Every time I return, I see more construction, lesser trees, more traffic, more dust, more chaos, eroded mountain sides, increased mounds of trash... The inevitable price that a city pays for so-called "progress"? Is it truly progress if the spaces are getting congested, natural resources depleted & life becoming tougher rather than easier?
As I walk through old roads, I try and isolate myself from the present, reach out to my memories & use my imagination to recreate the magic of yesteryears, looking at the town as it was... I see it all like a hazy film before my eyes. Greener mountain sides, empty roads on which we would often hop skip, almost dance in a carefree manner, stop by and just watch the wind ruffle the trees and try to catch a glimpse of the flying squirrels or watch a family of langurs play, listen to the birds, especially the woodpeckers which were so common then & hope we wouldn't meet any naughty monkeys on the path. It's tough to stay isolated in the noise that surrounds me today but the vision of the town that was is at the same time refreshing as it's saddening.
Everything.. almost everything.. except the naughty monkeys has changed... Infact they have changed too. They seem more aggressive now. Perhaps they ve picked up the aggression too from the co-inhabitants of the city. They too seem to have it tougher now- a fight to survive in the growing crowds & depleting resources. I observe the hoards of students, people scurrying to work... Quite a few still on foot, many in cars... Gone is that peace that used to be. I see a few old faces, nod in recognition, smile... They move on quietly, their silence speaking more than their words may have. Perhaps they too remembered & reminisced about the old times for that brief moment.
Compare the hustle bustle here to a metro, one can still say, it's much lesser but alas, nothing like it used to be.
And I take a deep breath & say to myself... Let go.
I send out love to the mountains, to the trees, to the air & to all the elements I have always loved. A floating leaf settles on my head before it gently comes down to my palms as if in response from mother nature to the love I sent out. The wind seems to ruffle my hair just a little more. I even catch a few langurs jumping playfully through the trees in the distance.
I talk in silence to the mountains and the Nature devas that be, and ask them for forgiveness for us humans... also for blessings that we as a race will realise our folly & make the change towards "true progress" before it's too late. Before we eat away our own existence by cannibalising on the very source that sustains us.
Unlikely as it seems, the optimist in me likes to think it will happen someday... I sigh again, send out another loving hug to my memories, and walk back 'home'... Even that has changed so much. Sigh!
