4 ms·

Having lived in Delhi all my life, I can confidently say that it's really as bad as it looks. There's a huge divide though. Like, the middle class (to which I b

Having lived in Delhi all my life, I can confidently say that it's really as bad as it looks. There's a huge divide though. Like, the middle class (to which I belong) and the rich live in relatively cleaner areas, go to places where there are no piles of trash lying around (and if there are, ignore them). I think the city can't fix unless it keeps ignoring it and make the poor suffer. There is no sense of community here. "It's not my problem" is the prevailing attitude.

mc32 10y ago
Maybe the destitute don't yet have the language to argue the disenfranchisement, but one day they will, and unless someone makes it (Indian) society's problem to address, it will become everyone's problem and a drain on the economy and prosperity. I can understand the new middle class wanting to enjoy their newfound comfort by themselves, but, for their own sake, they should be worried for those in their own society --they are not scoundrel invaders, after all, because if they don't it will be to their own detriment.
denzil_correa 10y ago
> There is no sense of community here. "It's not my problem" is the prevailing attitude. In Hindi there is a saying, Apna Kaam Banta, Toh Bhaad Mein Jaaye Junta. Translation - If my work is done, I don't care - the rest can go to hell.
- einrealist 10y ago
  I wonder how much of this attitude spreads into work mentality. In my time as a consultant, I heard a lot horror stories about failed offshored IT projects. (My own experience with offshore service centers is quite good though.)
puranjay 10y ago
I beg to differ. Delhi has no planning. Every "rich" area is right next to a slum. Saket has Khirki village, Def Col has Shiv Nagar, Green Park has Gautam Nagar. My supposedly "rich" area of East of Kailash is right next to Garhi village, which is phenomenally filthy. It's absurd to me that people who live in million dollar houses and drive 50 lakh carsare so comfortable with open garbage dumps right outside their homes
- manish_gill 10y ago
  Of course, it's true for the city overall that there is no planning. Notice my caveat about ignoring. It's different for a lot of other places though. Plenty of gated communities where you don't see the kind of filth you would see outside etc.

mc32 10y ago

Maybe the destitute don't yet have the language to argue the disenfranchisement, but one day they will, and unless someone makes it (Indian) society's problem to address, it will become everyone's problem and a drain on the economy and prosperity. I can understand the new middle class wanting to enjoy their newfound comfort by themselves, but, for their own sake, they should be worried for those in their own society --they are not scoundrel invaders, after all, because if they don't it will be to their own detriment.

denzil_correa 10y ago

> There is no sense of community here. "It's not my problem" is the prevailing attitude. In Hindi there is a saying, Apna Kaam Banta, Toh Bhaad Mein Jaaye Junta. Translation - If my work is done, I don't care - the rest can go to hell.

einrealist 10y ago
I wonder how much of this attitude spreads into work mentality. In my time as a consultant, I heard a lot horror stories about failed offshored IT projects. (My own experience with offshore service centers is quite good though.)

puranjay 10y ago

I beg to differ. Delhi has no planning. Every "rich" area is right next to a slum. Saket has Khirki village, Def Col has Shiv Nagar, Green Park has Gautam Nagar. My supposedly "rich" area of East of Kailash is right next to Garhi village, which is phenomenally filthy. It's absurd to me that people who live in million dollar houses and drive 50 lakh carsare so comfortable with open garbage dumps right outside their homes

manish_gill 10y ago
Of course, it's true for the city overall that there is no planning. Notice my caveat about ignoring. It's different for a lot of other places though. Plenty of gated communities where you don't see the kind of filth you would see outside etc.