By KMC
New Delhi: You might think that Kusumpur Pahari is a retreat on the Aravali range in South Delhi. But this is the slum near Chinmaya School, not far from the posh colony of Vasant Vihar. Going with the Delhi South candidate for AAPs retired Army officer Col. Seharawat was simultaneously a sobering as well as an enlightening experience. The jhuggi-jhopri colony houses between 20,000 and 25,000 people. The AAP cavalcade of some 100 people including a significant representation of women, was warmly welcomed with cheers for Aam Admi Party (AAP) and for the tall, strapping colonel in his Army camouflage clothing.
But as we walked through the colony we saw that empty water containers outside were lined up outside almost all houses, excluding two relatively newly built, brightly painted houses squeezed between jhuggis. With the sound of dholaks in the air, the lanes (not as potholed in Yamuna Pustha in Delhi NE) were packed with local people crowding to garland Col. Seharawat, or at least to hear what he politely said.
India’s social contradictions were also visibly apparent. When Col. Seharawat went and prayed in a temple, one of the villagers was shocked and told me it was a Khatik (Dalit) temple. The backward classes there, not only SCs, were however appreciative. The colonel’s gesture further solidified AAPs already extensive mass support in the area. It is also likely that this enlightened gesture will be discussed similar areas elsewhere.
Some of the villagers heard from others that I was from JNU. They asked how their children could get admission there. I told them that all OBC and female students got 5% extra in admission tests. They were surprised to learn that a major acclaimed Dalit writer Prof. Tulsi Ram was a former student of JNU, now a Professor in International Studies in JNU. When I asked them if they had ever been to JNU, they said they wouldn’t be acceptable there. I reminded them that for AAP, the Aam log would be welcome, and if they phoned me they be would be shown around. Of course, the quality of schooling there is a constraint. But after the elections AAP would look at that that aspect too.
AAP must highlight the sub-human standards of hygiene in such areas. In several areas in these settlements, piles of garbage several feet high could be smelt, even before they were seen. The open gutters, a hazard particularly in the narrower lanes along with deep holes in the road where a number of men in the procession slipped, were dangerous especially for children.
Seeing all this, I was reminded of the middle class backlash against the free drinking water and subsidised electricity. These strata obviously don’t know the real India, nor do they make an effort to find out. What about the earlier MPs and MLAs? There are few signs that any substantial efforts have been made to ameliorate the terrible conditions of the poor. What about Sheila Dixit and her cabinet, and their grandiose claims? By March 31, it has been decided to withdraw these subsidies. How do these politicians sleep at night, knowing they have condemned lakhs to a living hell?
This interaction reminded us, though no reminding was necessary, of the two India’s: the largely poor masses, and the upper crust of the middle class and the rich. Despite the dedicated AAP stalwarts, we have a long way to go; “to wipe the tears from every eye,” as the Mahatma had told us.
– From Facebook post
