"DREAM INDIA"

India is like a child whose bones are weak. It is like a house based on a weak establishment. The tree whose roots are loosening. The train the tyres of which are squelching.
I simple words if I say that the South Asian giant India is currently burning then I wonder there will be hardly any debate. The meaning is that the world’s second fastest growing economy is in a complete mess and is almost in the den of a civil war. To understand my point, just recapitulate what is been in the news for the last 6 months. In the extreme north, heaven of the world, Kashmir, is a living hell. Young Kashmir’s are fighting a virtual freedom war. It seems as if sacrificing their life in the name of revolution is glory to them.

Almost entire North East India is declared a Red Corridor, thus totally out of India’s control. Tribals have chosen violence as their weapon and adopted Naxalism. In the Subcontinent, juvenile students of Osmania University have brought the entire central government to a standstill with their vociferous demand for a separate Telangana.

These are just the HEADLINES. Inside stories are that committing suicide looks an easier option to Indian farmers, families are assassinating their own children in the name of honor killing, illiterate communities are in a race to obtain the SC/ST/OBC status tag, illegal mining is on all time high, the current government is the most corrupt in our history with scams being unveiled every day, tigers will vanish soon, poor have become poorer, roads are still to be reached to many villages and above all the world will make sure that we get no chance in the future to host any international game event especially Commonwealth.

Hitherto in all my articles I have only talked about India’s tribulations. But in this special edition I will only deal with solutions to prevent this unstable ship from sinking. These days Planning Commission of India is in a brown study drawing the contours of our 12^th Five Year Plan. My humble suggestion to them is----leave everything aside and focus all your cylinders to THREE ground breaking reforms.

First is my personal favorite-----“Literate minds”. India’s existing population accommodates all kinds of good, bad and ugly citizens in it. Our country’s bones are weak because it never consumed education rich milk. With a literacy rate of 66% (2009) majority of problems we are facing today is because of some bad guys who never went to schools or never picked a book. Result, today they make the most hue and cries, infact most of them lead us and represent us in Indian Parliament.

So what is gone is gone. Look towards the future. And the future belongs to those born in this century. Children of India are the most potential resource of the country---if we commit ourselves to gift them with a dynamic education. When I say education---I imply plethora of primary schools, passionate teachers, and abundant sports and never say never to ECA activities. This supplemented with a healthy and a regular mid day meal for the underprivileged. And this supported with a Pandora’s Box of higher education. A higher education which doesn’t mean selling degrees but selling dreams. Helping every child to unveil and discover his calling for life. Institutions which are not a burden for the government but so gigantic in themselves that they become the brand ambassadors of excellence and perfection. Above all an education system which creates a pool of skilled labor for us. Which feeds Ethics, Morals and Truth to our kids in abundance. Which Portrays corruption as a dragon. Which plants the seed of a non corrupt Indian very early in their life.  

So just imagine---15 to 20 years from now. Almost every child of generation X, Y or Z who is not only healthy but also literate i.e. buy one gets one free. They are the agents of change. With them it will be an uprising of a new India. An educated India where more than 50% of the non-sense problems related to religion, caste, community, sex, temple and mosque will vanish automatically. The outcome will be that we don’t have to lose sleep over poor show at Olympics, excessive crime rate, corrupt politicians, lazy government services, unethical business houses, riots, problems of not enough scientist or researchers, no world class films, no cleanliness, overflowing population, scams after scams after scams etc etc etc because our new educated India will take over everything and will definitely bring the much needed change. So if our policymakers want this. Then they should invest more than 50% of India’s GDP to education.

2^nd Reform

I opened my mouth and threw my theory about education but it is only possible in an environment which is calm and secure. Any disturbance in the society simply gives a blow to schools and colleges and they take the most time to recover.

So 2^nd reform talks about Police. Police is the leading criminal in India. Crooked police and their insane system give birth to more bad guys and bad girls than anybody else. They force a common man towards bribery. They themselves indulge in rape and sexual exploitation. Ironically they are family to affluent and useless to victim.

Law Courts, CID, CBI, state governments and other authorities intervene much later in any crime then police who are the first problem solvers. If these corrupt asses act as per their power then most of the criminals will be booked, cases will be solved, victims will get the justice leading to low pendency of court cases, almost no formation of useless committees or highly corrupt CBI getting any charge to investigate further and creating more mess and more crime. In a nutshell Police breads criminals. By not taking the desired action they encourage them and turn victims into vigilantes. 

In all, police is in a dying need for reform. When I say Police Reform I mean getting very healthy salary so that they don’t even think about taking a bribe. Second is to reform their entire system defining carefully what they can and what can’t do avoiding them from being a puppet. Encouraging them to uncover their corrupt bosses. Providing our policemen with state of the art weapons. Above all make it a lucrative job for talented and brave individuals to enter.

3^rd reform

Now the county is educated and the police are also doing its job. But think for a moment when children of today complete education and assume responsibility tomorrow. Their morale and energy is severely hit by non availability of pure water and pure oxygen.  Very high priced fuel, LPG, fruits and vegetables diverts their focus from development. Because the environment is full of pollution, it is very hot and there is a fight for everyday resources.

So 3rd reform is to save and protect the environment. Let’s not suck the resources. Then only we can dream that these soldiers whom we have trained and protected fight our war, a war for better tomorrow, a war for development, a war for equality and a war for a better India.

When I say Environment Reforms I mean:

• Huge investments in clean resources
• Genesis of a fuel alternative to petrol & diesel
• Saving clean water which is near to death

You might argue that there are 1000’s of reforms demanding priority so why these THREE. My message to you is that these 3 reforms are the Papa and Mummy of all solutions. They are like a vision, a difficult path walked today to reap the benefits tomorrow. With them we too have to work on infrastructure, health, law, agriculture etc.

In India we never focus on the root problems but try to eliminate the branches. Like we never invest either in R&D or a perfect distribution system for farmers. Instead we are proud in giving relief packages.

With these 3 reforms we will build a house with an unswerving base, a non leaking roof and an efficient sewage system.

An “Atuluya” Bharat.

All the Best!!!!

  Pankul

The article is a a dream of the author for India.Written at his home.

Feel Free to comment.

Recommended Articles

"Sons of the Soil"                                                     "A Complete Non Sense"

"Different Smells of My Life"

In one of the Sunday issue of Brunch, Editor in Chief of HT Media------Vir Sanghavi wrote extensively on the aroma and fragrance of different scents and cologne being invented in the world. But I democratically feel that his article was incomplete because he only mouthed about the one side of the coin i.e. the positive and the manufactured smell which everybody loves to inhale. But the missing part was the negative and the natural smell which is also present in this world and which we all hate.

So THINKING CAP has bore the responsibility to talk ostentatiously of such arrogant and criminal type of smells which have the balls to even kill you leaving no option but to inhale it and die painfully.

1.      As I have travelled enormously through public transport system so I can accept that I am not a stranger to its characteristics like too many people, tiny spaces, low price, jerks etc. But one of the most peculiar features of it is the smell of the sweat. When passengers ranging from tiny teens to pension earners, from a boring housewife to a virgin blonde to breadwinners all lift their hand or hands in unity to take support and guard against the jerks. Raising hands release the aroma of sweat in the atmosphere, sweat which they have earned throughout the day by completing different files, selling unsalable products, standing in queues and performing daily chores. I call it the “mix vegetable” of sweat as everyone contributes towards it. Slowly and gradually the vegetable gains pace & mass and turns in a hurricane. It reaches every corner of the vehicle. The irony is such that you are standing in front of a middle aged male inhaling his sweat into your lungs and still smiling at the rascal and vice-versa. 

2.      I personally feel that the insane smell of “Gutka” can turn the furniture inside your body upside-down. The business houses create addictive brands like “Rajdarbaar”, “Kuber” and “RajniGandha” to create an illusion of luxury to the consumer and make him tour heaven for some minutes. At the time of consuming unexpectedly one of these knuckleheads approaches you, takes his face very close to yours infact to your nostrils, wide open his “Gutka” filled mouth and proudly inquires “Bhai time kya hua hai” or sometimes “ye bus khaa jaayegi”. And you lose your wicket. You are in a situation where somebody has released poison inside your blood and has left you for a slow painful death.

3.      This one is my personal favorite. Every day you inhale it and that too happily, like you’re worshipping. The non-violent, non dangerous smell of the food you could not digest i.e. the perfume of defecation.  Every morning, sitting in the most comfortable position, relaxed as never, you inhale it dedicatedly. You are choice less because this activity makes you blissful and full of joy. Sometimes I wonder that how come the Fried Rice which I was dying to eat a night before can betray me and behind that rich and healthy smell there was hidden a non thinkable smell like this one. But this smell had always gifted me some wildest ideas.

4.      If the previous one was my personal favorite then this is my personal non-favorite. The problem with this smell is that it attacks you like an earthquake and you are not even prepared for it. As an earthquake creates a lot of havoc and destruction this smell too destroys your mood completely and makes life a hell. The perfume of a dead rat. First you hate these jackass monsters roaming in your home or office and breaking your privacy. And then these fuckers hid in one of the damn corners of the home and breathe their last breath. The trouble is that his body is lying and decaying in some part of your home, smells like thousands drains flowing next to you and you don’t even have the slightest idea where the asshole is. You actually want to butcher him on his this sinful act.

5.      I guess this particular smell flows only in the air of developing nations especially India. And this is not a smell but a shame for our country. All other smells above are like a free bird. Nobody can control them. But this shameless smell we can definitely stop. This is the perfume of pee on Indian roads. To attend nature’s call some people look for isolated corners and pee on them. As we are Indians so we all follow. As a result the place officially becomes a pee point and gives a distinct character to the place because of its smell.

In this list of developing nations smell, there is another chap which I guess is multiplying and is in race with our “never say die” population growth. The perfume of the swollen, perished, abandoned and decaying garbage. The implied rule in India is that every single piece of the garbage should be outside the garbage warehouse thus converting the whole place in a bin, making a choice for people to throw anywhere or everywhere. As we ourselves create such smell so we anticipate it when crossing a garbage warehouse and clamp our nostrils till the smell stop chasing us.  

6.      The last in the series is a sinful, dead, negative and dreadful smell which is a question in itself. If you want to inhale it, then go and open the drawer or closet where you have stocked medicines for emergency. Or pay a visit to a dispensary, hospital or a chemist. The smell of medicines. Why the smell of medicines which are actually developed to cure human beings makes me even sicker is still mysterious to me.

So these are the dirty, naughty, notorious and infamous brand of smell whose tyranny we have to suffer almost every day. And they are unbearable is no doubt but they have given an opportunity to crazy thinkers of the world to find out their antidotes. There would have been no perfume if there is no sweat and no room freshener if no smell of the dead rat.

Please don’t perceive that as I have given a lot of space to these smells, I like or love them. Like normal people I too wanna inhale and live in scented and healthy air.

 999

The Article was written after being inspired by Brunch (HT magazine).

Feel free To Comment!!!

Recommended Articles:

 "Eaters Coma"                                                               "Idle Hands"

"A COMPLETE NONSENSE"

Just a few steps away from my home there is a very famous road in West Delhi called “Sanatan Dharam Road” On the road stand a large Hindu Temple, a beautiful Sikh Gurudwara and a cute Christian Church. The 3 symbols of 3 religions share a common wall with one another. They are like 3 brothers standing next to each other----tall, united and peaceful. If on Sunday the church is bubbling with Christian prayers, then on Gurupurav the Gurudwara organises a lavish “langar” on the famous road where everybody is invited impartially for the feast. And on Janmashtmi, Diwali or other numerous Hindu festivals the temple gets overcrowded with devotees. For secular people like me it’s like a festival which is celebrated round the year. Every religion contributing. Similarly in Mathura (UP), my mother’s birthplace and also Lord Krishna’s, just next to very famous and ancient Krishnajanm-bhoomi we have a mosque which adds to the beauty of the place.

These are just two examples of Secularism which I came across. There will be many. So why, why and why somebody please tell me why we are fighting like cats and dogs and that too wild ones over a tiny piece of land in Ayodhya for not years, not decades but over a half a century???

I don’t want to talk about history and divulge from my point. The point is not that this place belongs to X or it belongs to Y. The point is that a mosque (Babri) was there and in a country where policy makers bark to the world that we are secular how can we even tolerate to allow insane people to demolish the structure just on the assumption that earlier there was a Ram Temple. And if the sin was committed then why sinners were not arrested and punished severely at that time only??

Just think for the moment that many of India’s great monuments are built by Muslim rulers because they rule India for many years. We don’t even know what they broke or what they destroyed to build such magnificent structures which are all world heritage sites today. Tomorrow if somebody stands up and starts shouting that Taj Mahal was built over a place where there was a temple of XYZ God. So are we going to destroy Taj Mahal? Just think!!!!

Do we even know that Babri case has given rise to insecurity among Muslims? It has perpetuated terrorism in India and around the world. The terrorist organizations quote Babri’s example to young boys when turning them anti-Indian and a complete terrorist. Infact many Muslims have started perceiving that India is not for Muslims and the country is trying to erase Islam within it.

In Ayodhya there are lots of mosques and a lot of temples. And the controversial piece of land is so large that it can accommodate both a temple and a mosque. Nobody has the proof that there stood a temple but we all know that Babri was there for centuries and we must believe what we see.

Now what has happened---has happened. To maintain peace and brotherhood either both mosque and a temple should be build there or the land be declared “No man’s Land”. The best solution which I discovered on Facebook is to build a HOSPITAL there for everybody or a GREEN PARK as a symbol of togetherness. The court has to maintain the balance between two sensitive parties; a little extra weight on either side will give politicians another chance to wage riots and violence. Though a SEMIFINAL DECISION has come but some troublemakers are still crying and planning to approach Supreme Court. So the saga has not ended.

PostScript: Common man like you and me is least interested in this non-sense. But we are scared of this decision and expecting riots. The more this country will gossip about religion the least develop we will be!!!!

999

The Article was written on the morning of the HighCourt verdict.
Feel Free To Comment!!!

Recommended Articles:

Chik Chik and Zhikk Zhikk                                      "Eaters Coma"

SONS OF THE SOIL

JFK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

DUE TO HEAVY SNOWFALL, ALMOST ALL FLIGHTS ARE EITHER CANCELLED OR DELAYED. BETRAYED TRAVELERS HAVE NO OPTION BUT EITHER TO WAIT OR RETURN

The waiting area is over crowded with travelers who are tired, annoyed & adjusting themselves. The luggage is scattered with all over the place. Not a single seat is unoccupied. Many are standing or sitting over their own luggage. In all they are not happy.

STRANGER 1: Hi (to another stranger). Can you please pass me that “Time” magazine”?

STRANGER 2 GIVES THE MAGAZINE TO HIM.  STRANGER 1, UNINTERESTED IN THE MAGAZINE IS UNABLE TO IGNORE THE BOREDOM AND FEELS RESTLESS. HE WANTS TO TALK TO SOMEBODY.

STRANGER 1 (after a while): Hey!! What you think……….snow will stop??

STRANGER 2 (seems uninterested): It will, if it has to.

STRANGER 1: Yaaaaaaa. I wish they had cancelled my flight. By the way I’m Shahnawaz. Shahnawaz Khan (forwards his hand to the Stranger 2).

STRANGER 2: (Shaking the hand) Hi!!!! Myself Dev. Dev Mehra (still uninterested in the talks)!!!!

SHAHNAWAZ: So DEV, where are you heading?

DEV LOOKS AT SHAHNAWAZ FOR A WHILE. DOESN’T SAY A WORD. BUT SHAHNAWAZ IS DESPERATE TO KNOW AND GIVES AN IMPRESSION THAT HE HAS 1000 QUESTIONS

DEV: I am…....I’m going to Pakistan (says softly).

SHAHNAWAZ: Pa….Pakistan (says questionably)??? But you look like a Hindu?? Are you in media?

DEV (Smilingly): I live there. It’s my home and yes I’m a Hindu and I think Hindus can go to Pakistan. Where are you going?

SHAHNAWAZ: Going to Mom. India. Dad is calling me back. (After a pause) Hey, what a situation----a Hindu going to Pakistan and a Muslim going to India. Ha-ha.

DEV: This is post 1947 Naa!!!!

SHAHNAWAZ: Absolutely. So what are you doing in US??

DEV: I used to work for a bank for the last 7 years. Now finally going home!!!!

SHAHNAWAZ: Lost the job like other bankers (he is so happy to say that)??

DEV: No-No not at all. I decided to quit before letting the big crisis catch me. I myself wanted to go home.

SHAHNAWAZ: But man, your country is in such a mess. I mean, you never know when will Taliban take over Pakistan & you cannot trust anybody as everybody is same. Why don’t you stay back in America? You can do some other job if not boring banking. Atleast you will earn safely. A suggestion!!!

DEV: Shahnawaz, when there is a fire at your home, you don’t leave it or run like a coward. But you arrange for water. If people of Pakistan keep running to other countries then one day Taliban will definitely rule Pakistan.

SHAHNAWAZ: Hmmmm!!! You are right. But my question is that what you will earn there?? Moreover will you be safe (He looks straight to Dev’s face)????

DEV: Situation is not that bad. We are still stable & one can earn his living in Pakistan. Time will change and situation will definitely improve.

SHAHNAWAZ: Insha'Allah!!!!

THE TRAVELERS AROUND ARE NOW LOOKING CALM. SOME HAVE SLEPT, SOME ARE READING AND SOME ARE CHATING. BUT THERE IS TOO MUCH ACTIVITY AND NOISE. EVERYBODY IS WAITING FOR THE SNOW TO STOP

DEV: By the way, why is your family calling you back?

SHAHNAWAZ: Well I came to do my MBA but recession broke the backbone of this part of the world. So dad says to come back and make future in India. He says the country is growing at 9 Perrcentt every year (his eyes expands while declaring this).

SHAHNAWAZ: What an irony (says with sad expression)!! You are going to your country because it is in a mess and facing crisis. And I am going back to enjoy my country’s growth at 9 Perrcentt every year. (He Pauses). Why can’t our countries grow together?????

DEV (Dev turns to Shahnawaz and is now completely in the debate): Shahnawaz, if capable people like you and me keep coming to this country then our motherland can never-ever actually grow. We dream of finding a job, marrying a girl and then settling comfortably in one of the suburb of US, thinking that we are developing ourselves (sarcasm is his voice). But we never ever realise that in the end we lose the battle. In the hunt for our personal growth we don’t even know that how much profits we have given to this country and how much loss we have cause to ours.

SHAHNAWAZ LOOKED STUNNED AS IF HE HAS HEARD SOMETHING HURTFUL. FOR THE FIRST TIME HE WITNESS THE INSIDE ANGER OF DEV MEHRA. AN ANGER BURNING FOR YEARS

SHAHNAWAZ: Nice dialogues man!!!! Bollywood needs you (he says to cool the debate). I know you are right. Sometimes I too feel the same. But why you only blame the brain-drain? Don’t you think that our countries should also end our cold war to grow together? It’s like two brothers tearing each other over a shit of papa’s property, trying to be as ignorant as possible to each other and saying “I don’t need you”. But the irony is that both desperately need each other. And in the whole circus, it’s the outside audience that’s having fun. The longest running circus of the world for the last 63 years (he try to justify his point with his hand movements). What you say??

DEV: I think you should write for Hollywood (Both laughs). We all know that what our common problem is. And that is, that heaven piece of land (his index finger try to point something) that has made our lives a hell. So better to ignore the problem and focus on other things which are not at all any problem for us.

SHAHNAWAZ: Don’t you think that ignoring will multiply the problem??

DEV: The problem is that this problem can never be solved. Even if the world’s greatest problem solvers sit and vomit their wildest imaginations or their bestest strategies.

SHAHNAWAZ: But why??

DEV: Because they don’t want to solve it, God dammit (yells)!! SHAHNAWAZ (Dev sounds irritated) the world doesn’t want our biggest problem to be solved. Can’t you see it? Every year, this superpower giant gives billions of dollars to Pakistan to fight terror which Pakistan uses to buy weapons and artillery from China at special prices in the name of fighting terror. And that money is used against India. At the same time China keeps India busy in fighting naxals. Like Pakistan it also supplies large number of weapons to Naxalites. And together both US and China are world’s top 2 countries.

SHAHNAWAZ: Then what to do??

DEV: Stop the fight. The more we fight the more we will burn. History says that wars and violence has burned more economies than recession and depression together. E.g.: Great Britain—World War 2, Sri Lanka----LTTE, Pakistan—Taliban war, Russia---Cold war, Now US----Iraq & Afghanistan War and India-----Naxalite and Kashmir war and Afghanistan-----Invasion of Afghanistan by Russia.

SILENCE ELUDES BETWEEN THE TWO AS IF BOTH HAVE TIRED VISITING THE LAST 100 YEARS. MEANWHILE SNOW HAS STOPPED ALREADY

#

SHAHNAWAZ: WOW!!! What a day. I never imagined all this. But in all these talks I’ve imagined that you and I are discussing as if I am the Prime Minister of India and you are the President of Pakistan. How quickly we get to know each other and how quickly we realized what the best solution is without even solving the problem. I wish if this could have been a summit like Agra and like this we would have beaten our differences to death

DEV: Agra Summit?? Even thousand such bullshit summits cannot even solve the problem. Every PM of yours and each President of ours is such a big coward who neither has the balls nor the heart to take a landmark decision. Both the loosers only meet to complicate matters and make the mess even more messier. You know the actual problem is that this problem has become so old and outdated that we don’t even know what to do with it. It is big mistake committed by our ancient leaders. Now we are facing the brunt.

As I said---people like you and me. Common people of Pakistan and common people of India can solve this problem. Because it is the problem of our home and it is the problem which we created. Politician’s sucks and they will only divide us.

(Announcement)

Attention Please: Flight US—210, US---561 and US---117 heading towards India, Pakistan and South Africa respectively are ready for departure. I repeat……….. (Continues)

SHAHNAWAZ: Now I understand what drives you back. I will take your message to India. In the entire conversation I stupidly wished a lot. And now again there is a wish---A wish you and I could board the same flight and that too, to the same nation where we live together. Together we will make the difference. Let me have your contact details.

BOTH EXCHANGED THEIR DETAILS. THEN HUGGED EACH OTHER AS IF TWO LOST BROTHERS HAVE FOUND THEMSELVES AND NOW THEY DON’T WANT TO BE LOST AGAIN. AND THEN TAKES THEIR DIFFERENT PATHS!!!!!!

To be contd………..

999

The Conversation was written by the author during an entrance exam!!!
Feel Free To Comment!!!


Recommended Articles:
"The Lady I Loved"                                        

Khushiyon Ka Aashiyaana

If you are a diehard fan of frequency modulation (FM) Radio then you must be aware that it’s cluttered with advertisements from the Real Estate. The advertisements are targeted at the common man but hardly he listens or pays attention to it.  Frankly speaking all the advertisements appear corresponding despite their hard efforts to create product differentiation. Some are like:

“ARREY MAMAJI, APNI TO KISMET KHUL GAYI. UNIVERSAL LAAYE HAI DELHI SE SIRF 20 KM DOOR FARIDABAD MAI KHUSHIYON KA AASHIYAANA”---2 BEDROOM 1 KITCHEN FLAT SIRF 18 LACK MAI---AB SOCHNA KYA”

Or

HIGH-TECH LAUNCHES CAPE TOWN AT SECTOR 74 NOIDA. 2/3/4BHK APARTMENTS FOR RS. 23 LACS. HURRY BEFORE IT IS SOLD OUT. SMS BIG TO 4565.

Have you ever given a thought that what these big fishes’ (builders) are doing? They are actually converting the whole of India into a jungle of concrete. I mean how far they will go to satisfy their greed for Midas touch? Banking on my memory a decade back there was only Delhi and no NCR (National Capital Region). Places like Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Dwarka, Gurgaon and Noida do existed but never bubbled with population. In fact these regions were nothing but agricultural lands or green reserves.

Then came what I call the “The Gold Rush”—the boom in the real estate. Every person out of ten dreamt of becoming a builder or a property dealer. Delhiites were desperate to just associate themselves anyhow with any property.  People started realizing that an investment in the form of land is the best as it only propagates (though rare corrections come in rare occasions like slowdown). No Sensex, No fixed deposit, No mutual funds can inflate your investment as an investment in land can. Reason: it is scarce.  So today we are witnessing mushrooming of residents and offices in the far flung areas of Dwarka, Ghaziabad, Noida etc. The people living in Delhi have opened corporate houses in NCR especially Gurgaon and Noida. And the ones who are working in Delhi have purchased houses in NCR. So every morning and evening we witness cross commuting of cars from Delhi to NCR and vice versa. The result is that this has contributed towards the mounting oil consumption and oil prices and hence inflation.

A statesman once said “the one who controls the resources is the king”. In a race to be one, builders acquired and still acquiring land leaving no time and complimenting it with the construction. But how come they are so fast in building streets of houses? How come these big fishes’ are expanding their enterprise without hiccups when old-fashioned municipal authorities create so many hindrances when a common man builds his house? In order to get the work done they have spread the influenza of corruption in the whole system. N number of babus are enjoying life in their deep pockets. These big fishes’ priority is to keep the corrupt crocodiles satisfied and happy so that everything goes smoothly as any hurdle in the game of property can risk tens of millions of Rupees.

The billion dollar question for a curious person like me is that from where these sharks are sourcing money. I mean our reluctant nationalised banks will deter from financing their diversified and expansionary business. And the probability of a builder sacrificing and risking his personal savings or mortgaging his own assets is very low; in fact these will not even fulfill the need. Here comes into picture the role of Black Money, Tax Havens and Laundering. Money borrowed from politicians, even in some cases mafias and unscrupulous money lenders. So in the race to be a king every good, bad and ugly individual is after the land and has given it a bad name of a Blood Diamond. Obviously we cannot stereotype this breed of workers. Some are even professionals and form a cooperative to pull money to invest.

But after so much melodrama, do Khushiyon ka Aashiyaana actually reaching the needy?? What I think, it is still difficult to get to everyone who is in need. The ones capable of paying high prices or looking for investment are the current buyers. It means, even after selecting and acquiring the land, constructing the houses, keeping babus happy still the shark is unable to satisfy the need of our mango people because of sky kissing prices. But why are these prices not friendly to common man’s pocket?

Firstly, the commercial interest of a builder is to make huge profits, so he scale up the margin and hence the final price. The recurring rate of interest on money borrowed and bribes paid to babus eats up his share of profit. So he is forced to keep the margin high. Secondly, the construction drive is pervasive in India, which has escalated the cost of raw material like cement, bricks, steel etc. Thirdly, in real estate no one can estimate the real price because of lack of regulation there is no MRP (Maximum Retail Price). So a builder who incurs 30 lacs in a house is a free bird while demanding 40 lacs the very next day unobjectionably and can mislead a buyer. Fourthly, there are speculators in between a builder and the family who will live in that house. They buy property for investment and further sale. So this adds up to the final price.

But do we only have private players to construct houses? What are the lazy asses of government doing? Organizations like Delhi Development Authority (DDA) are moving one legged on this road and doing things half heartedly, and if it does, its little efforts get hit of scams and opaque transactions. So poor buyers have only the option of private builders but the sad story is that builders are making “homes” only for the rich. The final alternative of purchasing the land and constructing the house is next to impossible for our mango people. So where will they go?? They have no choice but to keep roaming, chasing and searching societies, flats and apartments till they get “what big sharks call—Khushiyon Ka Aashiyaana”. So carry on Guyzz!!!!

#

Every country is distinguished because of its culture, language, food, geography, history and people. And all this is reflected and identified in its heritage and buildings. If you are in Manhattan or Tokyo, Beijing or Kolkata you will relate that place with its heritage. Same is the case with Connaught Place, Old Delhi even South Delhi; every region has its own charm and personal identity.

But when I have to locate an address in the NCR (Non Capital Region) why every place looks similar to me? Whether it’s HansRaj Appartments or Maheshwara, whether IndraMahal, or Dwarka Sectors, why the roads keep confusing me? The point I am trying to make here is that as like Delhi’s 100 malls which are twins in every sense and have everything in common, these builders are doing nothing but “copycat”---by constructing structures which look brothers and sisters and gives you no differentiated experience & feeling when you are exposed to them. It gives you a feeling as if builders are working according to a single map. And their aim is to make all places look similar. Though this can be classified as an unjustified demand in a country where people don’t even have a quarter to live.

The article is not to curse the private builders. At least they are filling the gap of huge supply. And the demand is so high that no one is interested whether the place he/she is living at has an aesthetic feel and a reflection of country’s culture because basic necessity comes first and then design and art!!!!

"The article was written at authors home"

Feel free To Comment

Recommended Articles Written By me:

1) "Idle Hands"                                                    2)"A Suicide Note"