Author: changethinker

Born and raised in Mumbai, India with an undergrad degree from Oman and a masters degree from the National University of Singapore. I am an Environmental Professional with a passion for Sustainability, Social Innovation and Governance related issues. A Change Agent in the making who believes that small is beautiful and that impact can be achieved -one soul at a time.

Shock X2

Upon skimming through again Naomi Klein’s Shock Doctrine, a text i was a TA for a NTU globalisation undergrad course in Singapore during my Sociology MA in 2011- It gives me enough reasons to that the healthcare shock of #COVID2019 will be followed by an economic jolt. Its hard to tell which one will be harder.

Day 11/21 Lockdown Field Notes

Day 11 of #21daylockdownindia in Devachi Uruli, Pune Rural. Good to see spirits high as most shops are open, including sweet shops but with no sweet. Stocks of some items are running low which is obvious with the slowdown.

Most vendors seem to have regained lost business. More masks, however social distancing is still missing.

Thinking Opposition

If the amount of social media critique was actually funneled into carving a legit political opposition in India in the past six years, may be with regional players or with emerging outfits may be a hint of a counter narrative would have emerged. Building is hard, typing away is easier. And it would not have any impact on the voter on the ground, as the middle voter does not see an alternative. A 95 year old deep state organisation is subliminal and on the ground, omnipresent.

Field notes Day 8/21

Devachi Uruli Main Market

Day 8 of #21daylockdownindia in Devachi Uruli, Pune Rural. The vibe at the chowk is back- a lot more vegetable vendors (with the usual acoustics and aesthetics of a wet market) and all Kirana shops open. The traffic is buzzing and social distancing has gone for a toss as well. When will people take this pandemic seriously?

Solitude.

Solitude has his own shapes
The shape of shadows, of desire
Of destiny
When life comes to a halt
All plans collapse
Solitude is a forced friend
When the thrill of the everyday
Abandons us
Then solitude tells me
I am time
Before ambitions overtook you
I was there
Like the shadow on the wall

Day 6 Field Notes

Day 6 Field notes from #21daylockdownindia in Devachi Uruli, Pune Rural. Almost all shops open including the only dhobi/laundry in the area who opens up when the cops are not around. Says his business is badly hit and was quite helpless, awaiting for normalcy to return.

In a comical turn of events, the Tapri which sells smokes is now shut and the Allahabad guy who runs it has turned to selling bananas.

India takes hardly anytime to normalise when the crisis, as everyday has echoes of the absurd which we all relate to. A Day in the life of India.