I am neither an economist nor a
businessman, whatever I am going to write here is the vision of a common man. A
common man, who wants to see development, who wants to see a developed INDIA.
Last week, I got a chance to
visit Gujrat. I had never been to the state before; the media hype and the much
talked about Gujarat Model made me think that Gujarat must have got transformed
to Singapore or Dubai in last fifteen
years of ‘Modi rule’ (not BJP only Modi as it is said).
It was a short trip to Surat, an industrial
city, a textile hub and a home to diamond merchants. I knew, there won’t be
anything for wonderers or tourists like me. But I had a full day to explore the
city and needed to kill time. As I stepped out of the railway station, the site
was in no way different from the other railway stations in the country. Litter
and dirt all around, Pan-Gutka peek marks on the corners and pillars, electricity
poles with uncountable number of wires dangling in and out, plenty of beggars and
an under construction bridge just in front of the station worsened the scene.
Mad traffic rush (even worse than
Delhi), the Auto rickshaw drivers were really crazy (they almost had an auto
stand in the middle of a ‘chowk’). I found it exaggerating when the ‘auto wala’
(while urging me to hire him) told me “saheb aap chal nahi paoge koi Gaadi pair
pe chadha jayega” but in no time I realized his words were true. No traffic
signals on the busy ‘chowk’ and the people were not bothered by the traffic
marshal present there to manage traffic; everybody was trying to jump ahead of
each other. I asked my auto-driver to
take care and drive calmly but as always my request was put down calmly ‘yahan
aise hi chalta hai sahab’. The traffic-noise was at its peak. Within half an
hour of my presence in Gujarat, my dreams of seeing a developed state were
fumed like a missed fire-cracker.
I got a little respite on
entering my hotel. It was well furnished and the attendants were warm and
friendly people. Before arriving I researched a lot to find some tourist spots but
couldn’t find anything interesting besides ‘Dumas beach’, but that was too
knocked down by the hotel staff and other locals. But going against all odds I
hired a taxi and went for dumas beach about thirty kms from my hotel. I thought
it will serve two purposes, I can explore the beach and while I reach there I
will get to see the city sitting in comfortable chauffer driven A.C. car in
this hot and humid weather.
About the Dumas beach; what can I
say? This picture says a thousand words. It was as dirty as it could. And
beach? What’s that? Either these guys don’t know what a beach is or the so
called development has converted this once a beach to whatever it looks like
now.
One notable thing in the city was
the quantity and quality of bridges. There were so many of them and were in good
condition, which somewhat eased out the traffic movement. And there were some
more under-construction; but the pity was, no safety standards were under
process during construction, same haphazard traffic diversions and iron roads
and other construction material spread all around the roads. But in markets and
residential areas there was less dirt on the roads and in the air, which might
be because of high humidity levels.
In the evening I moved out to book my bus tickets
for Lonavala. And sadly the bus terminal was in same state of mess which I need
not to explain and the state transport busses were in worse condition than the
DTC buses. However, there were plenty of private transport options available
and I choose one to travel to Lonavala.
I wanted to experiment with street
food of Gujarat, but the same un-hygienic conditions of stalls and rehri-valas
forced me to change my mind and I opted for a Restaurant suggested by my taxi
driver.
The few things I loved were, the Gujarati’s
by nature are quite close to Punjabi’s. Bit arrogant, bit proudy but good by
heart; they are very warm and welcoming, they love food and drinks. Yes,
drinks…. What? Dry state? What’s that?
Everything is available, you will just have to pay some extra bucks.
P.S. I am not against Modi, I believe at
present he is the best option that we have for Indian Prime Ministerial seat. I
know I am bit critical in writing but that’s what I saw with my own open eyes.
For me, development is much beyond Industrial or Business set-ups, development is good living standards, quality
food, safe & comfortable transportation system, advanced
free medical facilities (at least for the poor if not all), police of the
people (we badly need Police reforms).
