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Reminiscences of the West

Ye Office hai ya Lok sabha?
On resuming work in Indian Offices, after a stint in the West, the most significant difference that you notice in the office milieu is the sheer abundance of people – a testimony to India’s population. In the UK, offices – especially corridors, lounges and hallways are mostly empty.

However in India there are all kinds of people standing in these alleys – cleaners, security guards, receptionists etc. Many times a single reception desk is manned by two receptionists; there are separate cleaners to wipe doors and clean toilets, the lift has a 'lift-man' just to press the buttons and sometimes even the water filter is manned by a peon!!

Clear the roads - of garbage, vehicles .... and people
I was sitting on the window of a BEST bus travelling to office at around 9 AM when suddenly I had an urge to play some mind games with myself. I closed my eyes and imagined the scene if Mumbai roads* were to become like roads in London. The conversion made by my mind was revealing - I had only expected that the roads be cleared of the dirt and become shining black, but the picture I got had clean black roads - and very few people!

There were no people in the 'anglicised' picture of roads in my mind. I guess my mind gave me a very powerful message subconsciously - we cannot imagine India to become a developed nation unless we reduce the population levels.

*PS: Mumbai Roads are now in a much better condition than 6 months ago, thanks to the MUIP/MUTP projects.

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