I peep out of my drawing room window. I see a lady washing utensils, I hear a kid screaming, and I notice my neighbor staring back at me.
I wonder standing in my balcony. There is a dried up well, the backyard of a seemingly haunted house, and a high rise building on the rise.
I am back at my bedroom window. There is an open terrace, an abandoned table on it, and fleets of cars and buses passing by.
I give up. A lush green meadow, emerald patches everywhere, a growing tree, a blooming garden filled with budding roses, a grassy, picturesque landscape, or a scenic pasture, I was hoping to see. Have we not grown up listening to stories of windows that open to a panoramic view?
I go out for a walk. Flats on one side, independent houses on the other, hazy clouds (or was it all smoke?), polluted sky, no fresh air, scorching heat, no breeze to gently wipe the sweat off me. Well, that’s life for me in Chennai.
Ironically, today (5th June,2005) is World environment Day. The focus is on the urban environment with the theme of greening cities. Can we start with Chennai please?
its really ironical that there was hardly a ruckus on environment day....like the one on valentine day.
ReplyDeletewhen wud people learn to love the environment that sustains them? or is it that they'd miss it only after its gone bad.
quoting calvin " i wish i cud refuse to inherit the earth!"
Ashish, Very true. Love for the opposite gender evokes so much of response both from the youth as well as ppl who protest it.
ReplyDeleteYesterday just went by as if its another day. I wud really not know if anything at all happened at any part of the city.
I did read in the paper today about a new park being set up in chennai. There was no mention of anything else.
Anyways, I know I really cannot complain as I have not taken any step towards greening the city. But then, I can wonder why I can never live in a clean atmosphere, right ?
Hmmmm !!!
hey u can just try ur bit. May be plant more plants near ur home. Encourage ur friends to do so. U cant change the whole world, but u surely can change a few people who make up ur world.
ReplyDeleteRight Aarthy, I would definitely see what I can do from my side :o)
ReplyDeleteDont know if it happens in chennai but there are places in Hyd where they distribute plants for free,infact at petrolspumps also,Its for the clean and green.U can bring them home and plant them.If u dont have place then buy a small flowerplant,maybe rose or any croton:) we all can take a few steps from our side anyday,cant we?
ReplyDeleteneelima, true
ReplyDeleteA single rose can be a sight,
A bonsai can decorate the place right,
A single plant can bear fruits sweet,
and a single tree can help beat heat.
I have not seen free distribution of plants in Chennai, but there are lot of nurseries around. Please is always the constraint. Earlier we used to have a backyard. Now living in a flat, we are constrained by space. Never considered growing any inside either.
When u peep outta ur window....is tat how it luks...tat pic...
ReplyDeleteHey dude..where do u stay???
Smitha, point taken. Infact it reminds me of another song... Heal the world, make it a better place for you and for me and the entire human race. Though it was written with a different context in mind, guess it goes perfectly well with what u said :o)
ReplyDeleteMurali, if my window view was just like what you saw, I would have written a different post altogether. That was just my wishful viewing. Btw, I live in adayar and it ain't that green around... am sure u know it yourself. But then there is one place I love spending time... Trees all around, chirping birds, cool breeze and its just a stones throw away from my home. Hmmm will write about that one day :o)
ReplyDeletewell somu i think there's one thing that we all can do. lets plant a sapling. I planted one today(or made someone plant it)in my office lawn.
ReplyDeletejust a little bit, but then, aren't oceans made of little drops?
Yeps Ashish, little plants and sapling, make a garden.
ReplyDeleteI have been put to an ardous task of jotting down how I would contribute to the green revolution. Thanks for smyta for that. Just wait and watch this space tomorrow ;o)
it's all green outside my place. the trees block the view and i could never see the office car parked unless he honked and honked :(
ReplyDeleteThat casual greenery picture was too good, somu...
ReplyDeleteTipsy, am all green in my eyes. Some people do get lucky, right ?
ReplyDeleteRam, it sure is. I dream of having such a view through my window. A resort on a hill top, hmmm now am talking business. Maybe a decade from now, I shall work on owning one :o)
Btw, your profile pic still has not been changed ?