Raindrops in a desert..

13 October 2010, 10.30 am – The howrah rajdhani slowly chugged into the Delhi station with me in its berth and I could already feel my mood brightening up…it was after 4 months that I was visiting home. I had heard of loads of changes that had happened & wanted to take in the city straight on. This was the second-last day of the Commonwealth games and after so much of negative publicity around the games, games had started off on the right note with the Indian contingent turning up with a good show too.

In the run up to the games, I had been at the receiving end of a playful banter in my office, blamed for belonging to a state responsible for all mess, blamed for being a Delhi-ite. Though I took it playfully, there were times I found my patience stretched – ‘coz whenever a debate started, references were made to other wrong things in the state and I knew some of the accusations were true – there is a long way to go before Delhi can boast of being one of the best capitals in the world…and I am not talking only about the infrastructure. I refer to the general behavior of people (over the past few years, Delhi-walas have earned the tag of ‘rude’ people), following the rules, the sense of cleanliness that prevails and so on…

I guess I was the first person off the train even before it stopped fully and there came the first shocker – a rather extra-ordinary clean platform unfolded before me. I am sure many others had the same opinion. I made my way to the exit to witness the second shocker of the day - an officer demanded to see my ticket, a first for me at the Delhi station. Outside I couldn’t see the huge jam which is a usual scene ‘coz people stop cars outside the parking area to receive their relatives etc. The third surprise – there was a X-ray baggage checking machine I could see near the entrance and people were following a queue to enter the station, again something I hadn’t seen before. My parents had come to pick me up and on our way, I couldn’t help but admire the clean roads, signage, the plantations along the road and people actually following zebra-crossing(shocker 4)!! I met a few friends during my stay at home and everyone did admit to noticing the change that was evident in the city. Policemen and officials were doing their duty diligently, people followed basic traffic rules, the city seemed much cleaner and greener and yes - the city did give an image of a proud capital.

I felt elated at the end of my stay in Delhi, however there was a sense of disappointment too – driven by the fact that I knew this change was only a short-term surprise and as soon as the games end, everything will be back to the ‘chalta-hai’ attitude. This just isn’t about Delhi but a behavior I have observed in many parts of the country I have been to. People litter and spit in open freely, do not follow simple rules and show complete disregard for their surroundings. Am sure they wouldn’t do the same within the confines of their homes. I too am guilty of crossing roads, not waiting for the traffic signal. Is it that only if restrictions & fines are imposed on us, that we behave responsibly (as was the case with Delhi during commonwealth games). Had it not been for the strict policing and the steep fine to drive in designated lanes, would people have complied? A very few didn’t bother even then!!

In our everyday struggle where we chase our ‘perfect life’, it so happens that we neglect many things surrounding us which should be perfect – the basic things which everyone is supposed to do but no-one does. You and I are a part of this. I believe that each one of us will have to play a part to change things around. And if we can influence even one person with this change, there will be a time when we can truly be proud of ourselves & our cities.

I sincerely hope that I do notice some carry-over effect of the behavior I observed in Delhi the next time I visit home. Till then, the same seems to be akin to seeing raindrops in a desert…..