Thought Leadership

Broken roads and potholes have been synonymous with Bengaluru for several years. It seems to have reached its climax now with sheer despair and hopelessness. But, according to the principle of cause and effect, what could be the cause of this prevailing situation? The arrogant government, uncaring public representatives or the numb officials? No. The real cause is only our indifference! Can we put the onus on someone else for something that we have to fix, that we must act upon, and only we must speak about?
Bengaluru has been slowing dying in front of our eyes. But, long before that we lost our care and compassion for the place we call home. First, we stopped looking around, then we stopped talking about it, then we stopped hearing, and more recently we started sleeping over it and now we are already loudly snoring.
Home to 1.4 crore residents, why only a few speak with passion and rage about Bengaluru's broken roads and its 10,000 potholes. Why only a few familiar faces - the likes of TV Mohandas Pai and Kiran Mazumdar Shaw - seem to voice their genuine concerns? As if we have washed our hands off from something that we all face and go through every day, in hope of somebody else to tackle our own issues.
So, we are pinning all our hopes on a few aware and concerned citizens or the state government that is arrogant enough to tell journalists to ask about roads and potholes to those who talk about them and brazen enough to say that nobody can threaten the government and that they care less about who leaves the city following announcement by BlackBuck co-founder Rajesh Yabaji to move out of Bellandur citing worsening road conditions. Governments have come and gone but it is only the battered roads of the capital that have remained intact. So, it is not also about a particular government, more so true in Karnataka. What Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States of America, said seems so true - "The government you elect is the government you deserve."
It seems as if Bengaluru has been left orphan by its own people. Where are those city's voices that matter? Where are our most prominent and admired entrepreneurs, many of whom are founders of India's global IT giants and the makers of Brand Bengaluru. We all know them. We all expect them to speak for their and our city as them seriously voicing their genuine concerns will certainly have a visible impact. And, as citizens of Bengaluru it is their duty as well.
Why are the promoters of large hospitals in Bengaluru not speaking about its most potent problem, particularly with millions of their patients having to navigate the bumpy roads posing serious health risks over time. And, their hundreds of ambulances racing over risky roads or stuck amid endless traffic.
Why are those who run hundreds of private schools in this city are silent when their children are suffering every single day, walking on and sitting in buses crisscrossing through dug up and broken streets. Recently, a school bus carrying 20 children dangerously tilted after its wheels got stuck in a open drain filled with rain water along Balagere-Panathur main road. We all have seen the shaky Instagram reel posted by three girls from the back seat of their school bus highlighting their daily horrible commute. When small children are openly coming out on this issue, why do the founders of these 'prestigious' schools seem to care less.
Also, where are the voices of the hundreds of colleges and revered higher learning institutions in Bengaluru? Why are their promoters ignoring the plight of their millions of students by remaining silent on the issue that haunts them every day.
Why only BlackBuck? Why are over 16,000 startups of Bengaluru not choosing to speak and voice their concerns? It seems they are perfectly okay with the state of our roads and the other affairs. The mostly young founders of these vibrant startups with immense potential and talent must talk about the issues plaguing their city and also work on possible solutions. They simply cannot be mute spectators of what is unfolding and going on with their day-to-day business.
The similar compassion for the city is also expected from the numerous influential religious and social organizations in and around Bengaluru. The revered heads of prominent religious and spiritual organizations across diverse faiths speaking for the people and their problems will go a long way in making things work. The media and the think tanks must also go beyond publishing daily reports and hosting just talks and podcasts. They must think about creating impactful campaigns and public engagement initiatives over such pressing citizen centric issues.
And, finally but most importantly: We are all citizens of Bengaluru. Why are the citizens themselves displaying absolute indifference to what they are facing every single day? This is most bizzare! It seems millions of working men and women have abandoned their own city, displaying total helplessness and anxiety, hoping things will change on their own or someone will do what they must. Do we wait and watch or seek help from our neighbours to resolve issues in our homes? No. We take the lead and resolve it. So, why are we not coming together and raising our concerns about the terrible roads in our own city, our own home? There is a prevailing sense that most of us have resigned to our fate and have accepted the state of affairs. We only seem to be talking about it and vent our frustration rather than calling for action. We display a strange numbness to what is happening to us.
It is said that in a democracy, the line between citizens and activists is blurred. Every active, alert or concerned citizen is an activist, and every citizen must be aware of what is happening around, and what impact he can make in society. It must be absolutely clear that the woes of Bengaluru can only be solved by its people, and none else!