What world is this? Would the Mahatma be proud?

Ahmedabad airport, India, 03:54 AM, IST

With no airconditioning and a few pedestal fans, we are coping with life as it shows us the real India.

Humid beyond measure, I can feel my pores clogging and I know within hours from now I shall have pimples to show for the brilliant management that prevails in "emerging/emerged India". Is this the India that Mahatma Gandhi would have imagined in his wildest dreams? What would he say if he lived today?

Emerging from where? To what? This man was daring enough to stand in front of a fan, and not worry about being stared down by the rest of us. Fans it seemed were the hottest commodity of this odd hour of the day (night/morning really).

Third-world India had cool airports. But not today. This man above seems to have fallen asleep trying to keep cool. No, he is not wearing a hat. Rather, the color difference on his scalp is just his version of the farmers tan.

58 minutes after I should have been in the air, we are yet to hear anything from Air India about this delay. Men mostly, of all ages, religions and stripes were standing on line (for what?), stealing the fans air from the rest of us. Majority of all were headed to the Gulf (Middle East, or to be particular, Dubai, Sharjah, Kuwait and some to Namibia).

No cold water, no cold drinks, no airconditioning. But worse, no doors or windows that can bring some fresh air. But the airport did have a courtesy phone. But look at the wall. What does it tell you? No attention to detail.

Gone to waste this land of Gandhi. It was in Gujarat that he was born. Some may consider Ahmedabad the top city of the Mahatma's homestate. But is this how this cities International airport ought to be in 2010?

Does anyone care?

Sent from my iPhone

Comments

[Anthonysgodfather]

It is an excellent question you pose Suvir. What would any of the holy deity's think of our world today? I don't know that I want the answer. Or perhaps they would give us a much more philosophical answer then we bargained for. :-)

[suvir saran]

You are right.... they would certainly speak or write in heavy prose. May not go well with the world we live in, where soundbites rule supreme. Everything is edited beyond belief, to make sense to who knows whom, but I am told to millions more than I would imagine.

The young man with his arms folded? You have quite an eye I must say. I did not even notice him till I checked each photograph looking for someone with their arms folded. WOW! Did you ever consider being a visual merchant? It is all about noticing details that most would miss.

[Anthonysgodfather]

I am certain this still stands:
A nation's culture resides in the hearts and in the soul of its people..................Mohandas Gandhi

Visual merchant? Does such a thing exist? I'm up for anything.

D

[suvir saran]

Visual Merchandisers are the magicians that make a beautiful store look that way. They also plan the windows most often of stores that do beautiful ones.
You may want to interview for a visual merchants job.

I am sure you will find your soulmate when the time is ripe.

And yes, I agree with the Mahatma in his saying above. It is this undying love for India, and that deeply felt Indian-ness in the hearts and souls of the people that make it their home, that makes India so special, even in mad chaos and sometimes very annoying lack of order.

[Anthonysgodfather]

Got it. After 43 years of being on the ice I have my dream job (after kissing many " job frogs.") So a new career I am not looking for. I do appreciate the thought as my job is very visual (and a hundred other things as yours is) of making sure all of those beautiful skaters, young and old, are getting the best we have to offer.

Best,
D