The Hindu : New Delhi News : Inside Delhi

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Feb 08, 2005

New Delhi

New Delhi

Inside Delhi

Delhi has a

new landmark

Delhi has acquired a new landmark: an 18-foot-high gate at the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) erected by the "lohar kalakar" (ironsmiths) of Bastar.

According to an IGNCA official, this is the first time that the gate has been put up outside their native land. The gate adorns the main entrance to the Centre visible from Janpath. And while such gates are not uncommon in the tribal belt of Bastar, this promises to be a rare treat for the Capital's citizens.

At the top of the gate is seated Ma Danteshwari, the presiding deity of the region from where the artistes come, and it is believed there that the demon Mahishasur once attempted to attack the Bastar area. Then Ma Danteshwari with the local goddess Ma Ingladevi took on the demon and he was lifted physically, spun around and flung across. The demon fell 130 feet down into the river. He dared not look at the region ever again. At IGNCA here, the gate represents the spirit of art in the lives of the people of India, especially adivasis and tribals.

A group of 22 artistes, both women and men, worked at the lawns of the Centre for over a month to put up the gate. While working, the artistes sang about their myth, folklore and history. The head of the group, Amba Lal Jhara, claims that the art has been in his family for many generations now. "What we do not worship, we do not paint," said Amba Lal. The lizard and tortoise are among the animals worshipped in Bastar and the leaf of pipul tree and bells are considered symbols of good omen. The gate has been put together piece by piece. The artistes did not use any pre-designed or drawn model.

Unresolved problem

For the physically challenged people, accessibility and mobility still seems to be an unresolved problem in the Capital. Even getting around to the city hospitals seems to be an uphill task with very few subways near the hospitals facilitating easy movement.

Nearly all major hospitals in the Capital are close to busy intersections and passage is almost always through the subways, which sadly are not disable-friendly.

Says a concerned citizen: "A physically disabled person who uses a wheelchair or for someone who needs to cross the road with the help of stick and bar support cannot use these subways. The subway in front of Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital has no ramps. The subways near Safdarjung Hospital and the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) are too dangerous to use. Its narrow, steep ramp is practically useless."

Similar is the case with ramps at marketplaces. The subway near INA market has no ramp, the one in front of Hanuman Temple in Connaught Place has a ramp but cannot be used, as it is very steep. "A lot of money is being utilised in the Capital to build flyovers and subways. Our government has done its bit to bring the desired convenience. But a little heart and thought about the disabled could bring about a sea of difference in the quality of service being made available. Also, a large number of people would be able to get around and that would go a long way in making Delhi a world class city that does not ignore little things in making the big difference," asserts Sashee Singh of the Health Care Welfare Society engaged in highlighting various social problems.

Blatant violation

Ironical as it seems, very often Delhi's rich and powerful people act like total misers who would rather encroach upon and park on a road right outside an important institution like the Delhi High Court than pay the nominal charge and park the vehicle in authorised parking lots of the New Delhi Municipal Council close by.

The brazen manner in which people continue to park their vehicles on the road outside the High Court's main gates also shows their contempt for the law of the land and its upholders. Though this very court has been responsible for formulating most of the major parking and civic plans for the Capital, the problems to which it has provided several answers are knocking at its very doors today.

However, the Delhi traffic police seem to be in no mood whatsoever to punish these culprits. Despite there being nearly a hundred cars parked on the road outside the High Court each day in blatant violation of the `No-Parking' rules prevalent in the are, the traffic police seem completely oblivious to the fact.

But whether this neglect amounts to dereliction of duty or a mere facilitation of the who's who of the Capital who dare to park wrongly in such a VIP area is something only our men in blue can answer. Till such time, however, the law-abiding citizens will have to bear with them.

Gaurav Vivek Bhatnagar

By Bindu Shajan Perappadan and Gaurav Vivek Bhatnagar

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