Our sutradhaars, Sir PM and Lady Flora discuss that with the phasing out of open spaces across the city due countless urban planning oversights, its children will lose out the outdoor experience altogether
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Lady Flora spotted her friend, Sir Pherozeshah Mehta, holding a wooden box aloft from a distance; however, she couldn’t tell what it was. As she approached closer, it became clear — he was examining a cute wooden birdhouse in his hand, as he sat on a bench at Cooperage Bandstand. The air was crisp, and the dreaded extended rainy spell was over, so the duo was back to exploring their favourite city outdoors.
“Isn’t this wonderful? It’s a gift for my grandniece. I thought it would be a nice way to celebrate Children’s Day. I couldn’t meet her on the day, so I will hand it over next Sunday, as I’d promised her,” shared Sir PM, pleased at his purchase. “What a thoughtful idea, Pheroze. Does she love nature and the outdoors?” Lady Flora asked. “Oh yes, little Tara enjoys the outdoors, whenever she heads to Panchgani, where her maasi resides; but in aapro Bombay…no such luck. In fact, she needs to be dragged back home whenever she is at her maasi’s home. She loves birdwatching, and looking out for butterflies in the large gardens around her maasi’s home. Out here, where she lives in a baug in Dadar, while things are still fairly okay, it’s still the only blessing in the neighbourhood. The extent of open spaces beyond the area is rapidly shrinking, I’m afraid,” Sir PM sighed.
“That’s not a good thing for our children in the city. Come to think of it, it’s a big problem that most parents must be facing, especially in the suburbs, which are becoming mini islands of high-rises where the not-so-privileged are missing out dearly. Given how developers and builders have monopolised the city’s urban plans, all they want is to create ugly concrete ecosystems with manicured lawns and modern amenities. What purpose is an air-conditioned jogging track or a state-of-the-art gym for a seven-year-old and their friends in the complex? The fun and childlike joys of chasing butterflies or playing catching cook in the open, is a long-forgotten frame,” rued Lady Flora, continuing, “Only the other day, I overheard a couple feel happy that their daughter was able to experience a magical day in the outdoors where she and her friend had a ball of a time at Oval Maidan, playing frisbee, and hanging out with the many friendly pet dogs who were there for their evening walks.”
Sir PM and Lady Flora spent the next few moments soaking in precious scenes of young kids playing hide-and-seek around them in the green, breezy outdoors. “Look at the thrill on their faces! If only every child in the city were able to enjoy this option,” Sir PM exclaimed. “The worrying signs are everywhere, my Lady. And it’s not just the alarming increase of these unchecked high-rises and child-unfriendly plans; other factors are also to be blamed. Take, for example, infrastructure projects and development plans that often, mindlessly usurp open spaces where children could ride their bicycles or play badminton and cricket. It’s a common sight across the city and its suburbs. The boundary lines are blurring fast. Add to that the decreasing focus on building new public gardens and keeping the existing ones open for a reasonable number of hours, as well as well-lit, clean and safe for young children and senior citizens, who also rely on such spaces for fresh air and bonding with more of their age group. It’s a fast-fading, concerning area that nobody is addressing,” Sir PM elaborated. Lady Flora chimed in, the ever-observant voice of reason, “Percy [the pigeon] told me the other day that some of the lovely kids who would allow him to flutter along and rest in their once-green backyards, were nowhere to be found! Those open green spaces had all vanished, and were taken over by the new-age villain — the JCB excavator or loader. They have no place to play, and are often restricted to settling for gullies and footpaths to play, which aren’t exactly a great idea, given that it isn’t the safest option for young children.”
Both looked glum at the concerning scenario. “Today’s ‘visionary’ planners and architects seem to have forgotten their needs altogether. Back in the day, public parks with a children’s play zone were a must; nowadays, it’s been conveniently sidelined. Forget about children’s play areas, we don’t even see many public parks and gardens. Every such amenity is now confined only to residents of luxurious townships, and even with it, I’m not so sure if those children actually avail of it, given that most of these new-age children prefer the company of their fancy digital devices,” scowled Lady Flora.
Sir Pheroze summed it up beautifully, “I doubt they’ve ever heard of games like kho-kho, seven tiles or hopscotch! I suspect that that time isn’t far, where this city’s children will be unable to enjoy the experience of a day amidst nature, in the outdoors, in their own backyards, looking for sparrows or chasing butterflies. We have let our children down, and by the time we realise it, it might be too late. But who cares, really?”
mid-day’s Features Editor Fiona Fernandez relishes the city’s sights, sounds, smells and stones...wherever the ink and the inclination takes her.
She tweets @bombayana. Send your feedback to mailbag@mid-day.com
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