As the waters recede, and relief gives way to rehabilitation, I revert to my daydreams. The past three weeks have changed us all a lot, and in ways too numerous and too profound to put in words. But if these daydreams could capture the hope I have for Chennai, these would be some of them.
That we will bond the way we did, sans religion, creed or “intolerance” debates, helping each other out. The picture of temples housing families of other faiths, churches opening their relief kitchens to one and all, and mosques providing succour for scores of people from all over will forever remain etched. There is no intolerance. There is no division. Only hope.
That we come together for more reasoned action for civic upgradation, build better storm water drains, and improve our roads. Hats off to the Corporation of Chennai for being a hero despite the constraints.
That we figure out a way to help the displaced find their lives and livelihood back. These were people who could not be housed anywhere other than outside the city, where new houses, schools, amenities and shops will have to come up for them. We are reconstructing a new Chennai, not merely plastering an old one.
That the spirit of quiet dignity that large numbers of its citizens demonstrated when their wits and resources were stretched to the hilt can inspire more cooperative and collaborative living in the years to come.
That we stop hitting out at each other on public forums, but actually use technology (free or otherwise!) to our advantage and build a more enriched, empowered and “cloud-enhanced” Chennai, with online resources and intelligence mapping to identify areas under distress, better disaster management and preventive action.
That we stop our self indulgent babble about moral dilemmas of holding art festivals during such crazy times, but learn to live and let live.
That we use the intelligence gleaned from this cataclysmic event to bring about a more active debate on climate change, starting from the classrooms and ending at the highest boardrooms of policy makers.
That we will continue to laugh, sing, dance, paint and do the myriad other things that has always made Chennai what it is – a phenomenal melding of the ancient and the new, the modern and the traditional, but always a living testament to the resilience that makes this country stand tall despite the odds.
The author is a pianist and music educator based in Chennai.
