Taking cue from Mahabharat can help Slums to prosper


As a last option to stop Mahabharat war, Lord Krishna went to Duryodhan. He asked for half of the kingdom for Pandavas which was rejected by Duryodhan. Lord Krishna being aware of the consequences of war, asked Duryodhan, if not half kingdom at least give them five villages. This offer too was rejected by Duryodhan. Duryodhan replied he will not give Pandavas even needle point of territory. His refusal in parting with the lands for Pandavas led to the great epic war The Mahabharat. In the war brothers fought against brothers, blood relatives against blood relatives, students against teachers, nephews against uncles. The war ended with huge loses to Duryodhan. He lost his sons, brothers and friends. Both sides ended up losing their near and dear. If Duryodhan has yielded at least five villages to Pandavas, the Mahabharat war could have been avoided.

This episode from Mahabharat reminds me of the deadly Covid-19. Till the posting of this article, the only medicine to avoid Covid-19 is face mask, hand gloves and social distancing. But in Slums social distancing is not possible as the houses in slums are very small less than 200 square feet and in one house at least 6 people stays. Imagine Asia’s largest slum Dharavi. It houses close to 10 lakh people.

Time and again government has come with schemes to redevelop slums. Private real estate developers too have pitched in to redevelop slums. But whatever schemes they brought in, the slum dwellers were not happy. The government and the private real estate developers have plans to develop multi storey buildings in these slums. These multi storey buildings will house slum dwellers and the rest of the remaining houses will be sold in the open market. Negotiations between slum dwellers and developers have come to nought. What remains now is what remained before, a large swathe of slums.

The Covid-19 has thrown new challenges to authorities. The medical staffs are finding it very difficult to navigate the narrow lanes of the slums. The major population in slums is of migrants. They have come to cities for a better earning. Back home their conditions are not good as in cities. Now, these slums have become their permanent residence. The slum dwellers have to understand living in better hygienic place is good for them, for their parents, for their children, for him and his wife. They have to negotiate with government for better standard of living. Even Lord Krishna, the god himself shifted, to Dwarka from Mathura to save his people from unnecessary war and death. Pandavas too converted the barren land of Khandavprastha or Khandava Forest to Indraprashtha. Lord Indra, the king of heaven, has cursed Khandavprastha to be infertile. Pandavas converted Khandava Forest to a city similar to the city where Lord Indra resides.

In Dwarka as well as Indraprashtha, the residence of one place shifted to cities for better future, for better living and for a better next generation. The slum dwellers have to decide. It was long back their grandfathers moved to these slums. The fathers made it their home. The sons should think there is a bright future waiting for him in today’s Dwarka and Indraprashtha.

With very little or no money and family to support their grandfather made a bright future in slums. There are still many ‘grandfathers’ waiting for a bright future in the cities. There are many mega cities being construction. All it is required is for the ‘sons’ to decide.  

@gomadityavalluvan

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