This is exactly why I told my friends to think wisely before taking a long break in the mountains specially if they have to come back to over-congested metros.
I have been always a metro boy. Born and raised in Kolkata, my first green living experience was in Kharagpur campus. That time, I was not matured enough to enjoy the greenery around. Next 10 years in USA were spent in decent places where I could always find easy escapes to mountains or jungles or pacific ocean.
Then I came to Bangalore. Irvine,California to Bangalore was a huge jump. The concrete jungle hit me on the face. The trees started disappearing over next 3 years of my time in Bangalore. It got more polluted and more dusty. It was still bearable because I always found better things to think about. However, it made me realize many things I took for granted in my US life.
But my 18 month journey that followed made me more rigid in many aspects. The same life that was acceptable to me 2 years before, feels suffocating. I believe that clean breathable air is a birth right. My legs need freedom, I will walk and I will not take a cab. I can not confine myself in the boundaries of cement. I need trees nearby my home, my office and pretty much everywhere. Thankfully the office campus where I work now is landscaped well but the minute I am out of the gate, I need a mask.
It is difficult to unlearn something. The things I learned amidst nature in last two years, can not be ignored. And suddenly the regular metro life of India seems like a BOXed life.
What is BOX-ed life?
There are primarily three boxes - one at home, one at office and one that takes people between other two boxes (Car mostly). We live in these three boxes. Probably most people watch the sky 5 minutes in a day. We can not see any stars from these boxes. If we are lucky, we may see some trees that are dying slowly by the pollution and the dust.
I am empowered enough to quit this BOX-ed life. But most people can not. And some do not know the alternatives. And I think it is best not to know. Because if they know, it will be tougher to accept!!
Still few things can keep the spirits high in the box-ed life - Money and human bonding (love, friendship). And of course, human beings have great adaptive skills too....
On a sad note, I will finish here.... Why?? Civilization Why?? Why can not we keep the balance even after so many advancements?? Why can't we provide clean air to breathe, clean water to drink and a clean path to walk for the next generation?? Why greed always wins !!
I have been always a metro boy. Born and raised in Kolkata, my first green living experience was in Kharagpur campus. That time, I was not matured enough to enjoy the greenery around. Next 10 years in USA were spent in decent places where I could always find easy escapes to mountains or jungles or pacific ocean.
Then I came to Bangalore. Irvine,California to Bangalore was a huge jump. The concrete jungle hit me on the face. The trees started disappearing over next 3 years of my time in Bangalore. It got more polluted and more dusty. It was still bearable because I always found better things to think about. However, it made me realize many things I took for granted in my US life.
But my 18 month journey that followed made me more rigid in many aspects. The same life that was acceptable to me 2 years before, feels suffocating. I believe that clean breathable air is a birth right. My legs need freedom, I will walk and I will not take a cab. I can not confine myself in the boundaries of cement. I need trees nearby my home, my office and pretty much everywhere. Thankfully the office campus where I work now is landscaped well but the minute I am out of the gate, I need a mask.
It is difficult to unlearn something. The things I learned amidst nature in last two years, can not be ignored. And suddenly the regular metro life of India seems like a BOXed life.
What is BOX-ed life?
There are primarily three boxes - one at home, one at office and one that takes people between other two boxes (Car mostly). We live in these three boxes. Probably most people watch the sky 5 minutes in a day. We can not see any stars from these boxes. If we are lucky, we may see some trees that are dying slowly by the pollution and the dust.
I am empowered enough to quit this BOX-ed life. But most people can not. And some do not know the alternatives. And I think it is best not to know. Because if they know, it will be tougher to accept!!
Still few things can keep the spirits high in the box-ed life - Money and human bonding (love, friendship). And of course, human beings have great adaptive skills too....
On a sad note, I will finish here.... Why?? Civilization Why?? Why can not we keep the balance even after so many advancements?? Why can't we provide clean air to breathe, clean water to drink and a clean path to walk for the next generation?? Why greed always wins !!
Break from boxes!!!
