issuesbeyondborders

This question has been doing rounds in one neighbourhood for past couple of months.  There are three important words used in the above question which can place this local insignificant issue in bigger global context. Human attitude is best manifested at micro level and holds mirror to the culture of a place.

Here is a small background from where this question and debate started. Above picture shows a small green patch in an apartment complex – ‘Landscaped Garden’, an important trump card and showcase of the housing project from its very inception. The other facilities include club house (open for all residents and their children) with modern gym, play room (with chess, carrom, pool, table tennis, and also basket ball, volley ball court on the roof), a community hall with banquet facility for social functions and a swimming pool. Another important fact is that this green patch with jogging track is a common space for some 500 residents!

So, there is already an answer to ‘where’ of the above question. There are enough options for the boys to play, but their choice is the game of cricket (similar to baseball) with a hard ball that can break window panes and damage cars. So natural demand is to open up this restricted ‘Landscaped garden’ (where only barefoot toddlers, joggers, residents are allowed for soaking in sun and fresh air). With nearly 200 families already residing and many with children, this move will surely turn the green lawn into dusty playground. Added threats of damage to window panes and cars will remain unsolved. It would be wiser move to encourage ‘boys’ to play other games which are available. But that is not going to happen. Why?

First of all it is human instinct to want to ‘use’ all available land that they own. This attitude of ownership and right to destroy has lead planet to climate change and global warming. We have cut forest, trees for human dwellings and enterprise. Now in spite of choked lungs in the crowded city we don’t like to think deeper and make that small extra effort to save the green. Ironically, it is also true that all builders and architects are being forced to accommodate green space in their plans, precisely for environmental concerns. There is an active green bench in all courts of the lands. Saving planet from perils of climate change and global warming is top priority of UN, Obama and all world leaders. Big changes are being implemented to cut carbon emission. But majority of residents want to be one large happy family oblivious to all harsh realities. Moreover the arguments say that greenery can be restored and green grass and plants amount to very little oxygen. Wish one could restore greenery around the globe so easily!

Secondly, there is an economic angle to this tale as well. Once this green patch becomes unrestricted, it’ll be easier to host social functions and religious festivals. Modern day festivals bank heavily on advertising. The stage for showcasing talent of residents has sponsors eyeing potential customers among the residents. It is easier to erect makeshift stages on ground rather than the concrete. This is important because we all need fun and entertainment and we need all the money to float in this momentary happiness. Maybe we need money and fun, even more than the oxygen that lush green grass can offer.

Now come to next two important words – ‘boys’ and ‘play’. There are an equal number of girls living in the campus. No demand has been put forth for their recreation and play. In fact the swimming pool is open on all sides and naturally conservative Indian families do not allow girls to swim in open. But yet no one till date has made a request for privacy. Why? Because harder truth is girls are still not encouraged to play or engage in outdoor physical activity. The stereotype demands that boys should be aggressive to be macho men and girls be docile giggling cute beauties. If a girl joins boys cricket team then she becomes ‘tom’ boy.

Important bitter truth is that, it is our society which encourages gender stereotypes and men to be aggressive and dominating. Instead of nurturing sensitive individuals who’ll protect and care, we teach them to assert, destroy and dominate. We tend to believe that we are demigods on a free ride on this planet, owning it all only to destroy. No doubt we are standing as desenstized souls on the brink of an abyss, reaping only bitter fruits of globalisation.