My internet connection was down for a day. I have no idea why it's up
right now but I'm savoring it as much as I can before it fails me
again.
UPDATE: It did fail me. This is yesterday's blog. =P
Much of what I've learnt over the last two days has been in little
bits. So instead of trying force those little bits to connect I'm just
gonna write it like it is: in fragments.
---
If I was required to describe Shimoga in one phrase, that phrase would
be "in construction". Practically everything in Shimoga is either
being broken down, added to or extended. Roads are being widened or
tarred. The railway station has been completely renovated. A new
platform is being added. I saw what I presume to be a new sewage
system in parts of the small city.
I was a little curious about the sudden urban renovation Shimoga is
undergoing. Did they city strike oil? Did it have a sizable English
speaking population? As a result was it attracting BPOs and/or IT
companies? Was there something about the local legislation that
attracted investment? Low taxes perhaps? In short, what was Shimoga
doing or what did it have that allowed for and encouraged such rapid
urbanization? Last I heard, it was a mid-size town!
The answer, I found with a certain amount of disappointment, was
simple: Yeddyruppa, Karnataka CM, hails from Shimoga. So do nine of of
his ministers.
---
An interesting thing I noticed in Shimoga, particularly around the
slum Siddeshwara, was how colorful the houses were. Fluorescent purple
and green. Blood red and yellow. Slate blue and toxic green. My first
guess was that it was a cultural nuance. People here probably like to
outdo each other by painting their houses a louder color in the same
way in some communities, houses blare music at each other. So I asked
Mr. Srinivas. Apparently, and I don't how many of you knew this, but
there's a vastu for color as well. At least here there is. Or at least
Mr. Srinivas says there is. So along with designing their houses
according to the way energy flows through your house and all that crap
(or whatever vastu is, I never bothered finding out), you also have to
approach an 'expert' who tells you what color to paint your house!
The rough cost of a liter of paint this loud is around eight hundred
rupees. The cost of painting a mid-size house would be to to the tune
of scores of thousands of rupees. Is it just me or do you smell a
Marawadi too?
---
I a big fan of Census 2011. I think it's gonna revolutionize
developmental planning. More importantly, as a public domain document,
it'll aid NGOs like the one I help out concentrate their activities on
the people that need it the most and help them in the areas that they
need help in the most. This decade's census in particular is one the
largest and most comprehensive ever conducted in India, probably the
world.
I was thrilled to bump into a teacher on census duty today! She had a
broadsheet census form. A child followed her with a smaller set of
forms. I asked to see the census form. Everything was written in
Kannada so I couldn't see what exactly the fields were but it sure did
look comprehensive! =P
I don't want to stretch this beyond what it really is. But it was
exciting to see it in progress. To see it actually happening. So much
of what the Central Government says slips through our collection sieve
of belief. I speak for myself but I'm always cynical of the
government's ability to carry out these huge, ambitious projects.
Meeting the census worker today was a little liberating in that sense.
It's actually happening.
I will remember the face of that census worker for years to come.
She wore shades.
---
I met a girl today. She's a sponsored child at the local CDC. She, her
mother, her father, nine of her siblings and her dog, Pinto, live in
one of the tiniest houses I have ever, ever seen. Her parents are
illiterate.
I have no idea where and how she studies. I could barely see my own
hands in the light from the solitary bulb that hangs in the house, let
alone read. I cannot imagine how, living in such poverty, I personally
could find the courage and hope to study, to succeed, to push forward
and to dream of things beyond my hardship.
Soumya tops her class at school. First rank.
She puts us all to shame.
---
I'm so incredibly tired it's not funny. I've had an entire day of
shooting. This particular CDC is very important and so a lot of things
we shot yesterday that I wasn't happy with, we redid today. It turned
out amazing. Looking through the days footage, the aching body and
throbbing head are totally worth it.
My apologies to the children of Siddeshwara for tiring you out today.
If it's any consolation, you look great in the footage. I'll miss you.
I really will. You were amazing and I'll remember every single one of
you. Supriya, I have your innocent eyes and your smile etched into my
head. Pramod, you figured your way around my cell-phone in minutes! My
mom could learn from you! Soumya, my friends need to meet you. More
importantly, Crossroads needs to meet you and through the videos, I
hope they will.
I have a dream for your lives and I hope that the little I do and that
NCM does helps you get there. You deserve it. May God honor your
innocent, your honesty and your courage.