Random notes

Delhi has had a second successive Car Free Day, this time in Dwarka. Thousands attended it, hundreds participated in a cycle rally, thousands more walked to demonstrate their solidarity to the cause of reducing pollution in Delhi in particular and a healthier environment, in general. Chief Minister of Delhi came personally, participated in the cycle rally and addressed the enthusiastic crowd. He also announced that next car free day would be on 22 nd January, in Patparganj, East Delhi. Going for a Car Free Day Excellent! It reminds me of another such initiative, called Earth Hour. On a specific day, once a year, we switch off lights at 8 PM, for one hour. Off course, air conditioners, refrigerators, washing machines, fans, microwaves etc keep running during the appointed hour. For the rest of 364 days and 23 hours, we can feel smug in the thought that we have contributed to the environment. Around 0.1% of population, switch off around 15% of the electric app...

A father, who had limited income and many kids to feed, declared one fine day, “The kid who foregoes his or her lunch today would get Rs. 50 before dinner.” The kids were shocked. They had not seen even a ten rupee note being given by their father. They knew their father as a miser and were not accustomed to such benevolence. They were more used to their basic needs being flatly denied because of paucity of funds. All of them happily accepted the offer, too readily. Poor kids stayed hungry and were feeling famished by evening but the lure of Rs. 50, in cash, kept them going. They were still excited about the booty, they were to be gifted at dinner time. Dinner time came and to their surprise, the money was actually distributed.  Happy kids pocketed the money quickly before their father would change his mind and sat down for dinner. Then the father made a dramatic announcement.  “Today, dinner would cost Rs. 50. Only those who pay Rs. 50 would get dinner.” He ...

When I shifted to Mumbai in 2007 and was looking for a house to rent, the broker gave me an unsolicited advice, “Never say you are from Delhi or it would be difficult to get a house on rent!” Hurt, I asked him why and he responded, a bit diplomatically, “Don’t feel bad but the ordinary Mumbaikar carries a not so benign perception about the ordinary Delhite.” I asked him to explain himself further. “Average Mumbaikar feels that Delhi people don’t follow rules or understand their civic responsibilities. They are prone to get violent at slightest challenge or provocation; it is better to avoid them.” He said, diplomatically avoiding usage of offending adjectives. Not exactly good words to hear about people of the city you belong to, but then, a perception is a perception. It cannot be fought or contested; it can only be modified or changed by personal interactions, over a long period of time.  Though I did not need to pay head to his advice as I found a house belongi...