mid-day Opinion: Nothing wrong with living in a furnace

Temperatures in several regions of Maharashtra have surpassed 40 degrees C, reaching close to 45 degrees C in some areas. FILE PIC/Atul Kamble

I have spent much time and energy discussing the Smart Cities Mission in the past, primarily because the government of India appears to have forgotten about it. Back then, it felt as if the project needed to be monitored because of how it could transform India into a country envied by the world, instead of how it is usually looked at. Now, it appears as if we can finally forget about that ambitious plan and move on, because we have a new accolade to be proud of. A couple of weeks ago, it emerged that 95 of the world's 100 hottest cities now belong to India. It was framed like a bad thing by those annoying foreign reporters, but I would humbly put forth the suggestion that this is something every patriot should be proud to broadcast. Finally, after decades of trying to be good at something, we have succeeded, even if it's with a little help from Mother Nature.

There's nothing wrong with a little extra heat, despite what environmentalists, scientists, doctors, and anyone who has studied beyond Std X may say.

The genuinely intelligent among us - those with degrees in Entire Political Science, for instance - will know that India is fast becoming a canary in the proverbial coal mine. What we are doing is nothing short of miraculous, because the heat will transform us into the world's first nation truly prepared for the inevitable apocalypse.

If this sounds far-fetched, consider the temperatures that much of India has been learning to deal with lately. Mahabaleshwar, which was once referred to as a hill station, recorded 21.3 degrees a few days ago, which was supposedly the lowest minimum temperature in Maharashtra.

Temperatures in several regions have surpassed 40 degrees C, reaching close to 45 degrees C in some areas. This is the new normal we can all get used to, and I believe it may explain why the government isn't wasting time on anything other than tips on staying cool.

I don't want to use this column to propagate conspiracy theories about why India is the hottest country on Earth. I don't want to discuss shrinking forests, why or how the definition of a forested area has been changed, or why our cities no longer have trees. I would rather reiterate what experts say are the causes of this heatwave: hot winds, more sunshine, and a delayed monsoon. I believe trees are overrated and get way more attention than they deserve.

What I do worry about is the time it will take for a billion Indians to acclimatise to this new normal, because dehydration has been known to adversely affect vital organs, including the kidneys and heart.

We may have to explain these unnecessary deaths in some way, at some point in the future, but I take comfort in the fact that the COVID approach may help in this regard because this country tends to move on from such morbid events rather quickly these days.

In related news, another thing that's been painted out to be catastrophic, but isn't, is the issue about air quality. Apparently, residents of a Finnish town called Kuusamo breathe in 0.3 micrograms of particulate matter per cubic meter of air, making it the world's healthiest air.

By comparison, those living in Bihar's Begusarai breathe in 118.9 micrograms per cubic meter. Of the 100 most air-polluted cities, 84 are from India, and that's another thing that's being portrayed negatively by journalists presumably envious of India's rise towards becoming a global superpower. It's why I'm glad the government isn't taking these statistics seriously or choosing to dignify them with a rebuttal. If we start to worry about pollution and heat, who will focus on issues of genuine importance such as the right language to be used by rickshaw and taxi drivers?

The onus on tackling these undesirable narratives is on us, and the best way to do that is to welcome heatwaves and poor air with a smile. A majority of Indians may not have access to healthcare, water, shade, or fresh air, but that shouldn't stop us from seeing the bigger picture.

We may suffer in this lifetime but, when the rest of the world starts to crumble within the next 50 years or so as ecosystems collapse, I believe the citizens of just one nation will survive. Poor air and water only make us stronger.

The world may pity India today, and accuse its government of incompetence, but I think it is Indians who will have the last laugh.

When he isn't ranting about all things Mumbai, Lindsay Pereira can be almost sweet. He can be contacted at www.lindsaypereira.com
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The views expressed in this column are the individual's and don't represent those of the paper.