BREATHING LIFE INTO A SIDEWALK

I thought that I do not like politics but when I broke it up into simple fragments, I realize that most people who are passionate about it, started out to help the mass. If that is the core of politics rather than the other way round, then I could associate it with a lot of creativity rather than the bias I always have on my mind, when I think politics.

Ok, if I were asked to head the Housing community where I live, it is a small sidewalk by the road, which deviates onto one or two by-lanes, housing roughly some 20-25 households – from the quaint to the exotic. Apart from the general duties that come with the position, I thought that I would have loved to involve all the families on that sidewalk to gather together on a Saturday or even Sunday and plant some flowering trees on either side of the sidewalk. Yellow and purple flowering trees planted alternatively. It might start to flower maybe within a year or two if we plant 4 year old saplings.

The full glory might come in another 6 years when they would be towering trees with flowering branches converging above, in the middle. The mornings would be beautiful with a carpet of yellow and purple flowers on the sidewalk, accompanied by the sweet sound of birds. It would become the pride of the community. We might even be interested to get the houses painted in matching colours - maybe cream with brown roofs. People in the neighbourhood would begin to hear about it and might want to come take a walk there.

Soon in order to spend more time and admire such beauty, the community might decide to place tiny benches beneath the trees for admirers to sit. Vendors would begin to flock to sell their wares, of course the community people would get first preference. Being India, some film Director might even want to shoot either part of a song or scene on that sidewalk. If we are lucky, a whole film might be shot around this community, with some superstars thrown in. That would go down the history of the sidewalk as a monumental event.

This would make us famous, and our community to prosper. We might even inspire other housing communities close by to compete, thereby making our small town or city a beautiful place. Then the real money makers might like to have a hand in this community and begin their power play, and might even buy out most of the homes. Once most of them sell out, the heart of the project would begin to dwindle. Without the heart, the thrill would be lost and everything would be worthless. No wonder nobody tries to excel in whatever position they are in. It might become just a little too much to handle. But it is a beautiful idea, if only it could come true.