Last week I was in Jaipur. As you drive in from 200 ft by pass, there’s a familiar air around you. If you act smart and take metro from Mansarovar to land in the city, this air further engulfs you.
It is the air of similarity. If I did not know the geography and someone took me there blindfolded, I’d have probably thought I am in some part of Gurgaon.
Same commercialization, some desire for sky rises and same metro. Not even a sticker in the city’s metro differs. “Maybe it is a one off thing!” I thought
But then I was reminded of my time in outer Bangalore, Hyderabad and to some extent in Naya Raipur, too. India is on a steady rise! We are accommodating our differences under shelter of ‘inclusive growth’ giving a space to heterogenous society.
However, the homogeneity of our cities is not pleasing. It is like a classic Ctrl C + Ctrl V game. How’s this problematic, if it is even happening? I don’t know.
Two impacts I could think of on top of my mind:
Class>Caste
Low Vitamin D Levels
Our cities do not have people from castes anymore.
Yes, we identify to some social group but our habits largely resemble the ones we live around! The way we hangout, club, party, socialize etc. is less to do with caste identity and better aligned with class identity. A homogenous class that is similar in Jaipur, Gurgaon, Pune, Bangalore et al. The Youth Class. We all watch similar shows, we all consume similar content and ultimately, we all behave in a certain manner when it comes to design, spending, and travel.
Low Vitamin-D levels is a documented study where the sky rises deprive the street walkers of direct access to the sun. One, the cities are not pedestrian friendly and two, the pedestrians who still put life at risk are refused of worldly pleasure of bright sunlight.
In such homogenous existence, how can you make a way out for yourself to stand out different and do better things living a deliberate quality & choice of life? Make some (un)conventional choices:
Spend a lot of time outdoors, preferably on walks. On weekends, host your friends for picnic outdoors in places like Lodhi, Cubbon Park, Marine lanes, etc.
Indulge in sports. Pick one such sport and involve friends! You’d not just improve by self but become an undeclared leader of the group
Don’t live a life for Instagram. Uninstall Instagram. Save your life from Instagram or you’d die!
Make conscious off (the) screen choices. Pick better books, meet more friends/dates, explore the art spaces in your city, indulge in sports etc. All things that make you forget the screen, in short!
A good way to start can be cancelling your Netflix subscription, deleting Instagram and turning all notifications off. A new year starts tomorrow, take this as a cue and give up on your vices, NOW. Abhi delete karo IG app.
Karo?
Areyy kar lo. Tumhaara hi faeda hai biba ji!
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