The outward symptom of an inward crisis
Until a few years ago, it was called fog, when the cold moisture hung in the air reducing visibility. Flight and train delays in the morning time were the norm. Then as pollution worsened, it was not simple fog anymore, but also suspended solid particles in the air trapped in the moisture of the dense cold air all the time. So, it is nowcalled smog and for the last few years, it has become an annual season of outcry and commotion during the winter months.
When there is a problem and that too a regular and chronic one, a wise way to deal with it is to go to its roots and remove it. Crop burning, after the harvest, in nearby areas brings smoke to Delhi and the neighboring densely populated cities like Ghaziabad. Diwali celebration with firecrackers also adds its own pollution. Particulate levels go beyond 20 times higher than the maximum recommended by the World Health Organization as safe.
This year, the situation has been worse than earlier. Millions of people have started their day choking through ‘eye-burning’ smog. Restrictions on the number of private vehicles on Delhi roads amid an air pollution crisis led to angry fights. Pollution levels are so high that schools have been shut, and a public emergency declared as experts say the air in New Delhi is similar to smoking up to 50 cigarettes a day!
This is outer pollution. But what about the inner pollution? What about the heedless development of cities, the unmanageable number of vehicles on roads and air conditioners in almost every house throwing out toxic exhausts into public air, and perennial construction activity under the booming real estate sector? What is expected of the farmers in Haryana and Punjab if not burning Parali, the local word for dry plant residual, to prepare the field for the next crop? For how long are our national scientific and industrial research laboratories going to stare at burning of agro waste instead of solving the problem by bio -digesting it and producing useful fuels and products?
The outer pollution is creating a social crisis. Three most conspicuous indicators of this crisis are: (1) respiratory diseases amongst children and early onset of cancers in adults; (2) crowded cities as increasing number of people are leaving villages as agriculture remains a no-profit enterprise; and (3) rampant hedonism among people who have tasted new wealth, the unmanageable number of cars on roads, air conditioners in every middleclass home and commercial buildings. There is rage on the roads and drug and alcohol abuse in breaking families.
Long ago, Dr S Radhakrishnan (1888-1975), the Vice Chancellor of BHU for 10 years and later, theVice President and President of India, had observed,“The historic destinies of people cannot be dismissed so lightly. British rule is a much deeper phenomenon, reflecting the serious organic defects of Indian society. It is the outward symptom of an inward crisis, of loss of faith, of the hideous weakening of our moral life, our indiscipline and disunion, our violence and vulgarity.”
It is not that there has been no effort. Numerous legal, regulatory and institutional measures have been initiated, and schemes implemented since early 1980s. However, it is the inner pollution – the arrogance of new wealth, the desperation of migrants, and systemic pollution by industries – that no government couldever control till date and neither is it likely to happen in the future.
Public offices are occupied through a complex process wherein all compromises have already been made. When the city booms, it digests every natural resource – forests, hills, surface water bodies – that can reduce the spatial spread and distribution of pollution. Delhi’s Ghazipur garbage dump is just few meters lower than that of the Qutub Minar and is rising. Mumbai’s Deonar dumping ground is so big that it can accommodate 300 football fields. It rises like a 20-floor building!
It appears improbable for any government to control or regulate the pollution-producing factors in any real sense. There will be speeches, demonstrations, declarations, and assertions, like there have been for the past many years and again, we will be discussing Diwali crackers, Parali and odd-even regulation of cars. When outward problems are continuously tolerated and accepted, they become inward defects of the body and soul.
Why don’t we start by shifting the massive government apparatus out of Delhi to a new location, more efficient and secure, like in the case of Washington DC in the United States? The same logic holds valid for spreading out financial institutions and the film industry in Mumbai and IT companies in Bangalore. Urbanization as it happened so far has created more problems than solutions. Growth has to be both equitable and comprehensive, not only in one direction and not only for some sections of society at the cost of the rest of the people. How can we be ‘New India’ without sorting out our old problems?
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What a fantastic solution Prof Tiwari Jee and justifying the policy on “Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas”. For some of the problems like Parali burning, green crackers etc, possibility exists that some self help groups or startups extend the existing solutions and also bring out some new solutions.
I am almost speechless when it comes to this problem. It Seems there is no political will do anything about such a serious problem !! Whilst Delhi may be worse the problem is also there all over India. No Innovative ideas ?? someone from the young brigade should invent ways and means to improve the air .
We live in Delhi as of now and thinking seriously to shift out. And trust me 49% population is doing the same. While govt. Machinery plays pass-the-blame game each child in delhi is smoking 10 cigaretts a day just by breathing.
Prof. Tiwari has put forth superb arguments.
Sir, Thank you for going into the root cause and suggesting practical, long-lasting solutions. The provoked discussion in the comments section continues adding value.
This time the pollution levels had crossed all limits. My son termed it as a breakdown of civilisation -bordering a collapse, I add.
Just think of quantifying the sufferings and losses. Would the government dare take such an exercise? The havoc was not only limited to Delhi NCR but had engulfed all Indo Gangetic plains, and the sufferings were not limited to human beings. The birds and dogs and even the trees seemed to have gone into a depression. Like us, they can’t adapt to a PM 2.5 mask as a body part. That the smaller towns of Hapur, Moradabad, Rampur, Bareliiey and virtually all neighbouring other cities can’t make hue and cry does not lessen their plight.
Admission of failure in governance would be the first step towards improvement. Let us also admit a defeat of scientific research in our country. Next parallel step may be quantifying the losses. Probably new hospital admissions and increased death rate data from hospitals would be a good starting point. Let us also learn lessons from neighbouring China that solved their problem pronto.
Why are transformative changes not possible? Didn’t India go for demonetization? Here we need not even move clandestinely and declare war against pollution.
Stubble burning, the major cause of pollution is a growing concern, most talked about and debated upon for decades. Punjab government’s move is welcoming but at the same time it’s the responsibility of the governments to see their initiative yields expected results. Given the dire status of helpless farmers, a mere Rs 2500/acre will not stop them from taking the cheapest route to dispose crop residues. A Rice Bio-park in India will be the first welcome move as suggested by Prof MS Swaminathan.
Instead of just doling out money or slapping fines, governments can help entrepreneurs and Institutions with fool-proof technologies to consolidate their effort to reduce/eliminate pollution. Sadly, public memory is short-lived, implementation of schemes and law enforcement seems lethargic. Perennial solutions to seasonal problems are a pressing need. We have every technology to flaunt that we are no less than developed nations and we take pride in it. We possess the expertise to find immediate remedial measures to help ailing/under-performing industries to rise stronger and shine brighter. It’s a sad fact that in spite of agricultural universities and premier scientific institutions with the best R&D facilities finding solutions for pollution, people are affected day in and day out by various kinds of pollution leading to deaths and governments play blame game instead of encouraging and incentivising noble ventures.
Indeed a key issue and challenge Prof. Tiwari. I recall when I moved to LA in ’89 as a young man in my twenties. I would drive from Century City to Riverside for a project I was working on and the irritation in my eyes during that drive was unbearable. It’s amazing that today when I visit LA and drive there, that this does not occur. The smog issue in LA was identified in the 1940’s and took until the ’80s and ’90s for regulations to start taking effect. California took it upon themselves to change the rules eventually leading to the Federal Government adopting the changes. A nice podcast article on this history is available at: https://www.sciencehistory.org/distillations/podcast/fighting-smog-in-los-angeles Hope to see similar actions in India!
Air Pollution is a typical Asian problem. New York, Chicago, Paris and London are all Mega Cities, but they took right steps and actions in time and invested to ensure that air does not turn toxic for the people living there. Singapore and Tokyo are two great examples of this determination. As you rightly pointed out it is an inward crisis. Our leaders got elected by making endless compromises and surrender regulatory powers in that process even before occupying their high offices. And of course, we continue to through round litter, unmindful of others’ inconveniences. This is a highly individual defect each one of us must get rid of before hoping any good to happen.
A very nice article, indeed, Sir. What an start of the article with a nice picture with “My right to breathe” caption. It is really pity that Delhi is having the worst air quality. While stubble burning is one of the major causes for this severe bad (toxic) quality of air, there are several other reasons as well.
Now the question is that can we have some government policies (and not only in Delhi, but in adjoining states) – and also public awareness/education so that we should not have such cases. In fact, on my recent visit to University of Reading, UK, several friends asked the question about severely poor quality of the air in Delhi and we had discussions on this important topic. Therefore the article from Dr Tiwari sir on this topical subject is very very timely and educating.
The forward looking vision – e.g. “Why don’t we start by shifting the massive government apparatus out of Delhi to a new location, more efficient and secure, like in the case of Washington DC in the United States? The same logic holds valid for spreading out financial institutions and the film industry in Mumbai and IT companies in Bangalore.” is really thoughts-provoking. Great idea- may be this will be one good initiative for “New India” for having equitable and comprehensive growth in the country.
Pollution is the production of waste by excessive consumption. People with newly acquired wealth are on overdrive to consume – many cars, dinning, and unnecessary shopping – all adding to the crowd and the waste. Everyday tons of plastic is added in the form of milk packets. Why government is watching all this? Because their elections are financed by the same money? Of course, Sir, it is an inward crisis. Thank you pointing out the bitter truth.
Holy Quran says, “Al-haa-kumut- Takaathur, Hat-taa zurtumul-maqaabi, Kal-laa sawfa ta‘-lamuun. (You are obsessed by greed for more and more, until you go down to your graves, Rather, in time you will come to understand!) (Surah Al Takathur, 102:1-3).
Good Evening Sir, thank you for writing this excellent article. I like this statement: “When there is a problem and that too a regular and chronic one, a wise way to deal with it is to go to its roots and remove it.” The current issue has been well explained in this post. I agree with you that ‘Growth has to be both equitable and comprehensive, not only in one direction and not only for some sections of society at the cost of the rest of the people”. Thank you once again for a wonderful post.
Pollution is one of the biggest issue of Delhi in last so many years but the situation is worsening in every passing year. And efforts by the government seems to be eye wash. There is no hope in near future also.
No doubt Rapid urbanisation is one of biggest problem. The problem which is faced by Delhi today, is spreading across the cities in India. That’s why there are so many cities of India are raked in ‘World’s Most Polluted Cities’.
It’s high time to preserve our natural resources to save our future generations. There need to have balance between urbanisation and environment preservation. And government must focus on developing new cities so that population load on metros could be reduced.
Thanks sir for enlighting us on every current issues.
Respected Sir, I read your article and is extremely good. Its high time we understand to stop pollution by growing more plants and tress and start car pooling. Otherwise the future generations will have to suffer a lot because of our mistakes.
Respected Sir, Excellent need based article! We must concentrate again more on reforestation and stop soil erosion and non scientific development of urban cities.
Dear Sir, A most relevant article in today’s times. You have touched upon many issues prevailing today and sought solutions. Your concept of outward and inward pollution is wonderful and befitting the ancient Indian thought process. We indeed need to find solutions to inner pollution and inner violence as much if not more than the outer pollution and outer violence. Shifting of administration, businesses and industries from big cities like Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore to smaller and cleaner places is a very novel concept. You have explained the Himalayan problems in a simple way for finding easy solutions, shows your deep knowledge and serious concern for present day problems. I am sure the powers in place will make a note of these and implement for the benefit of general public. Regards.
Sir …. very apt description…. it is high time to consider the problems in totality keeping future in mind ….. Unless we take tough decisions followed by strict implementation within defined timeline … we will be dragging ourselves to a disaster.
An intriguing article on important topic which is disturbing the life of many affected by air pollution in all parts of the country. Thank you Sir for holistically talking about this problem which has multiple origins. Such a complex problem has to be tackled at multiple levels including all stakeholders as suggested by Prof Tiwari by moving capital outside Delhi and integrating the transport systems including metro rail with feeder buses in Delhi and NCR region. There should be mass movement to overcome this problem and we should all be the agents of change.
I like the idea of moving the “massive government apparatus” out of Delhi. And I agree that it has worked well in the United States, where Washington, D.C. is the political capital housing the federal government, and New York is the financial capital. And even with Washington, D.C. as the political hub of power many federal functions are “farmed out” to places like West Virginia. Another contemporary example is Brasilia, which is clean, well-designed, and like Washington, D.C., full of broad avenues. When one leaves Brasilia and goes to Rio de Janeiro or Sao Paulo, where graffiti abounds and conditions are much worse, one really appreciates Brasilia, and the concept of moving a national capital out of a very crowded area. Ronald Reagan, quoting John Winthrop, would frequently describe America as a “shining city upon a hill.” That is what India needs as well for a national capital, not a congested, pollution-ridden place like Delhi.
The comment of Amit Gupta about India needing to follow “best practices” of other governments is very prescient. This raises the question, from the American perspective, of which system works best: the Beijing consensus or the Washington consensus? India needs to take the “best practices” of both and take advantage of the decoupling of the United States from China to assume a leading role in Asia and the world.
Dear Sir, The views expressed by you are very well endorsed. Pardon my saying so inspite of being a very proud Indian that in terms of community living & social hygiene we are inherently dirty and have no regard for nature. This all is very painful as we are one of the oldest civilisation and our culture and the whole way of living in past evolved around nature which we so vehemently disregard. The independent India in its growth never had an integrated approach. The cities were never planned with a futuristic road map of decades and century. The vested interest without reviewing the resources led to a bigger disaster and recycling, waste disposal were all ignored for petty gains leading to present sorrows & disaster.We also have a habit of always reinventing wheel & spending public money to carry out pilots and leaving half way. Is it difficult to plan a workforce and planning group to study such models world wide including ‘Beijing’ , pick up the best practises and implement with an iron rod. When the will & determination of a commissioner could transform Surat what stops us now.The public support, judiciary, corporates all would willingly work if there is a master plan, transparency and accountability. We took a clean Ganges campaign but none of the towns where Ganges passes have any monitoring or control unit. We have trained surplus & ample; experienced manpower in terms of Civil servants, army officers, Bankers, corporate executives and others why they can not be gainfully reemployed meaningfully and given these tasks. The integrated approach means participation and that is what we lack! We need to save ourselves, God would not save us!
Thanks sir for this wonderful article. The idea that you gave is amazing. However I am much interested in other aspect too that is we always talk about the accountability of government but we never talk about our accountability, the bureaucrats accountability. Pollution is not a new problem. But as a citizen, as officers what we did is I guess is nothing. A simple example “car pool” how many of us do this? Also we have IITs, IISC, national labs what they did so far in this area. Recently government started “research in the area of national interests” but many people were against this. However I feel that this really needs serious attention. A simple example of the “dry waste” are the parali. We can explore those materials to find what new we can use from them. Theirs a Japanese concept of utilising the waste system to create something more wonderful. Like that we as a citizen have to come up with the ideas, solution for pollution. In any IITs you will not find any centre on “pollution control”. Everything cannot we done through government. Enjoying everything is our fundamental right like that to make our environment better must be our fundamental duty.
Beautifully explained the ugly problem Delhi is facing. I find blaming farmers for bad quality of air rather ironical. A farmer knows about the pollution crisis. But we also need to know his problems. We must act not only because it is choking Delhi or there is a 50 per cent rise in respiratory illnesses, be it COPD or asthma cases, in the National Capital Region (NCR) area, but also because we are losing soil fertility and there is a rise in incidents of cancer in Punjab and Haryana. From 35 million tonnes of parali, that is being burned, we can obtain 21 million tonnes of high-grade organic fertilizer. The total amount of nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium and Sulphur in the 23 million tonnes of parali annually burnt in Northwest India is about seven lakh tonnes, valued at Rs 1,000 crore.
Although Hyderabad is not considered a city notorious for pollution yet, but all the trends are well place. The made roads are fully choked with traffic, dust from construction sites is permanently hanging in air and we have lost that daily cool breeze in the evening that sat apart Hyderabad from other cities. The other day while standing on Tank Bund with family, I could not see the other side of the Lake due to smog. They say prevention is better than cure, but here we are gloriously creating ailments for our old age and our future generations.
Delighted to glance through your views and reflection on many important issues based on your wisdom. Keep it up.
The individual, social and environmental problems of contemporary India are interconnected and they feed into each other. Pollution and widespread diseases are manifestation of our inner darkness and failed public policies. What we need is a synthesis of science, spirituality and enlightened political action for uplifting our people from the current phase of darkness and confusion.
This article is a good ‘food for thought’ for all of us who are dreaming for a better tomorrow. Thank you Arun Ji for this.
Dear Sir,
The pollution problem is now so worsen that it may cause of massive destruction of flora anf funa in major cities of India.
At least govt. should make mandatory to have only electric or hybrid vehicles on road rather than implementing odd even formula like in Delhi. The govt. fund should be diverted towards the subsidies for purchasing these vehicles.
In Sydney govt. is taking only 2.5$ for travel whole day in public transport system encouraging less utilisation of private vehicles. The same could be implemented by our government across all cities of India.
Installing big air purifying towers are another option.
This is the time to implement all these mausures or will be in a big problem there is no doubt.
Would like to bring in notice to PM Modi through your post. #PMNARENDRAMODI
As usual, this is such a relevant article. The key point being made, when you mentioned, “When outward problems are continuously tolerated and accepted, they become inward defects of the body and soul”. The situation as it stands in India cannot be attributed to one single phenomenon. It is the result of a multitude of reasons, with the individual being at the root of the source.
Dr. S. Radhakrishnan’s observation that “British rule is a much deeper phenomenon, reflecting the serious organic defects of Indian society.” couldn’t have been more precise. It is these very defects that were the sole reason why India has seen so many invasions in the last millenia, first the Mughals, then the British, along with a few other Europeans. And what is alarming is that people just don’t seem to learn from history. Thus, as they say people who don’t learn from history are susceptible to repeating history. Yesterday’s invaders are replaced by multi-nationals, who are nothing but representatives of a global military-industrial complex with the mass media being their most potent weapon to keep a citizenry in a subjugation. Whats worse, unlike in the past when people could see that they were being forcibly subjugated, today the subjugation is so subtle that people are simply lulled into it. Thus, it is such a valid point that you make when you say; “rampant hedonism among people who have tasted new wealth, the unmanageable number of cars on roads, air conditioners in every middleclass home and commercial buildings. There is rage on the roads and drug and alcohol abuse in breaking families.”.
Years back, Mahatma Gandhi said, “High thinking is inconsistent with a complicated material life based on high speed and imposed on us by mammon worship”. The rampant hedonism hasn’t happened overnight. The seeds in India were sown in when commercials started appearing on Doordarshan and further fertilized by Network Channels featuring trashy soap operas where every second woman is scheming against every other member of the family. The woman of the house, they say is the nucleus of the family. Thus, when you start influencing the nucleus, you start influencing the entire cell, which in this case is the family. And when the influencing factors revolve around just money and a mega lifestyle, you suddenly get a society which only has materialist pursuits as their major goal, devoid of any sense of virtue.
It is this rampant hedonism, where people are reduced to addicted consumers (and they seem to be pretty comfy about it), which is the major cause of pollution all through the world, and more pronounced in India. Mark Boyle, the author of “The Moneyless Man: A Year of Freeconomic Living” says, “The degrees of separation between the consumer and the consumed have increased so much that we’re completely unaware of the levels of destruction and suffering embodied in the stuff we buy.” It is this continuous and prolonged outward disconnect, that has led people into a kind of disconnect with their True Selves. People seek satisfaction in material things, which are finite. They get trapped in a bottomless hole in a vicious cycle of trying to “keep up with the Jones”, without realizing that no matter how much of material goods you may possess, there will still be some one who will always have one more material that you have. How long will you run..??. But people run, they shop till they drop…and till there are consumers, there is going to be mass production, and till there is mass production, there is going to be multi levels of pollution.
All the great Sages and people of Wisdom have advised man to move within where the True Riches…True and lasting Happiness resides.
Bhagwaan Swaminarayan says in the Vachnamrut, when one has experienced even a nano moment of that Real Happiness, one will feel that one has been enjoying it for Eternity. Such is the Virtue of the Happiness, when one is connected within…to the Soul…where the Divine is.
It is easier said than done. But, it’s easier done than said when one surrenders to the Guru. In this context, you are one striking example, who has imbibed the qualities of the Guru, who he has faithfully served. When one reads your work, one is connected through the words to Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, who despite all his accomplishments led a very simple life, treading as lightly on the Earth, while leaving a huge Legacy for all history.
Thanks Sirji for all that you are doing…Jai Swaminarayan 🙂 !!
Your blog cannot be timelier. When I am reading it, nothing is visible outside. TV is showing Air Quality Index (AQI) more than 600 today. Only 4 people of 28 turned for the “high level” meeting today to discuss air pollution in Delhi. The Supreme Court is passing regular strictures, but no one is listening. Your write up clearly brings out why there is no solution – because it is a systemic failure and haphazard development and unregulated crowding of Delhi is the real reason. Also, our scientific laboratories should give a good solution for disposing agriculture waste. Our scientists have to be accountable.
Namaste Sir, It is wonderful to read such an apt description, analysis and solutions of today’s greatest problem…the outer and inner pollution. All of us and government need to put in serious efforts to solve this problem growing like a monster by each passing day. The parali needs to be recycled actively, facility of door-to-door collection should be provided. The inner pollution too is on a rise…There seems to be an alarming rise in addictions in School and College-going crowd which is worrying. Will our future generations face life’s challenges on the crutches of various addictions? These questions are today staring us in face. Hope we can conquer these problems successfully by our collective and sincere efforts. Thanks and regards
A thought-provoking idea, Sir – to shift out the capital from Delhi.
It does appear to be an insurmountable problem – and a serious one. Yet, I must say that I was there recently, and found the citizens’ indifference shocking. Though they complain, they don’t seem to be thinking long-term. Most believe that when push comes to shove, government will come up with strong measures or miracle cure. Government, of course, is clueless and half-hearted in its attempts.
Policymakers must begin considering options for a new capital, as you have suggested, to a secure and efficient place.
A high-level committee could be set up and work commissioned to find a suitable location – as was done in the case of Andhra Pradesh.
Why not Ayodhya – to usher in “RamRajya” in the New India?