Very few readers have missed my presence in this space. A few thought of asking me why I am irregular. No excuses for the long silence. Didn’t feel up to it; period. Meanwhile I continue to get mails on the Naxalite Story…
If one lives in Chennai, it becomes very clear that India ought to first learn to deal with garbage before building Aircrafts, Tanks and missiles or wiping out corruption. This blogger humbly contributes to the production of hi-tech Battle Tanks for the Indian Defence Forces. India is about to test fire Agni-5 which can hit targets 5000 kms away. We have achieved a great deal of sophistication in manufacture of fighter aircraft and helicopters too. If all that fills you with a sense of pride, just pause for a moment and look at the way garbage is strewn everywhere in Chennai. Near my apartment complex, which houses about 500 flats, there are two big rubbish bins. I notice that the garbage bins are of ‘x’ height, the garbage collection trolleys on quadricycles are of ‘x-1’ height. As a result much of the garbage is first deposited on the ground and then piled into the bins. A lot of transmission loss occurs. As a result of this about one tenth of the garbage is strewn carelessly on the road itself.
There is no segregation of waste into organic and recyclable. My entire drive to Office is dotted with the unseemly sight of heaps of garbage. There are flies everywhere and the smell of rotting organic waste overpowers you as you drive by; even with windows up and air conditioner on. The garbage bins are huge metallic structures which do not render themselves to easy maneuvering or for lifting and dumping into the huge garbage trucks run by a firm called Neel Metal Finalca. They are collected infrequently and their trucks are parked near the junctions where the huge garbage bins are placed. The traffic is blocked for a few minutes as the collection truck comes for emptying the bins. They almost always never bother about the stuff that is lying outside the bins. The workers who are involved in this operation do not wear any gloves.
Are we so incompetent that we cannot run a good garbage collection and disposal system? I have seen some of our best Babus doings things they do not know anything about. They carry their knowledge about sanitation to Defence and Telecom to Finance seamlessly. One would almost be persuaded to think that this country is not only run by politicians without domain knowledge, but also by Government Officials of the same kind. Hence this open offer. I, who has spent a life time in Defence Production and Acquisition, hereby offer to work for Municipal garbage removal. I do not offer magical, instant solutions. Give me some time, existing resources and half my present salary. Let me make a humble effort to sort out the garbage before I plunge back into making hi tech Battle Tanks. I make this offer knowing that there will be no takers for it. Somehow, Civilian administration is an elite preserve and the likes of me would never be welcome. At least the guys who are doing it should wake up and smell the garbage.
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What I am reading: “Dead Reckoning” An alternate history of the 1971 Bangladesh war written by Sarmila Bose. An interesting insight struck me as I read it. Did you know that Yahya Khan, the Pakistani General, known for his drinking/ womanising ways, was the only Military Dictator who earnestly tried to hand power back to the Civilians in Pakistan? Reminded me of Schindler’s List and the many virtues of those of who are not stuck up about middle class morality. The rest of the usurper-Generals, full of piety and nationalistic fervour, went out kicking/ screaming, were booted out or were killed in mysterious air crashes. Sarmila Bose says that most accounts of the Liberation war are peppered with untruths/ exaggerations.
I have also started on with two detective fiction writers. R D Wingfield, who has written novels which have become the popular TV series, A Touch of Frost. I am also reading Peter James who has written the Dead series with Roy Grace as the Detective. “Reading the Quran” by Ziauddin Sardar, a British writer, is another book that I read in fits and starts. He tries to dispel many of the popular myths about unpopular practices and beliefs in Islam. I also read “The Man who loved Books too much” by Allison Hoover Bartlett.
I managed to read The River of Smoke by Amitav Ghosh. I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it as soon as it was released. Watch out- this man is going to win the Nobel someday. He tells a story well, his stories are well researched and he knows how to keep the reader engrossed.
