Anupam- The Dreamer

If you would recall the times of COVID-19, you would remember one thing clearly- the massive movement on foot/buses/railways towards the villages by the migrant workers! In the times of distress, millions moved back from the cities and towns towards their villages, the place where they could feel safe, get some food to eat and could survive even without employment, because of the government relief measures and the resources back home like foodgrains. In urban areas, they had no employment, no incomes to pay rent for their homes, food was costly, and environment unsafe for them to survive due to high prevalence of COVID-19.

Similar thing is noticed even now, as some people (although the extent is very low as compared to COVID times) are moving towards villages due to LPG shortage in some urban areas. In villages, they could find cowdung cakes, forest wood, coal to cook food.

There is also some de-urbanisation happening among the elite and well-to-do section of society, where they are moving towards the villages and closer to the nature, where they build their resorts and villas. Away from the hustle and bustle of the urban areas, severe air pollution, traffic problem, etc. of the urban areas for finding cleaner air, tranquil environment and better quality of life in the hinterland.

During wars also, urban areas are more prone to bombings and violence, due to greater economic importance and cities being centres of military and defence establishments. Therefore, people tend to move towards lesser dense rural areas for better chances of survival.

In all the above-mentioned scenarios, one thing is common that the urban economy, however rich and affluent it may be, is more fragile to the changes in the ecosystem. The life here is so complex, fast and dependent on external things, that a single disruption in the scheme of things can throw urban life out of gear. Like if there is stoppage of water supply through the rivers and canals, as happened in New Delhi about a decade ago, then the whole city will come to its knees within days. If there are riots, then again there are disruptions to normal life. If there is a traffic problem, then you could be stuck for more than 8 to 10 hours on the same road. If there are floods, then there is nothing that can be done to the high-rise buildings. Basically, the city dwellers are dependent on so many things which come to them from other cities, villages or even other countries, that they cannot absorb a single disruption for a short period of time. There is instant panic everywhere.

Now, contrast this with the relatively more resilient rural economy. The life here is relatively easier, low and less dependent on the external things, so they are immune to the sudden changes in the external environment. For example, in times of LPG shortage, there is no hulla in the villages. Although, most of them now use LPG, but they have alternatives also- one village in Telangana was using biogas, others have used cowdung cakes, some use firewoods, some use coal. Urban areas cannot use these or don’t have availability at massive scale. The rural areas have their own source of water, so they are not much dependent on the water supply from far-flung areas. Then, the resource consumption is also lower per capita vis-à-vis the urban areas, and on top of that resource production is higher per capita like food and milk.

Therefore, the people in villages are more “atmanirbhar” than their urban counterparts. Plus the cleaner air, lower soil and water pollution, low traffic, also make life easier in the villages. All these advantages while enjoying the high-speed internet and telephonic connectivity, TV sets, cars/motorbikes, all FMCG products in the villages. So, the villagers of today’s times are indeed having gala times. Whenever they want to enjoy city life, they can ride their cars/bikes and come to cities, and go back to the villages the same day to enjoy the tranquil and laid-back life at night. They can enjoy the peaceful mornings with the chirping of the birds in their backyard, and can also do shopping in the evening in the cities. The city dwellers don’t have the “luxury” of peace and serenity that is there in the villages.

Then, the question arises that why the urbanisation is increasing in India and elsewhere in the world, when there are so many advantages in the villages? It is because of the simple reason the urban areas offer more money, better employment, better education and healthcare, better amenities and exposure to the outer world. But, what if we could ensure availability of many of these things in our villages?

Can that make our villages even more resilient?

Can that lead us to the true “Atmanirbhar Bharat”?

Can that preserve the “Soul of India” while marching ahead towards the technology-driven future?

Can that fulfil the dream of Gandhiji towards attainment of “Gram Swaraj”?

The question is not of whether we can or whether we can’t!

The question is rather whether we want or whether we don’t want!

Till next time….