Recently, I had a chance to visit one of the oldest tombs in
Delhi. To set the tone right, let me tell you that this was just an appendage
to a visit to the nearby market and cafe, where a bunch of friends thought, “What
the hell, let’s try the tomb too”, rather than an intentional visit to the place
itself.
As any other monument built around the Mughal times, this
too was grand, with the majestic aura around it and well, it’s always nice to
see how grandly the revered are preserved in the memories of the Watan they once served for. But, are
they?
I am talking about the clichéd and so much discussed about
apathy around the languishing wonders of the past. Yes, there’s the awkward
heap of plastic garbage on one corner, a bunch of children around the same
looking for left over, a dog ‘firing’ at will, and of course the lake which has
green water, and mind you that’s the only greenery left in the compound.
Ironically this is a compound where the strongest men and
the greatest thinkers of the country walked 400 years ago. What happened then?
The aspirations of those who wished to eradicate poverty, preserve nature &
establish an egalitarian society are now remains, housing the flipside of the
same! I wonder who’s going to fix this!
There’s still a herd of young men and women with DSLRs
trying to capture those picture perfect memories amidst the aforementioned
unpleasantness. Some of Delhi’s best ‘pics’ clicked juxtaposed over the
country’s worst picture! One might also find somewhere around a shady corner, a
bunch of students practicing their street play within the compound with some
unknown spectators cheering them. Not much ahead, a bunch of boys pushing their
sense of possibility just a tad beyond limits, use the narrow bank of the
‘green’ lake to practice their batting, balling and fielding(in the water)skills.
Somewhere far a bunch of kids on a school field trip led by their not more than
25 year old teacher, would dedicate time to clean up their surrounding themselves.
And now, while I saw the glass half full, I saw aspiration.
In those who came there to click, play or practice. This is the youth of the
country which still has a heart. A heart which still loves to be around the
symbol of heritage of its country. They are not very different from those who
walked this compound 400 years ago. We are
those who will make sure that history recapitulates itself and steer the nation to prosperity. We come from different walks of life and
will certainly take charge of each. And we will make sure that the Watan is
back on track. We will lead the change. We will fix this.
I wonder(& also hope) if you (the young Indian citizen) feel the same. :)
