Its raining crap

The media deluge on Independence Day was cacophony at its best. There were wishes of India-Pakistan being one, of poll promises and developmental views, about flag hoists, Ottavio Quattrochi finding freedom and people debating how India upholds its democratic traditions and Pakistan does not…and so on. After the din has died down and realization dawns that the next day is a working day, everyone goes to sleep and go about doing what they want to do. I do not know how many view the Independence as another holiday but refuse to accept it. For the media it is about getting content that has ‘jingoism’ written around it in bold. Well to sum up its’ not just about celebrating nationhood and hoisting the national flag on 15th August. It is about ensuring that it remains aflutter rest of the year.

So the monsoons have arrived in Mumbai. On the outset, I do not think that the civic infrastructure has improved to tackle the monsoons, atleast not yet. Roads are still dug up, trains were slow even for the pre-monsoon showers. Mithi river, the arterial dumping ground, sewerage, mangrove nourisher et al is still not cleared…and so on and so forth. Mumbai presents a rather apocalyptic picture of what unplanned development can do. Development has been a poll promise since independence. From 1947 to today, civic infrastructure has not kept pace with the aspirations of the citizens. From the municipal elections, corporate elections, legislative and parliament elections to the presidential elections, there is just this mirage that we try and paint. And my theory is this is a political conspiracy. If we are given what we want…how will they come back to power again? The promise of a better tomorrow is the only thing that drives the poor to the poll booths. And time after time, they have obl...