Of the hundreds visual stimuli presented by the roads of
Delhi on my drive today, 3 remain stuck in my memory. Let me present them in
the order of their presenting themselves to me.
Waiting at a traffic intersection, I noticed, most
unsurprisingly, a few beggars conducting brisk business. I also spotted the
slum perched on the rocky outcrop several metres high right next to the
intersection. The Vasant Vihar Coolie Camp, as the slum is called, is spread
over more than an acre of government land and has burgeoned from just a couple
of houses to a slum sprawling into the woods behind in just a couple of
decades.
Driving further, I had to make way for a group of
motorcyclists, proudly astride their Harley Davidsons, showing off the gleaming
chrome and flawless leather riding gear and instilling a deep sense of longing
in other poorer commuters with the deep throaty roar of their engines.
Just when I thought I had seen enough display of opulent
wealth, I was overtaken by a Rolls Royce Phantom, The Spirit of Ecstasy riding
proudly on the hood, as a symbol of excellence and indicative of obscene wealth.
If you are to spot both of the last two of the three sights
mentioned above on a single day, you can be quite certain that it is a Sunday.
For Sunday is the day the bourgeoisie of Delhi come out in strength and bring
out their most expensive wheels to enjoy them on the comparatively empty
streets.
If you are wondering why I would shed light on this along
with a mention of the slums, let me tell you that my intention was to share
with you two opposing aspects of Delhi in terms of money. On one hand we have
the uber rich citizens, indulging in sinful pleasure to a degree which would be
considered almost criminal by some. On the other hand, however, we have
citizens who live under the poverty line, a large percentage of whom are food
insecure. People of both fiscal classes are as intrinsic a part of Delhi as the
other and this city’s identity would be incomplete without either.
I met with an elderly gentleman a few days ago, a resident
of Bangalore. He shared his observations of the large number of homeless people
on the streets of Delhi and expressed his deep sense of discontent over their
pitiful condition and his frustration towards the government for not doing
anything to uplift these people. He also lamented that the extremely rich
people of Delhi do nothing to help the homeless and continue to live their
pampered lives absolutely guilt free. I sympathize with his feelings, but I
would like to take the opportunity to highlight here the opinions of the
average Delhiite. It is said that even God doesn’t help those who don’t help
themselves. Although not much of a believer of God myself, I do believe this
adage applies fully and truly here. Unknown to the gentleman from Bangalore, I
can vouch for the fact that a vast majority of the homeless people of Delhi
have resolved themselves to a life of poverty and are quite content with their
lot in life. A lot of attempts are made to help and uplift them but are mostly
futile. Alms distributed are spent buying hooch more often than food for the
family, able bodied men give up any chance of finding employment in favour of a
more sedentary and lazy lifestyle of begging at traffic signals. Attempts to
relocate The Vasant Vihar Coolie Camp have met with stiff resistance from the
slum dwellers, not entirely unexpectedly. Nobody wishes to uproot themselves and
relocate once settled. As long as attempts to help the destitute continue to
face resistance, whether from politicians, the opposition or the poverty
stricken people themselves, there can be no hope for improvement.Delhi has
always been and will probably continue to be a city where the poor and rich
live in extremely close and oftentimes unsettling proximity.
Only In Delhi.
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