabi living in Delhi.
Another neighbor, looking at me with deep curiosity, asked about my place of origin. And when I asked about their origin it was very complicated. The husband was from Rajasthan, his wife was from Uttar Pradesh, and their two sons are settled in America and Australia.
Students, delivery boys, laborers, house helpers, vendors, rickshaw pullers, taxi drivers, cooks, helpers in shops and malls, vegetable sellers, and even street-side eateries – a large proportion of them are immigrants from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
The city is always on buzz, booze, and bizarre activities.
Yesterday, I saw a group of youngsters throwing empty liquor bottles on the footpaths. People are so boozing in alcohol and no one cares for day or night for its consumption.
The positive side of this city is that no one sleeps on an empty stomach here. There are a lot of community kitchens in the city, where people have langar or bhandara to celebrate a special moment or in memory of their loved ones.
Delhi- A victim of dirty politics
Since 2012, I have been closely reading the political practices and changes in political ideologies in India, and being the epicenter, Delhi is a live example of Indian politics.
Aam Aadmi Party marked its debut in Indian politics with a promise of corruption-free politics.
It was marked as the peak time for BJP as well.
The tug-of-war-like situations in Delhi have amplified since the last decade with the media becoming a government mouthpiece, social media flooded with fake news, politicians promoting enmity among the citizens, and blame games on an alarming rise.
No one comes forward to take responsibility for any wrongdoing and the views of the general public are not heard in this matter, the result remains the same.
The resultant images scream about unhealthy, uncivilized, and unfulfilling living standards.
Delhi – a strategic hub that is in dire need of some positive strategies
Apart from being the capital of India, Delhi has top-class educational institutions, many historically indelible sites, many iconic buildings, vibrant markets as well as all the buildings that a state capital should have.
Together every bit of Delhi is a beautiful place to visit, to live, and an apt place to be on a bucket list of wishes for anyone.
The only thing that is engulfing the Delhi’s sanctity is the petty politics due to which no one is now owning the problems of Delhi.
Here I am recalling an incident that happened to me and some other people known to me.
On June 28, we had to go somewhere else by train. It has been raining since 3 a.m.. Our train was scheduled at 6.45 am. We woke up at four, got ready, booked a cab, and left. We were surprised to see that Mother Teresa Crescent Lane in Delhi was submerged. We were stuck in the cab. In just four hours of rain, a flood-like situation occurred in and around all the VIP areas of Delhi.
After Connaught Place, the waterlogging worsened. We became increasingly concerned for our safety and regretted the timing of our ticket booking. Fortunately, our cab driver navigated the situation wisely and we managed to reach the station safely.
The same day, our friend got stuck in traffic for five hours while going to Delhi airport to join his duty. The reason was horrific, due to heavy rains the roof of Terminal 1 of Indira Gandhi International Airport collapsed due to which an innocent taxi driver died on the spot.
A month later, in Rajendra Nagar, due to a similar flood, some students of a renowned coaching institute died after getting trapped in the institute’s illegally operated basement library.
Delhi: The unfilled dots – A Conclusion
For my concerns regarding a better Delhi, there are many points to be noted-
- Can politicians call off their infighting and start serving the country as promised in their manifesto?
- Vendetta politics is real, but common people should not be at the receiving end due to this.
- Coaching institutions are milking the students and their parents in the pretext of their dream jobs. There should be stricter rules for them.
- In this section, it is imperative to establish a regulatory committee to oversee coaching institutes and ensure the availability of suitable postgraduate accommodations for students.
- Many civic problems like water logging, water scarcity, informal settlements, violation of traffic rules, solid waste disposal, and pollution should be at the top of the priority list.
- Politics should be recognized as a beneficial tool for the country. It should not be taken as a means of general commotion that burdens the common people.
- Dogfights are for real dogs and other real animals. This should not be implied in human lives. We deserve better living standards for sure.
- The ball game between different governmental offices in Delhi is wringing out the essence of Delhi, the capital of India.
After a historically prosperous tenure, modern Delhi stands on a heap of problems, such as excessive pollution, a huge increase in criminal cases, waste mismanagement, water scarcity, water logging on roads, cases of road rage, and sexual and mental deprivation. People. Harassment. , and undisciplined public behavior. The problems are serious and so is the negligence of the people in power.
After writing this article on my beloved Delhi, I pay tribute to all those students who lost their lives in the Rajendra Nagar incident.