Building Civilised Place
‘I am watching you for quite some time’ said Lulu, the parrot, from his cage. ‘You look so irritated and hassled.’
‘Yes, indeed,’ I said. ‘I went out today only to be caught in a ‘Rasta-Roko’ [Traffic Blocked] on the highway. It was organised by a political party wanting the ruling party Congress to give up 
control. They simply do not care about the inconvenience to which a common man is put to.’
‘You have high expectations of civilised behaviour from our leaders. Unreasonable expectation, I would say’ Lulu remarked. ‘Did you not see the big birthday hoardings everywhere in the city? One gets sick of this sycophancy, the Municipality declared that they were going to remove the hoardings but have done nothing.’
‘And did you see the new hoardings that are announcing ‘dahi-handi’ [human pyramid that breaks an earthen pot hung high as a festival ceremony] prize of Rs. 25 lakhs [ Rs. 2.5 Mn]? Such commercialisation of simple enjoyable festivals and its constant telecast on TV also makes me sad.’
‘I agree with you. These Dahi-handi pyramids stall the traffic for you. You cannot fly over it like
‘Recently at the Varsha [Monsoon] Marathon the number of organisers who were on the stage perhaps outnumbered the participants. The Commissioners and
Corporators, their Chelas [followers], Chamchas [sycophants] and Cronies [as Anil Ambani puts it] are making living peacefully in a city very difficult’ I complained.
‘Add to this the blaring loud speakers used in blatant violation of rules by these political leaders. One just wants to run away from the place’ I added.
‘Perhaps you should migrate to some other country’ Lulu proposed. ‘But even there moving freely on the road is dangerous.’
‘I agree, many countries are unsafe. Perhaps we score over them in Mumbai. But then what about Singapore? I moved there at midnight and everyone told me that it was absolutely safe, it was indeed!’ I considered some options.
‘Interesting!’ Lulu observed, ‘You human beings pushed animals out by occupying their land, and now some animal-like among you are pushing you out.’
Vivek
Human beings and their unquenchable thirst for taking anything and everything they are capable of getting hold of… My father once told me to not be scared of tigers,they are the least of your worries he said, but beware of the 'social animal' !
The pace at which 'development' is happening can only be alarming. To say the least.
And with buildings called 'sky-scrappers' coming to scrapping no less than the sky, we are in a bind indeed.
The other day we were discussing, how Powai and such other places were small hills. And where the real tigers roamed, there are the paper tigers with photographs on posters.
sigh.
Lulu seems to be quite a wise parrot- he has got it right when he says-‘You human beings pushed animals out by occupying their land, and now some animal-like among you are pushing you out.’
We just talk about 'sustainable development' but actually do otherwise…
@ Counter Strike: I agree with your father, social animals come in all shapes and sizes but they are dangerous.
@ Kavi: My class went for Botany excursion from Kanjurmarg to Powai thru what is now Hiranandani estate. There were beautiful flowers around that somewhat marshy place. All gone. I am told that the lake has some crocodiles!
@ Manju : Lulu does make me think often by his GOWs [Gems Of Wisdom]! 😀
Thanks
Vivek
You ended the post with a very thought provoking stance. It is true… before you know it, we'll try to live on the moon or another planet, just to have more "room." Someone once told me that humans are parasites.
Good to read the story of Lulu.. The current issue has been explained very beautifully.. specially the last lines..
But isn't it true for life also… Thanks for sharing!!
well said
So true. Opposite my house at the Shanmukhananda Hall, every month there are programmes involving some politician or the other, and you should see the civilised behaviour.
That's that Sir. But I like your new look.
You forgot ab the major road blocks that will happen due to pendals that will be built for Ganpati mahotsav…. Mr. Tilak must be cursing himself to death for having started this … for whatever reasons then!