Murder tourism

Yesterday, I was returning from market when I saw crowd gathered at local naala. It was a curious mix of policemen, ladies and small kids. I found it rather strange so got attracted towards it. Reaching the spot I found out that it was a murder and the cops had gathered there to take the body in their custody.

But what came as a shock was the people’s response. A few ladies, along with their kids, were anxiously looking for a perfect spot so that they can take a good look at the dead body. And they were telling their kids: "Aao tumhen laash dikhayen." I was stunned! When I first looked at the crowd I thought it's rural tourism, or eco-tourism where people are busy with some government-sponsored activity. But no, it was ‘murder tourism’ where they were enjoying the spectacle of death!

However, this is not the first time I’d seen this. A few months back when I visited Bhopal, I got that news that a 22-year-old engineering student, staying next to my apartment, had committed suicide by jumping from fourth floor. And instead of consoling his parents, one of the residents gathered there said: "Lucky lad! He died right in front of the temple!" Again, no words to describe how I felt.

Earlier, kids were asked to stay at home whenever there was a death in the neighbourhood. They were prevented from looking at the corpse. But today, call it the reality TV effect, everything has become the stuff of entertainment. Added to this are increasing individuality and growing number of nuclear families. People have become so self-centred that they do not care about someone else’s tragedy. For them, it’s just a source of amusement. I don’t know where will this end?

The trip that wasn't

"Oh this damn fog!" I said and hung up. It was 4 in the morning. I had called up the Railway enquiry to know the schedule of the train I had to catch. I was told the train is running late by two hours from its scheduled time of 6 am.

I was so excited. After all, I was going to attend my best friend's wedding and our whole group was going to attend. But fates had determined something else. Cursing the fog, I slipped under my quilt once again, but could not sleep. 'This means I won’t be able to meet my friends? This means no masti?' The thoughts were making me uncomfortable. While I was thinking all this, I remembered the argument I had with my father.

He had warned me about the fog in and around Delhi and had said that the schedules of almost all the trains and flights have gone haywire. But an ignorant soul as I am, I never paid heed to what he said. My father also told me not to choose a train which leaves Delhi in morning as it'll never make it on time. But again, I refused to listen to him. And here I was, paying the price.

Veering through all this, I looked at the watch. It was 6 in the morning now. I called up the Railway enquiry again, hoping to hear some good news. But alas! I was told the train is now more than 6 hours late as yesterday's rake is yet to arrive. My friend's wedding was in the evening and I'd thought that I'll reach by afternoon. But now, all my plans were derailed! I tried to sleep again, but couldn't.

With a glimmer of hope, I picked up the phone again at 8 am. But no. The same, boring voice said the train is getting late by the hour. Frustrated and cursing the Railways, I banged the phone and chose the better option: To cancel my ticket! I turned around and saw my father smiling. We didn’t exchange any words and I left the room quietly. But the message was clear - that my father had the last laugh!

Homeless in Delhi

Clad in frayed woolens, draped in thin quilts and huddled around small fires, the homeless people in Delhi have to battle the harsh weather conditions - and sometimes police beatings - trying to survive.

The national capital has lakhs of homeless people and a majority of them camp outdoors throughout the year - sleeping on pavements, rickshaws, flyovers, under the bridges and in parks. And in the prevailing harsh winters, they battle all odds armed with just a couple of quilts and a few woolens.

They have nowhere to go, and no one to listen to their cries. But now, in a positive step the Supreme Court has asked the Delhi government to ensure adequate shelters, blankets, and water facilities to these people and to protect them from chill.

This direction is a positive step towards helping the homeless people, and a wake-up call to Municipal Corporation of Delhi on shelters. But what didn’t happen in so many years, will it happen this time? The need of the hour is to empower the homeless so that they can take up issues affecting them on their own. An institution like the Supreme Court can provide immediate relief to the destitute but a concrete step is needed so that they can lead a respectable life.

Currently, the shelters provided by the Delhi government to house these people are ill-maintained and inadequate in number.

Let's hope that instead of healing their wounds with warmth of words in the biting winter cold, the order results in providing shelters to all of the capital’s homeless.

A day out in Delhi

Delhi, with its fast-paced life and mechanical and human traffic, can be confronting and confounding for the first-time visitor. But for me, it's my home - a truly multidimensional metropolis. Scratch beyond its coarse and boorish surface and you will discover that India’s capital is sprinkled with enchanting ancient monuments, magnificent museums and some of the yummiest places to eat.

So today, I decided to discover the soul of the city that is engrossing as it is exasperating; a mix of ostentatious wealth and inescapable poverty; and is calm yet noisy.

My day began with a visit to the Humayun’s Tomb in soft morning light. And the winter fog and chill made it a memorable experience. An architectural marvel, the elegant red and white mausoleum - also known as Purana Qila - is an ideal getaway from crowd and routine life. The peace and serenity of the place was a breathtaking experience - something which will stay in my memory forever.

After spending a few hours at the place, I reluctantly decided to move on. As I reached the main gate, I was jolted out of my thoughts by loud honking. It was Delhi’s famous traffic mayhem! In a bid to get away from there, I jostled my way through the crowd and reached the bus stop. It was after a long time that I took a bus ride and my destination was Connaught Place.

Connaught Place takes me back to the golden days of Delhi. While the handicraft outlets and bangle market still give you that rustic feeling, the quirky T-shirts and contemporary Indian art at Janpath reinforce the modernity of the metropolis. Looking at the British designed buildings, house to some of the costliest shops and office space in the country, competing with the new wave of mall culture is truly alluring.

It was now time step back centuries at the Red Fort, in the heart of Old Delhi. Strolling down the souvenir arcade, I marveled at the inlaid marble at Diwan-e-Khaas; it is an experience which cannot be described in words.

Roaming around so much makes you hungry. So, I headed to Chadni Chowk - to indulge myself in the pleasures of different flavours of paranthas and sinful sweets. Heading back through the labyrinthine market, I went on a trip down memory lane - to the time when I used to come to my uncle's place, and the chaat I used to savour. On my way back, I also saw Jama Masjid - the sandstone and white-marble masterpiece of Islamic architecture. There is a superb view of Delhi from its gallery.

I was exhausted now. Though I wanted to visit more places, but my body started aching. So, I boarded the bus and came back home. But the experience was memorable.

Commonwealth Games: Delhi's acid test

The Commonwealth Games is a multinational, multi-sport event. Held every four years, it involves the elite athletes of the Commonwealth of Nations. Organising the world-class event involves a lot of hard work and commitment. And this year, it’s Delhi’s chance to prove to the international community that it can perform its duty efficiently.

The beginning, however, has not been rosy for Delhi. As the deadline approaches, there are increasing concerns that the venues won’t be ready in time and India will have to face embarrassment at the international level. Reports of incomplete stadia, unprepared organising committee and unfinished work on some key projects made the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) president Michael Fennell nervous and in a tizzy and its president rushed to Delhi to tke stock of the situation.

Then, it was the turn of allegations and counter allegations between the Indian officials and the CGF members. While CGF Secretary Mike Hooper was 'abused', there was a clear difference of opinions between Fennell and Indian Olympic Committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi. And what they forgot during the fight was the image of the country.

The matter was finally sorted out with the intervention of the Prime Minister himself and Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit. She assured the worried lot of people that Delhi will be ready in time.

And taking inspiration from the Beijing Olympics held last year, the Delhi government, too, is keen to display its commitment towards the conservation of environment to the world. It plans to introduce ‘hybrid’ electric buses during the Commonwealth Games to be held in October 2010.

There are other plans as well, like making saddi Dilli free of street vendors; making the traffic smooth; penalising those who spit on the roads etc. This means, the Delhi government has undertaken Herculean task to tell Delhiites to behave! This is surely going to be a tough task.

But in order to make the Games a success – or any other international even for that matter – the government has to change its image. They always say this, but it never happens. All we can hope for is that it happens the same way they are saying.

Recent reports that work has progressed gives relief to the people. And the government now has to ensure that the Commonwealth Games do not become international embarrassment, and next time India is entrusted with organising the Olympics.