The Eid holidays over and the city slowly limps its way back to life. People make their way to work with post-holiday blues and all eagerly turn to politics. With the new government in place, the initial measures, despite being perhaps only symbolic in nature, appear whiff of the much anticipated change. Pictures of ministers and senior government functionaries standing stoically in queues while boarding planes becoming viral; designated governors declining to live in governor houses and other measures shunning privilege and protocol seem to be sincere. Yet, this set one to thought: can change solely come from the top. Can the economic divide between those with money, naturally implying privilege and those without, be successfully bridged? Can the whole change without the constituent parts changing? A difficult proposition perhaps: consider city and how people live and where.

Equity is essential in terms of access. More and more exclusive enclaves are being developed, apart from gentrification of older societies. While the newer developments are custom built, the blatant commercialization is fast changing the character of older areas. Perhaps it is the influx of the well-heeled; take for instance a very old society of Ferozepur Road.

There were playgrounds between every block, accessible to everyone. Managed by local teams, who played there, the fees usually consisted of hard labour: cutting the grass, rolling it and watering the grounds. Money came for voluntary contributions by the participants and occasional fundraising drives from the residents. No more: these grounds are now fenced-off, converted to exclusive clubs with exorbitant fees. Other society spaces are in the process of conversion to commercial purposes. A multiplex and a sports/leisure club are under construction. Open spaces reserved for weddings, the old tent variety, have been replaced with wedding halls. In case of most projects, the costs are inflated, to say the least.

Another source of financial largesse is advertising. All manner of garish billboards and signage now line the society. The electronic signage, lining the main boulevard, was even used for marketing one particular political party, naturally aligned with the society’s top brass and the many notable politicians, wealthy media magnates and other stakeholders.

There are other subtle signs. A popular attraction for the average residents was the Sunday Bazaar. Apart from all manner of clothing, household knickknacks, utensils and grocery items were available. A particular favourite was the fruits and vegetable section. Reasonably priced items, including the more exotic salad items like broccoli, were readily available. The bazaar has been cancelled for a month or so. Leaving the locals prey to extortionists in the local markets or the vendor, pirate would be more appropriate, on his antiquated horse drawn carriage.

These might appear to be trivial matters in the larger scheme of things. Yet, one would argue that this is precisely how a wedge is driven between classes, with money differentiating and privilege entrenching further: a parasitical and symbiotic relation which fuels each other and excludes others. As long as this divide continues and equity in access is not ensured, true change will perhaps remain elusive.

One might be jumping the gun but it seems the weather is finally breaking. It is still stifling in the daytime but the nights are turning pleasant. It is muggier indoors and shifting outdoors might not be a bad option, even though it might not the ‘done’ thing these days. Naturally, a fan is required.

Taking advantage of the slight breeze over the weekend one forced the family to take their dinner outside. They agreed but with great reluctance. Dragging people away from the television and computer is not an easy task. The effort was well worth it. Apart from some ‘face time’, without any distractions, underneath the light from a bright full moon peeking through the ‘neem tree’, the entire thing was an enchanting timeout from the regular routine. Here is to change! —(AmLahori@gmail.com)

Published in Dawn, August 27th, 2018