Thursday, June 04, 2026
We All Know Why!
Every summer we will have some fires - like the recent one in Malviya Nagar. Every monsoon we will lose lives to flooding and electrocutions from naked wires or like in Mehrauli some lives will be drowned in gushing storm waters. Else where in winter lives will be lost to to Delhi winter’s.
A few days ago a building collapse in Said-Ul-Ajaid took young lives. Videos of building collapses Elsewhere in the city are floating on Instagram and X.
Every year there is a fire or collapse or electrocution or flooding or drowning that catalyses the emotions of the city. There is a lot of talk, people are blamed, past governments held responsible, new laws enacted, and people told to carry on.
In some cases a paltry sum of money is offered, in a huge show of magnanimity and political posturing. The amount, usually laughably small, but justified by quoting government norms, is never an acknowledgement of value of individual life and to me is more demonstration of how dispensable the citizens are.
We will talk about these till the next floor, or fire.
There will be more posturing, more compensation, and life will go on.
The legal route, to hold government and elected representatives and municipal bodies accountable are time consuming, expensive and emotionally and mentally straining, Not to mention the strong arm of the law that dissuades you directly and indirectly from undertaking such step, to stand up to the mighty of the state.
Of course you can come back at me and say, why were they living in a hotel that was clearly unauthorised and did not have sanction.
If you are the 8 members of the family that was staying int he hotel, because their aging grandfather was admitted at max for a few days of treatment, you are going to look for the closest hotel, a short walk from the hospital, a place relatively budget friendly since we know ho expensive private medical care is, and maybe make sure the toilets are clean and the beds comfortable so you get good sleep when you come back from your shift of staying with your near or dear one at the hospital.
You don’t ask for a Fire NOC before checking into a hotel or guest house.
THAT IS WHAT WE PAY OUR TAXES FOR.
For the government to ensure a basic level of infrastructure, and safety and standard of living to all citizens irrespective of class, gender, race, shin colour, ethnicity and earning spending capacity.
The last one becoming increasingly the measure of your importance to the state in recent years.
Now if in stead of this small hotel in Malviya Nagar, DLF Select City Mall, (which rumour has it was supposed to be the Saket District Centre as per an old MPD, but that is another discussion)- If DLF’s Select city walk were to burn down, I dare say the scenario would be different.
We can talk about politics, and social justice. About how change is hard, and other enlightenments. What is clear is, whatever the government may be, the brunt of the suffering will always be borne by those with little means, who have no choices, no options. The cost of systemic failure will always be borne by the invisible millions who keep our cities running?
One gets a feeling there is an unspoken difference between the Poor Man's Bharat, and the Rich Man's India!
And we all know why.
