Who is responsible? by Juhi Meshram

“Okay, tell me... The Radcliffe line was a boundary between which two countries?” I asked.

“India and Pakistan!” the little Aarav replied correctly.

“Oh! You are right. Okay, which union territory of India is the most populated one?”

“It is Delhi.” He said confidently.

“Correct! Can you tell me which Indian city is made of seven islands?”

“Seven islands?” There was a sudden change in expression on his face.

“Yes... Here is a hint- it is a capital city.”

“Um... I don’t know, didi!”

“It is our own city, Mumbai... buddhdu! Do you want to fail in the upcoming GK test?”

“But... Mumbai is made of islands? We are living on an island??” he got charged up.

“Hahaha...No, brother...Those days are gone. It earlier comprised of seven major islands. Back then, the British started a reclamation process... to link the lands and occupy the area of the sea....Look.” I Google searched an old map of Mumbai on my phone and showed it to him.

“Woaaahhh! There was water between Mahim and Worli... and Parel...Our Colaba was a separate island too!” he couldn’t take his eyes off the map.

“Yes, there could have been a beach at the back of our house.. haha!” I joked.

“Oh riiiight... So many beaches all over Mumbai...” his face gleamed.

“Yes...Okay now... Let’s get back. Ready for the next question?” I wanted to finish this soon.

“Dida, how was it even possible??... To occupy such a large area of the sea; and build roads, houses and... big buildings on it? Where did the water go?”

“Arey baba... They had to do it... the population was growing. Being a busy port city, there was an urgent need of industries, drainage schemes and water channels.... the Britishers foresaw a healthy livelihood of Mumbai... I mean, Bombay.”

“Wow, hats off to the planners... It looks kind of impossible to me. I wonder if Kishan and Rajiv know this.” Aarav was jumping in joy of discovering an interesting fact about Mumbai’s history.

This discussion disrupted the preparation session for Aarav’s GK test that was scheduled in a couple of days. Luckily, the test got cancelled. However, the reason was not lucky for Mumbai.

The floods had struck. Rain had taken a toll on countless lives of the city. The infrastructure, transportation... briefly, the whole skyline got affected.  The people of the city were expecting high economic losses and breakout of diseases. 

We, too, were stuck in our home with no light and water.

“Dida, where did all this water come from?” Aarav asked, staring outside the window.

“Didn’t you ask me, where did the water go when the Britishers encroached the water that persisted between Parel and Worli... and Colaba...? It is that water.” I was sad, depressed.

“What? Is it?” He was curious.

“Yes Aarav, technically! That time, several small rivers that ran through the length of Mumbai were filled. This affected the areas of dissipation for the water. Haphazard developments blocked natural streams and even destroyed the ecosystems.. forests... that were protecting us. No! We cannot blame the British alone for destroying the natural environment of Mumbai. Recent projects like the Bandra-Worli sea link, concretisation, further reduction of catchment areas.. all these only added to the inconsistency.”

“Beta.. What the nature does... is not in our hands.” Papa joined in the conversation. I did not know he was listening to me!

“That is the problem, Papa. We always blame the nature. But we fail to foresee the consequences of tampering with this nature. It is nothing but a reaction to our actions. Don’t you think nature have given us enough warnings? The outbreak of plague in 1890s and 1990s? The 2005 flood? Do you think nature alone is the culprit?”

Papa was about to say something... but started to think.

“I have read everything this morning. We are the players and only we are the culprits. Many have died and many more are on the verge. I am not able to draw a happy picture of the future of this city and it... it kills me.” I slowed down. “We have created the imbalance. We killed the wetlands, tree covers, mangroves, marshlands... only to write our own dark future. Can we not grow...and develop ....but only sustain-ably?”

There was a long pause.

 “You mean, selflessly?” said Papa.

His question was my answer.

Yes, we will have to live selflessly. Else, for our kids... we will only be leaving behind congestion, complications, diseases... and disasters. We wouldn’t be here to take the criticism, but this wouldn’t change the fact ....would it?