They say public have a short memory. And, perhaps that'swhy voters can always be ditched and befooled even if it means making them forget their daily pains and pleasures while living in Delhi, especially ahead of elections.
This looks quite truthful, especially when elections are round the corner and new faces of political leaders throng our streets seeking votes with clamped hands and accompanied by hoodlums (read political workers).
Mirza Ghalib perhaps left for Jannat a little too early. Otherwise, who knows he might have preferred putting his entire stock of notebooks of poetry that he wrote eulogising Dilli, to flames before bidding Khuda Hafiz to today'sDelhi.
For Delhi has changed rapidly, sadly for worse. It has lost its original identity to a large extent which used to fascinate to this historic city of Bahadur Shah Zafar, the last Mughal ruler of Delhi.
The place is no more what it used to be. For the old timers may recollect how joyful it used to be to live in Delhi, many of them travelling long distances on foot and sharing festivals as brothers unmindful of religious identities.
People would love cherishing a host of delicacies available at places like Chandni Chowk, Lal Qila, Jama Masjid, Lahori Gate and visiting India Gate, Rashtrapati Bhavan, and many other popular places.
There used to be freshness in the air due to the affection and brotherliness that existed here. People wouldn'thesitate greeting each other on festivals. The August 15 (Independence Day) and January 26 (Republic Day) had their meaning for everyone whoever lived in Delhi.
Tonga used to be a joy ride with families spending their evening or special occasion like Independence or, the August 15, as was generally addressed by old timers and children in those days.
People would celebrate Holi, Diwali, Id or Guru Purab with equal fervour. Everyone respected each community'sright to practice its religion and celebrate special occasions without interruption from anyone.
Since refugees arrived after the unfortunate Partition of Hindustan in numerous, a large number of them who spoke Multani and Punjabi got scattered at any place they could as per government'smagnanimity to offer them a safe shelter. The dominant language till that time was Hindustani, mixture of Hindi and Urdu.
As Congress party took the baton to rule Delhi, the heart of Bharat not India, the public put blind faith on its political representatives of taking care of their welfare in the best possible way. Congress party was at the helm of affairs at that time.
With passage of time, Delhi has started losing its originality in terms of culture and purity in identity. Our political representatives, chosen to serve the people, have started treating people as their servants who are dumb enough to even realise why, when, where, how and by whom they are being robbed everyday.
Lunatic it may seem to many, but a blunt reality it may seem to others to approve the fact that the city is today just an imperfect place to cherish life as a family. The city is plagued by various problems that are prominently visible in the non-availability of clean water.
Chief Minister Ms.Sheila Dixit may find it hard to explain why she miserably failed to provide even clean drinking water to our women, children and the elderly much before giving them metros and flyovers. The mineral water sales graphs speak volumes.
Not many residents can forget the way they are being supplied drinking water that almost often permeates sewage water. Delhi government has opened liquor outlets outside almost every colony. May be it wants to promote: Save water, drink whiskey, especially among the teenagers and adults at a time when healthcare is a worldwide concern.
People in Delhi are faced with stomach problems, premature aging visible in graying of hair, heart-related problems. There is a growing inclination among youngsters to ostracise their aged family members and there is a constant fear of insecurity among the elderly, courtesy the ?youth-centric? political party.
The city has police stations existing as bribe-temples meant for public harassment, and only serving the persons with high contacts. Saying a big no to police'shelp despite suffering in worst times, is a compulsion and wise decision only Delhi wallas know why.
Moreover, be it the unregulated influx of migrants, traffic, high-rise concrete buildings, tendency to rob off and encroach upon others? properties and still get away with law through connectivity and bribing, a growing use of muscle power, smoking or alcoholic tendencies and several others well-known ways how Delhi is today mentioned by the very people it offers livelihood today.
Be it spitting, urinating or throwing garbage at the very places one is requested not to, the surge of people being allowed to settle in slums of Delhi to swell voters? lists, has cost the city its beauty with rogues and criminals dictating terms everywhere.
A majority of families here have lost the actual feeling of genuine hospitality, affection and respect for the elderly. Especially the old drive of always being ready for the neighbour in crisis and treating neighbourhood girls or women as one'sown family is on simply non-existing.
People here have lost the joy of celebrating life together as Parivar and instead being given a culture to lead an isolated life in nuclear families.
