What's new

Delhi: The city of djinns

Status
Not open for further replies.

Brahmos_2

FULL MEMBER
Joined
Feb 19, 2013
Messages
1,412
Reaction score
0
Country
India
Location
India
I land at the airport of a city in a foreign country. The airport is spotlessly clean, the lines for immigration are reasonably orderly, and the immigration process is smooth. I sail through the customs green channel. Taxis are waiting outside in an orderly manner. The road from the airport is wide and lined with trees. The city is very green. I encounter a traffic jam at one location but otherwise the ride is unhindered – It is a good start.

DE24_P2_4-COL_AIRPO_132984f.jpg


The city I am in is not somewhere in Europe or North America; actually, it is just a two hour flight from Karachi. I am in Delhi


What stands out in the few hours in Delhi is that the city infrastructure works well. The bus system is excellent. There are both air-conditioned and regular public buses that ply the wide roads. The buses are comfortable, frequent and provide proper seating. No one hangs out from the doors or rides on the roof. There is no wild racing for grabbing more passengers as the buses are run by the public sector and thus the enterprise is not for profit. At some of the bus stops, there is an electronic information system that gives the arrival time of the next bus.

article-0-19238CB6000005DC-624_634x391.jpg


While the roads and the bus system are impressive, Delhi’s subway system is up there with the best in the world. Yes, it can be quite crowded during rush hours but it functions smoothly. All subway stations and trains are air-conditioned and clean. The network is extensive, with a typical frequency of the trains at 2 minutes.

27-2.jpeg


The railway system is no less impressive. The Rajdhani Express that I boarded from Delhi, left at the precise time and arrived in Mumbai (an overnight trip) exactly on schedule. The train was comfortable and the staff polite and professional. There was no manic disorder inside the train or on the platform as the passengers boarded the train.

maxresdefault.jpg


The significant presence of women in public spaces is very refreshing:-)lol:) – particularly for a visitor from Pakistan. Both young and old, stylishly or simply dressed, apparently well off, not so well off and downright poor; all are seen brushing shoulders with each other and with men in the streets. There are women driving motor cycles or riding at the back in the normal astride position. Many are dressed in jeans and t-shirts, while others are attired in the traditional shalwar kameez, sometimes without dupattas or chaddars.


There is a life for young couples in the city. They can walk around holding hands or sit in the beautiful historical Hauz Khas complex, on the lake built by Sultan Alaudin Khilji (1296-1316) for water storage. The walls and the door and window openings of the surrounding old buildings looking out on the lake provide perfect seating spaces for the amorous.

While the visual evidence in the more affluent neighborhoods indicates that the women in Delhi are free and safe, the frequent acts of rape point to another reality. The women with lower social and economic standing face this cruelty more often than their well-heeled sisters. But the women there are certainly fighting to keep the turf that they have gained in recent years. The very strong reaction to the recent Delhi rape and the resulting death sentence of the perpetrators is a clear signal that Indian women are determined to achieve their right of safety in public spaces.

The ugly sight of hundreds of armed police and private guards and myriad security road blocks so pervasive in Karachi, is absent in Delhi. While armed personnel are posted at important sites, there is no sense of menace or impending doom. The substantial number of female police officers further softens the effect of the cold barrel of a gun.:D

181145-a-delhi-police-women-commando-at-the-beating-retreat-ceremony-a.jpg


The major historical monuments in Delhi, Agra and Fatehpur Sikri that I visited are well maintained. However, those working in the area of preservation of the historical sites talk of serious neglect by the archeological survey department that is responsible for the upkeep of the monuments.

taj-mahal.jpg


The day I am to return to Pakistan, the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the head of the Agha Khan community, Price Karim Agha Khan are commemorating the completion of the project for the restoration of the Mughal Emperor Humayun’s Tomb. I have visited the tomb a week ago and can attest to the absolutely impeccable renovation work. The buildings have been restored to their old glory, the many lawns and garden are maintained to perfection and the premises are clean and tidy.

The notion of India Shining notwithstanding, there is substantial and apparent poverty in Delhi that is further highlighted by the extreme disparity. India’s days of Gandhian austerity are mostly gone. Lean, emaciated men driving cycle rickshaws jostle for space with late model BMWs, Mercedes and Audis, large slums start where super posh shopping malls end, and there are families living on the sidewalks and road islands even in the posh southern part of the city.

But while all shades of rich and poor coexist, there is a palpable sense that things are changing for the better. And there, to me, lies the main difference between Karachi and Delhi. In Karachi, the state has completely abandoned the people while in Delhi, the state does deliver to some extent thus improving the lives of the denizens and giving them some hope for the future.

Karachi, the city of lights is becoming a city of darkness and Delhi the city of djinns has many a demons to deal with, but it seems to be doing so with some success.

The city of djinns - DAWN.COM











@Spring Onion @farhan_9909 @Imran Khan @Aeronaut @Raja.Pakistani @SUPARCO @Icewolf @Hafizzz @Devil Soul
 
Last edited by a moderator:
hmmm quiet an improvement when I visited I dint find dehli airport that shinning and cleaaaaaaaaaaaan just few years back.
 
well written but the below part is also similar for Pakistan.I dont know why he said so.

The significant presence of women in public spaces is very refreshing
 
Some similar images

Karachi airport

Jinnah-Airport-1024x768.jpg


Jinnah-International-Airport-Karachi-Birdeye-view.jpg


transport in karachi
Metro is missing but last week japan has agreed to provide loan for karachi circular railway project
Almost similar buses
300cng-608.jpg


CDGk2.jpg


Now the ranger women in karachi
Lady+ranger+of+Pakistan.JPG


wbcva9.jpg


Now a similar historic site from Pakistan
badshahi-mosque-3.jpg



It seems like author himself has never been to parts of Pakistan


A very cheap attempt
 
Some similar images

Karachi airport

Jinnah-Airport-1024x768.jpg


Jinnah-International-Airport-Karachi-Birdeye-view.jpg


transport in karachi
Metro is missing but last week japan has agreed to provide loan for karachi circular railway project
Almost similar buses
300cng-608.jpg


CDGk2.jpg


Now the ranger women in karachi
Lady+ranger+of+Pakistan.JPG


wbcva9.jpg


Now a similar historic site from Pakistan
badshahi-mosque-3.jpg



It seems like author himself has never been to parts of Pakistan


A very cheap attempt

Do not want to belittle but Delhi airport is miles ahead of Karachi Airport
 
This is someone's personal narrative. Why so much hulla-gulla over this..?

Someone might find Peshawar airport better than Delhi.. Why get riled up about such petty issues...

I don't have an issue if this gives Indians some moral boosting :) since I visited dehli airport few years ago and I find it different if the improvement took place that is a good thing.

However India which is one of the some biggest slum dwellers countries, if Indians come up with taunts about Pakistan its funny that they don't see Indian slums that too much higher than Pakistan.

And indian poverty we all know about it
 
Vaqar Ahmed

Mazai kar larhkai. Since you are not a female you can truly enjoy your stay in Dehli. :tup:
 
Delhi infrastructure has really improved in the last decade I sure hope Mumbai follows suit
 
bwahahahahahahahahah illusions that too at level 8 about Indians living in super duper areas ahem ahem well may be super duper slums and poverty is non existing in India :omghaha:



:laugh: mehhhhh so many Indians even don't know about these buses existence .

do u have different exit doors fr men nd women :what:??
 
Nice article about my city :P

Anyway, why is Delhi called the city of djinns ? Can somebody please explain ? I think Dalrymple wrote a book on this as well.
 
No idea what you are blabbering because it does not make any sense

Well that's what blabbering gets you on a forum like this; accolades and a top position in one of their silly lists, namely, the list of pdf's top posters. LOL


so many Indians even don't know about these buses existence .

So do these bus services still exist? Does the city bus corpn. run full services throughout the day/night, or are they restricted to providing partial services? Do they run on scheduled routes covering the length and breadth of the city of Karachi?
 
Yay! Meri Dilli!!!

Proud to be an Indian, proud to be a Delhite :)
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top Bottom