tamil new years day 14 apr 07 - enclaves, IT sevices and slaughter of old trees

Today the paper did not arrive. The main paper did not... that did not stop the supplements.

There was a 4 page pullout announcing, on Tamil new years day, a new housing project - water, promenades, manicured gardens, multi storied apartments and a new concept - offices and apartments nearby, all neat and tidy, school thrown in for children's education, malls for all needs. No need to do more than walk. It could well be titled - "we know you love walking". And we offer you walking to work, to the gym, to the mall, from one air conditioned enclosure to another.
The second 4 page pullout was about a series of new shops selling mobile phones and accessories announcing inauguration on Tamil new years day and discounts. It could well be titled - "we know you love talking". And we offer you talking without walking.
As I went in search of reviving my wife's mobile connection, I saw the city skies, washed clean by the early morning rain. There was some traffic but not too much. So I could drive slowly and watch the roads and the people..
In the middle of the night the phone rang. Trees, 100 yr old trees were being felled. Concerned citizens, including my wife, had spent the afternoon in token protest, hugging the trees, chipko style. The same trees that the media had gathered around in the day were now under the axe in the dead of night. My wife and a few friends dashed off to the site of the unhappy happening. A senior advocate, a senior activist, few lay people discovered half felled trees. They spent ann hour speaking to the policemen, the commissioner, the contractor. The mid night dialogues apparently were very thorough and insightful and would have surely been entertaining had they not been in the presence of the doomed giant trees.

Bystander: Why have you come now? And not when the earlier trees were cut?
Policeman: You are preventing us from going to the relief of the needy. We have to attend here and there is nothing to do.
Activist: Are you saying by protesting we are being anti national?
Policeman: I am not saying you are aninational, but if you ask this question, i will say yes, you are being anti national.
Bystander: Why are you protesting now? You should have protested when all these flats came up. I am ready if you wish to plant bombs in those ugly big flats.
Contractor's supervisor: Look at these people they are blocking development. 6 lane highway will surely benefit the public. Yo are being antisocial.
Corporation official: (on the phone) This is the work of the highways department.
Activist: But this is the job of the corporation and not the highways dept.

This debate must have been frustrating to all concerned. Particularly since it was over a fait accompli.... trees that had been already sawed 50%.

As i drove all these points of view had been in the background. Suddenly on a narrow 3 ft wide pavement i spotted a neat row of young recently planted trees. I said to myself, "Ha, these are how trees should be so they are not axed."
But immediately 50 yards later I saw another neat row of young recently planted trees. These were just off the pavement and were intruding into the road by about 6 inches. "Ha", I said to myself. But this time out popped a question. "Are trees supposed to be this way or that?" I know no one would believe me if I said these things and would think I am making this up for effect. So I took out my poor quality VGA camera attached to the mobile phone and took a few pictures. You can see these pictures and think for yourself!
And as I continued further I saw lots of parked vehicles - 2 wheelers, 3 wheelers, 4 wheelers, trucks, vans - and saw wall beyond these vehicles. And tiny bits of space in between. The pavements looked ragged everywhere - in one place the garbage collecting bins were on the pavement, in another there were vehicles moved off the road to the pavement. In another the rubble of construction was heaped to 4 ft high, preventing passage. And in some places there was hardly any pavement. ^ inches to a 1 ft to 2 feet. And each pavement had the legal minimums - lam posts, electrical transformers or telephone switch boxes. And some non legal as well - little pavement shops, little encroachments by shops and houses.

It seems that we are in a bit of a trouble in Chennai. As a developing global IT hub, millions of sq ft of construction are being encased in glass for IT companies. To attract investments and such companies, since they will bring jobs and revenue to the city, the city is pulling out all stops in its attempt to be hospitable.
But ten million is a large number. Half of ten million is also a large number. I mention this because I hear all numbers between 5 to ten million as population of Chennai and am unable to stake my claim to 7,633,288 or 8,299,712.
With such large numbers the roads are bound to be full unless you live in places where you only walk ... And this has become a problem. In Singapore or in some other city, 6 lane highway access to work cuts travel costs by 15 mins - a big improvement over the 45 mins it used to take people. All gimmickry has been tried - raise the road and build the flyovers, try Mass rapid transport systems, synchronize signals and make one way roads. But all these have not made life "on par" with the systems abroad. So here we are, like the school boy trying for better grades - working hard, struggling, burring the midnight oil (even if it is to cut trees), going to tut ions to World bank certified and sponsored courses - Chennai is trying hard to get better grades from the IT companies and such other establishments. Chennai is trying to prove that quality of infrastructure is no worse than Bangalore or Hyderabad or Baltimore or Athens.

World class infrastructure is surely something that will do all proud - the nation, the state, the city and of course the residents. Th nation marches on to the colours of one party or the other. Sometimes it is very confusing. Who takes credit for the goings on? The centre or the state or the local government? All or none, or a little bit for all. Like Ali Baba, the taxes go to all the parties and all the governments. So all must have a hand, a hand in the common agenda.

And what does this mean - someone has to clear the project, someone has to agree to fund it. And someone else must develop the promised infrastructure. And lastly someone has to do the dirty job - of moving people , giving compensation, coaxing, cajoling people to move for the sake of the city, state country and humanity at large. And someone has to decide what should be kept under wraps and what opened when... what should be leaked to the press. Unfortunately the RTI has come and may prove a bit difficult and embarrassing at times. But such is the optimism riding through the fibre optic cables that we are 'confident' we will get to the promised land of OMR looking like Boston or Los Angeles.

But we must go further.... why must traffic move so fast? What will happen if there are a few slowdowns? And who will lose and who will gain. Why the unseemly hurry? And what is the price...?

World class infrastructure means fast roads, relaible power, fast fibre optic communication and also satellite communication, water of high quality, drainage, and high quality infrastructure will attract companies and this will attract well educated people. Thus there will be a trickle down effect and all will prosper. But the king is dead, long live the king. It is now out of the bag - trickle down effect does not work, it is a trick of human imagination and optimism. All that trickles down is the difficulties and all that rises up is the privileges....

Good roads mean less pavement, if any. The rights of the fast cars, with no voting rights override in high gear the rights of the voting public to walk, a right so basic that no one thinks of putting it on any list. Like the right to breathe. But these are things being assaulted by the infrastructure drive.
You may shop, you must! But you cannot walk to the shop. And You must shop. But cannot get across the road to your vehicle or bus. Jostle, jostle! With few other pathetic fragile humans but more with iron creations of the human mind.

You must walk, it is good for your health. But mind the trenches dug for the optical cables and the rubble, forgotten when the glass was fixed, gleaming and reflecting. Go around it, lest you twist an ankle.

This is a good residential area, but you need to get inside the gated enclaves. There the paths exist for your safe walking. But on the public road, sorry, sorry, we are sorry. You cannot walk unless you are a warrior with nerves of steel and reflexes of a cheetah.
You cannot cross the road, or walk on the pavement, without encountering garbage bins, electrical posts, telephone switch boxes, unauthorized vehicles parked (cars, autos, two wheelers, trucks, vans.. call taxis) .. and all of them have a right above yours. They are there and you have to go around. They dare you to move them. You have rights but what to do? Sorry, we are her headed for the future.. this is a small problem, work in progress. You will be happy when it is all done. We have not YET ironed out these problems.

Work in progress!! Yes, work is in progress, to take all that has been public and redistribute it into private. George Bush does it openly. We do it under cover of socialist slogans. That is all the difference.

Trees have been earmarked silently for being removed in T Nagar, Sardar patel Road and TTK Road. The decision is kept quiet and not released for public information, or discussion. One morning, residents find that some old trees have been cut. Enquiries bring forth vague answers. Next night some more trees go. Then the buck is passed around - corporation, police, highways department who is responsible. Vague again. In the 21st century, while spouting environmental lines our government and its arms expects all citizens to lose shade on the trees from old trees with no murmur, but congratulations!
There are vague rumours that contractors have been found through auction and the trees have been sold to the highest bidder. As a process this is not necessarily bad. But the rumour mill also connects contractors with political figures.
And we lose shade before the summer reaches its peak... here today and there tomorrow. A cat and mouse game begins with citizens who wish to argue and protest. After all our history books, printed by the same government laud kings who planted trees and built roads. Now wonder the secrecy of the night is needed! How can the rulers today say they are building roads and hacking old trees? This would be bad history. It has to be done in the dead of night. It has to be done against the wisdom of citizens, secretly. And it has to be done against the tide of history. A concealed hand, forbidding and threatening, intimidating any opposition seems to be operating, behind the scenes.

One last point... world class infrastructure surely needs to offer speedy transport facilities, but must include safe walking spaces and cycling spaces. These are very much part of the world class we aim for. And considering that we have large populations, we cannot alienate a large percentage, in the hope of trickle down effect, with enticing roads and no walkways or cycle tracks. I wish the IT companies that wield so much influence would insist on these as well in addition to the optical fibre lines, and roads. The fast lanes need the slow service lanes. The high speeds need the slow frequencies. The falcon and the snail have their needs and they must coexist. Much like the early settlers in America focussed on the headlong rush to the West, we are headed for IT corridors and enclaves. If this is not to lead to ghettoing of the nation, pedestrians and cyclists need to be given their due and more as citizens of a modern nation. Modernity cities not brook enclaves for long.... and we must not give up the ghost of equitable opportunity and dignity for all citizens, neither the sovereign opportunity to be heard and participate.

the curse of ancient trees....

the curse of ancient trees....

‘We accept our fate, we surrender,
in fact we have no options.
You, the mighty rulers of the land,
The commissars have rights that few others have.

‘We have been around for many years
as the dusty path became a road
and later an important avenue..
flanked by dark woods where animals abound still

‘Unfortunately, we have been outside learning
institutions
where young people are taught
to respect life
and the environment

‘Unfortunately, you will not be able
to stand your ground
in the face of your actions
but hang your heads in shame

‘You build roads, and they are strong
to carry goods and vehicles...
fast, faster, and faster still
all moving, all so busy

‘What chance do we have?
standing for long years,
rooted, and growing
all we offer is shade and leaves..

‘Only death makes us useful to you
our wood will make paper or benches
or burn in the fires that rage
to cook meals in poor homes

‘You speak about the environment
and assault the very thing you should protect
you want fresh air
that none can give except us....

‘we are going, but mark our words
you err, this is a folly!
no road can make it right to take our lives
no development this

You want water, and fresh air
and soil to be held together
But you steal these from your children
and their children

‘And may be on the edge of your grave
or funeral pyre
you may have to answer your grandchild
when he or she asks you
what happened, how did this ravagement occur?

‘Your may not be able to close, knowing
that you had robbed
the rights of the children after you
and their children

‘You may wish then to change things
but the time for change will be past...
It is now not later.
Then will be a time for regrets...

Is it strength
to fell defenceless trees
in the dark night,
with lame excuses to bolster your morale?

Sounds like impotence to our ears
a bit like stories of despots
trampling, whipping, maiming and killing
women and children and old ones...

But may be such acts will win you rewards
or decoration from your rulers,
the elected reprsentatives
wishing to make a mark..

May be such acts will win you a trip to the US
to stand before the failed President
drinking a toasts
to victories large and small.! victories!

May be you will be feted and applauded
by businessmen in suits (in hot Chennai)
who see the fast lane to more profit
in protected enclaves..

But then, you are fated..
like all life and living things
to die one day,
sooner or later

You too will pass
and you would have denuded roads
and leave behind buildings and roads
as legacy for your children and their children

Do think again ...
what will you tell your children, or their children
how much you cared
for the trees and the environment....

All things are forgotten mostly
people and their actions...
but curses linger
and haunt

You have won
and we have lost our stand
but think a bit
have you not lost your standing?

Men and women,
today you wield power
the axe that can hurt
and cleave

Men and women,
take your stand, as you must!
but then, dont cringe
from the curse of ancient trees...

9 Apr 2007

Trees speak

Trees speak.............

.......outside new institutes of learning..... IIT and CLRI, Chennai

We hear there is a new learning
being imparted in these institutes
that the earth is warming
and the environment needs care
and protection

We have watched
as traffic has increased
over our lifetime on this road
as fly overs have raised their heads

We have seen the city yield
to the pressure of engines
and push the cyclist
to a dangerous narrow corner

We have watched the speeding vehicles
when the roads are free
trying to get ahead
trying to move faster, faster

We have seen the traffic policeman
wearying under the sun
breathing the exhaust of vehicles
becoming obsolete, impotent

The lights have come
red green and orange
products of technology
developed in research institutions

Lights blinking unceasingly
blinking order into chaotic roads
We have seen them losing hold
often impatiently ignored...

The new learning is here
ordered by the highest court
"educate all about the environment
teach them to care"


"All school and colleges
You cant ignore this,
whatever else you teach
for life and livelihood"

But we have been around
80 years, 100 years
breathing in the CO2
and refreshing you breath

We have been here
before most of you were born
mute bystanders watching
the growing orgy of speed and hurry

We have been around
long before you recognized the
environment
offering shade and shelter
to all, man bird and animal

Is it not strange
that you push us away
kill us, slaughter us
today?

Is is not strange
that you make your perception
and your teaching
impotent?

What will your students learn
in your proud institutions
that is clearer than your
actions?

13 Apr 07

we all would like clean bathrooms. cochin 2 Apr07

I am sure we all would like clean bathrooms.

As I used the toilet at the airport, i felt happy. The toilet was clean and dry, and odourless. A faint perfume hung in the air. There were but 2 other people using the large toilet complex. And then water started to flow.... at all the urinals in a steady cleaning flushing movement. I waited with bated breath, alarmed and thinking. Thought can cause alarm, fear, panic etc... Often one wishes one did not think...

The water was obviously clean, may even have been drinking quality. And a question sprang into my mind. Is this the best we could do? This is Kerala, the land of plenty of water. This is Kerala where water levels have dropped and drinking water is scarce nowadays. And this is the same Kerala where the water was going down rapidly, being converted from pure clean water to grey or black water in a jiffy! Is this the best?

Black water is that which carries pathogens and needs to be drastically treated before being used again. It cannot be let out without much treatment. The sewage water, the water flushed down toilets is black water. Grey water is the bath water, wash water from kitchen or clothes washing etc. It does not have the same level of pathogens; in fact it can easily be cleaned and reused for gardening, irrigation, even flushing. Urine is supposed to be a sterile fluid and not at all pathogenic. In fact it is best useable as fertilizer for plants. Now is it necessary to use pure water to flush down sterile urine, and possibly make it balck water by leading it to a septic tank? Is this the best we can do?

Once upon a time we thought water was an endless resource. ANd now we know that drinking water is a scare resource and a privilege to have. It is anticipated that the shortage of drinking water is going to drive human society into reexamining many of the assumptions. Then why do we continue with such practices? At hotels, in airports, in public buildings and even homes?

Yes we must have clean floors and no odours. The floors must not slip. But is this the best solution? If we can afford to buy the water is it alright to treat it with scant respect? For example, would it be right to buy a lorry loads of water and bathe using the bath tub twice a day? One can afford it. And one has earned the money honestly.

Or is it that as a society, we are waiting for things to become unbearable before changing? That is possible.
"It must be ok since we are all doing it!" seems a dangerous line of thinking. Air, water and use of public space would come under this ambit. It is almost like saying, "Why change when i dont have to. When I have to I will, just like you and everybody else." The consequence seems to be - So let us then continue, using water electricity and air and all public property the way we have been. Let us also grumble... Let us rest with intention and helplessness.

There must be another way to move ahead. There must be simple stands we can take. There must be simple wisdom that we can pool.

I was most happy to hear about the dry toilet system being propogated by Paul Calvert in Tamilnadu and Kerala. Right use of water seems eminently possible, and near at hand. Dont miss..
http://www.eco-solutions.org/urbanecosan.html

March of folly... 2 apr

The march of folly is such a wonderful book! It brings to fore one of the persistent themes in my own thinking. As mankind, as a group of teachers, as people who inhabit this planet, we often have dreams, big dreams. Over the years it seems enough if we accomplish small things. One of them being - not repeating a few of the persistent mistakes of history.

One - Not assuming we understand another fully, even if we think we understand the words. Probably this is the most frequently made mistake that we make. WHo knows what the other means, despite our sureness! To walk this path slowly and carefully seems the most challenging thing. To hold back our conclusions, suspend them as it were, and ask some questions, to clarify, seems so obvious, but also so elusive in real life.

Two - Not dismissing Mr Murphy, but making allowance for him. The unexpected will show itself, surely and mostly adversely. If ever it is a positive, it does happen some times, this is a gift. Usually this is available at the end of a lot of plodding and a surprise from the world is truly a gift, an unexpected gift.

Three - Being satisfied if things by and large work out, and not look for exactitude. When one embarks on a project or a thing to be accomplished, one may have a very clear picture of what one wishes to accomplish. When one does not reach the exact goal in the specified time, one looks for excuses or people or things to blame. To accept that we cannot ever exactly predict things, because we dont have ultimate knowledge, is also to accept with the same wisdom that we wont get exactly where we wanted to reach. To be able to call this humility, and not compromise, is an important step.

Four - Being ready with small beginnings and not looking for large end results. Another part of the above us that we can make beginnings, start a journey, point our nose in a certain direction, and accepting the destinations that unfold. There is no one destination. That is a mistake. Time does not stand still after one achievement. It rolls on and sustaining a movement is often more difficult that starting one. And often a high point is followed by a low point. What is this? Is it part of the reckoning or out of it?

Five - recognizing the difference between the house on fire matters and those that are not house on fire. How are we to bypass our alarm signals? the real ones from the adrenaline...?

and Six - avoiding a discipline for oneself. Refusal to anchor oneself in a discipline can probably be the cause of much rootlessness. The things we do dont have a consistency. It is said one of the traits of successful people is a personal discipline. a something they do each day, allowing for a slow maturing. Allowing for this discipline menas alowig for slow maturing and a movement that has a different flavour than the quik leading to endings. Avoiding this happens for obvious reasons. The excitement is lacking.. The end is not in sight or clear. And slip goes unoticed, is unnoticeable and does not affect the immediate.

Seems so difficult to avoid all these mistakes, follies. SO if we can avoid a few that would already be a huge step ahead.

schools, teachers and salaries

schools, teachers and salaries
It is difficult to see how things will have long term impact. But this awareness cannot stop us from making decisions that look sensible. Most decisions can always be modified in time. Very few cannot be changed. Salaries are one such and this landscape has always been navigated cautiously by private schools.
However the salaries in schools have not been free of the influence of the market forces. Today in the urban metropolis such as Chennai, salaries have gone up and continue to rise. Govt schools have upped the salaries as well. Schools are clear that they have to keep pace or perish. The question haunting schools is whether the upward increase in salaries and better facilities will actually also improve quality. While school administrators and managing committees are engaged with what constitutes quality, the most obvious definitions rise to the surface - cleaner appearances, computers, air conditioned offices, classrooms, audio visual aids, plastic cups and disposable plates and bottles etc. The quality of relatedness amongst staff and management, and among teachers and students, the actual learning and quality of education do not change much. The relationship between management and staff has tended to become more hierarchic if anything. The teachers having to use more child friendly methods have been diminished in stature as the tools for effective teaching have not been assimilated, internalized. Thus schools manifest two facets in this time of nerveracking change - heightened authority of the head and diminished authority of the teacher along with heightened autonomy and freedom for the student. While this trend may in itself not be a bad thing, combined wih the fact that salaries are going up, and few talented individuals come to school education, teacher quality is in a spiral. Schools are recruiting and being satisfied with traditionally successful teachers - these are better than the uncertain ones. But ironically this process just reinforces the authority model of edcation rather than a participativve engaged model of education. Just when control needs to be given up for more democratic processes, we find the authoritarian models gaining ascendance.

There seems to be only one way out - continuous staff education, followed up by pressure to reflect this training in the classrooms. Now this is likely to have low priority for most schools, simply because of the number of things on the crowded calendars of the schools. Thus it is likely to sporadically surface and bubble - a culture of ongoing change and movement is likely to be difficult to find.