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– Atul Malikram (Author and Political Strategist)
Sitting on the balcony and enjoying evening tea… there is something truly magical about it. The tranquil environment which mainly consists of me, my cup of tea, and the gentle rustling of leaves. This is what I cherish the most. I have always loved plants and have many in my garden area, that’s why usually I have my evening tea sitting at the balcony overlooking my beautiful garden. One evening, as I settled with my cup of tea, I noticed a pair of sparrows fluttering near the ventilator. At first, I thought they were playing; flying here and there around the balcony corridors. But, after observing them for quite some time, I realized, weren’t just playing; they were searching a corner to build their nest. Their quest for finding the perfect corner reminded me of those old days when I too was in search of belonging somewhere, for a space to create something that will last for a long time.
After some days, I was again sitting at my usual spot, when I saw the birds’ collecting twigs, leaves, grass and carefully bringing them to the right side of my balcony to build their nest. People say when you see things over and over again, it becomes boring. But I totally disagree. It gave me immense pleasure to watch the little beings creating something extraordinary out of nothing. With each twig gathered together, it felt like a step closer to home.
As I continued to watch the birds putting everything together, I couldn’t help but think about the care that they put into choosing this corner- a place they must believe no one can destroy. Yet, how often do we knowingly or unknowingly tear down homes like these? Homes that must have been built with so much dedication and consideration. And the reason? Just to clean the place or for our own convenience? Can you imagine what they might feel seeing the home they have built so lovingly, getting destroyed so cruelly. A home where they used to come everyday after the sunset, now in ruins, leaving them without shelter. Take the instance of spider web, it does not take even a minute to swipe it away, but must have been woven for long hours or days.
It is not only just about the mute birds, even the poor face similar ordeal. They had to work tirelessly just to get their bellies filled, forget about having a home. They just search for a place where they can take shelter, the forgotten places like abandoned buildings, areas near ponds or drains. These places which give us creeps and disgusts us are the places where these poor find their semblance of happiness. They do not have any other options either. At the same time, they know that this peace is just a moment of reprieve. They are painfully aware that if or when a bridge or any settlement will be planned, their makeshift shelter will be destroyed without a second thought. Once again, they will be without a place to call their own.
I think every place where one lives with a family lovingly is a home, no matter if it is a dingy hut, a cramped 1 BHK flat or a large mansion. The essence of home lies in the love shared by the people within its walls. For everyone, no matter who they are, a house that they build after so much of hard work is always a home- the spider weaving its delicate web, the bird building its nest, the mouse in the hole- they all create home- a place they feel safe and belong.
Yet, when it comes to the poor, their homes are often sacrificed in the name of progress. Government and administration always rush to demolish their shelter without a second thought. While Political parties make big promises of ‘Proper Houses’, ‘better education’, but once the election is over, they forget about everything they spoke of. It saddens me to think how the bulldozers uproot their safe heaven so cruelly. Government must think of giving these people a place to live before destroying their houses. They must allot land or houses to them so that no one destroys them even in the future, somewhere they can live with dignity, happiness and in peace… After all, it is no development if it comes at the cost of humanity!
