It is as if our environmental troubles were not enough, we
are now troubled by our economic down turn. In these circumstances, is our
policy towards the earth trying to tell us something? Is there a link between
the two? And finally, are we 'listening'?
If India felt cocooned by its domestic consumer boom, while
we saw the US and Europe being brought down to their knees, it was only a short
time before we realised that this down turn would hit us as well. And it did. So
we very quickly learned that we are all connected, and the good and bad affect
us all!
Our economic policies have allowed islands of prosperity in
a sea of poverty. This does not look good on India's CV! If India's growth
story has not reached the bottom of the pyramid after 60 years, then something
is amiss. We missed the bus when we did not invest in primary and secondary
education for our teeming millions back then.
The repercussion is that we are still paying 'the price of
inequality'… as Joseph Stiglitz says, the earth is also telling us to look at
not only the triple bottom line of planet, people and profit but most
importantly, at the issue of energy, ecology and equity, and out of these
three, the most important one is 'equity and social justice'.
Our policies today deny opportunities to people at the
bottom and we feel that the trickle down effect from the 1% at the top is
enough to sustain the whole pyramid. We have tried this for a long time. Can we
be creative and change this? Can we not unleash the power of the potential at
the bottom, and make that part of our society productive, so as to impact whole
economies? This kind of tsunami would be worth having. This could be a win/win
situation worth trying.
Do we architects have a role to play, you ask? Yes of
course. All of us have our roles cut out.
Every time we get a chance to design something, include
equity in the brief. Add 'inclusiveness' in the most exclusive of developments.
Think of people who service these 'enclaves'- Where do they live, how do they
live with their families and friends, what about their education, health and
livelihood? Whether we are designing a corporate campus, a city, a
neighborhood, housing, schools or colleges, they all need to be serviced. It is
the bottom of the pyramid that does that. As architects, we are not worth our
salt if we do not include them - and what will happen if we do not include
them? They will settle on the other side of your compound wall, on the other
side of 'the beautiful forever' of our architectural creations - as “Annavadi
in Mumbai”
Is there a dream for India? From poverty to abundance.
Abundance from a small 'me' to an inclusive 'us'. Abundance from wealth for a
few to wealth for many. Abundance from where I stop and you begin. Abundance as
in a forest or in our ocean. Abundance as in the diversity of life on this
planet. Abundance as in the Zoroastrian prayer Humata, Hukhata, Huvaresta which
means: Good thoughts, Good words and Good deeds.
In an aware society there should be no destitution. If a kid
grows up without love he / she cannot love society. If society does not care
for him, he will not care. Hence while on the issue of equity, let us not
forget children … our own and those of other species as well.
Gabriela Mistral says, “We are guilty of many errors and
many faults, but our worst crime is abandoning children, neglecting the
fountain of life. Many things we need can wait. The child cannot. Right now is
the time his bones are being formed, his blood is being made and his senses are
being developed. To him / her we cannot answer tomorrow. His name is today.”
There is a lot of investment coming into this country to
make more money for the rich. But there is hope! There are also investments
into partnerships of love and friendship with those sections of society that
need it the most. Where return on investment is not calculated in terms of
money but in love and understanding.
