Reclaiming An Imperfect City

Part of Horniman Circle in South Bombay being renovated.

It’s 6.58 in the morning and we’re in Bangalore, at my parents' home. I overslept, a lapse brought on by my cold. Life starts early in the Tiwari household. Kumud, Mira and Tarini are still asleep. Forgive them Father, for they are weak, not aware of the benefits that banging doors at 5.30 a.m. brings to your health.
From my vantage point on the sofa I see people running past in the early morning, getting exercise. There's no running for me today, 2013 is all set to go out with a whimper.

What I like about this imperfect city in which we live year round, Bombay, is the effort by some to reclaim the city, to try and establish order and cleanliness where there was little or none. On a recent cycling trip on a Sunday morning Mira and I rode through parts of Horniman Circle, past Yazdani Bakery where we picked up some fresh bread and onwards to Ballard Estate. What we saw were beautiful buildings in various states of refurbishment. Small pleasures such as those make up for a lot.

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The Aam Aadmi Party did finally come to power in Delhi. It's early days but governance has suddenly become a topic. Propriety seems to be back in fashion. Lal Bathis, the hated read lights on the cars of members of Government, Parliament and other national institutions are being banned. The Chief Minister drove to his first day at work in a $10,000  Maruti Suzuki.

What would the effect of good governance be on our city?

2014 will hopefully bring an uptick in the global economy. The US is doing better, Europe appears to be out of the woods. India will face elections but one way or the other governance will be front and central. It may be too early to say, but the days of horse trading pols are hopefully numbered.

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