Respects to Gandhiji

We have been slammed by a few of our regular readers for what we wrote in our last blog entry. Some were disappointed in us for what we expressed. Others were plain angry with us.

But this one comment got a hang of what was in our mind.

A comment on your note "The Garbage Dump - India":

"Annikki & Jacob: This is one of your outstanding articles that I have read. Hope now u know why I keep screaming about shifting base to Finland. Civic sense is short lived. Leave the poor and the people in slums - Even the middle class and well to do have this urge to spit, litter and create a fountain wherever possible. My job with XXXX is to create economic opportunities thru the students for communities. The future is the young students who will make the change provided they join this program and work together. Now u know why "Slum Dog Millionaire" got its award. Jai Ho. A dear Mumbaite friend. "

Behind our luxury temporary home in Ahmedabad, the scenery is this. It has been the same since we arrived last Sunday.



Another writer pointed out that India is a democracy, unlike China, and has a billion people.

We are not comparing India with China or any other country. We have not been to China to make any such comparison.

What we tried to explain is how easy it is if one sets up a code of civic practice and abides with it. What is difficult about that, especially for the educated, who are some of the ones screaming blue murder at us? This is exactly what the Minister said a few days ago.

Also, are there not are many many large democracies who have managed to get their house in order?

And think back. Was it better or worse when India had a population of 750 million? So when the projected population is 1.5 billion, where will this country be? Better than today, or will the excuse be the same that we have a population of 1.5 billion and India is a democracy!

Go back to the fact that Ebbi and Jacob pointed out this scenario over 30 years ago, andsuggested a remedy. But no politician or Industrial Development Corporation sought to take action.

But did the politicians and bueaucrats not take action to give the corporate powers what they wanted for their bottom line, regardless. Double standards?

And who will take the responsibility for the present chaos?

Anybody standing with their hands up?

We have no apology to make for what we wrote. It is a fact. Anyone who takes umbrage with us on this is living with their heads stuck in the sand.

And here, in a posh locality in Ahmedabad, in the middle of the road, the stray dogs get a share of the littered prasadam somebody dropped. The perpetrators did not even have the courtesy to drop it in a nearby garbage bin (if there was one around!).



Is it OK to litter the streets with this?

Annikki prepared to go out this afternoon in Ahmedabad wearing the dress code that most women appear to follow in this city.



The dust, dirt and pollution is so overpowering that women here know that their dress sense must protect them. A sad reflection on what abodes in this once magnificent city.

The situation in an expensive location in Ahmedabad is just the same as near a slum. It is just garbage, garbage, garbage strewn everywhere.

We finally reached the Gandhi Ashram to pay our respects to the man who was responsible for the freedom of this country and also who taught the world that non-violence was an important weapon.

It was almost dark,. Most of the fluorescent lights in the Museum were not working. We finally got to see the depiction of the breaking of the Salt Act.



What would be Gandhiji's reaction be to the India we are witnessing around us today? Would he start a Satyagraha to correct this mindless senseless rape of this country.

We wondered what Act Gandhiji would break to drive this nation back to its senses!