Stephie

I knew this little lady who could not have been loved more. I met her when she was well past her prime, but still had the softest, silkiest coat and soulful eyes that also missed nothing. As I grew to know her better I realised she was integral to many lives – she knew all family and friends inside out, and more importantly, gave each the space and the love they needed.

She had also developed the traits of loved elders who take their space and attention as a right. All who have met her have competed for space on the bed, or been pulled to pet her immediately when she would give 'the look' or reach out the minute she felt she wasn't getting her due. But this competition from each time that I can remember resulted in a cosy group hug – with Stephie at the heart of it – that lasted pretty much the entire visit.

She had the fullest life reaching everyone around, and still brings a smile to those who think of her. I couldn’t be happier for having known her.

Unsustainable Development

The rains came. And the roads made by mankind were washed away. The roads in Gurgaon caved in – and I do mean caved right in, at least by 8-10 feet, right behind where I stay. These are roads that have just been developed (and are reminiscent of a number of others that are laid all over again at least twice a year in this growing township) to broad splendour, to allow at least 3 cars a side to travel abreast.

Gurgaon is touted as the Millennium City with a breathtaking skyline (though one must admit that this is only so if one is cruising past at a height over the flyovers at NH-8 – the view does change completely at the ground level), the corporate hubs and high-rise apartments. Enormous volumes of resources are being sunk into its expansion and the luxuries on offer (I also refuse to get tempted to get into the whole discussion of resource exploitation and the concretisation of green field and agricultural land to make this Millennium City a reality at this point).

The costs of this development are being borne through the various taxes and charges that are paid by someone, if not all. While I remain a relatively new entrant to the world of bona fide employment and tax paying I have grown up to and continue to be engulfed by the annual March crisis, and scrabbling for change at the toll booth (to and fro) is a daily reality.

I have also spent the last few months steeped in information and interactions around the new nemesis of climate change – and have it on authority that construction and transport remain among the top five human activities that cause global warming (also given that it is primarily human activity that has led us to the current crisis) which in turn will ensure more erratic climatic behaviour as the unseasonal rains that have laid the ground for this tale.

I remain unconvinced by the reality of engaging multiple times in the same development activity that increases the cost of money itself and launches further assaults on our lives and surroundings, on account of insincere commitments of the various stakeholders and bad or downright dishonest workmanship that compromises quality. I also refuse to believe that it is technological or resource incapacities at play with reference to India and her people, with advances across the board that we like to be proud of. In any case I feel like I have God's own task in making my way to work each day.