“We cannot establish proper, healthy human integration, without first decolonizing the world.”
– Abhijit Naskar
In the heart of Delhi once lay the ‘Heart of Delhi’ famously known as the Lutyens Delhi.- where the high and mighty who walk around the corridors of power, reside.
The elitist term ‘Lutyens’ may soon be done away with and replaced with a ‘nationalist’ one to erase the memory of colonial subservience.
As I take one such road frequently for my morning walks to the elite locality of South Delhi, I have already started refraining myself from mentioning the terms associated with colonialism.
Thus ‘shredding the vestiges of colonial mindset’, taking one step at a time, very soon South Delhi may also become Dakshini Delhi or Dakshini Indraprasatha.
But before that I decide to prioritise my walks and breathe in some fresh air at the park.
Though a mere change of name may not turn the ‘fresh winds’ of emancipation in our direction, but then everything happens at its own sweet pace.
Nehru Park (Chanakyapuri) inaugurated in 1969 had its foundation stone laid by then Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri in 1965 in memory of our first Prime Minister Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru.
The park every day gives me a sneak peak into the plethora of people visiting it and glimpses of the ‘residual colonial imprints ‘which still continue to exist.
One may find it difficult to spot the simple foundation stone laid by Late Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, forwith time it has been left to bear the brunt of negligence, long forgotten and ignored. Holding no significance in the present scenario.
Though this simple structure of stone and cement truly represents the simplicity of the mindset of the bygone era, away from any pomp and show, debarring any colonial mentality.
Strangely till date no political figure or dignitaries have shown any interest in any of the photo opportunities to highlight this simple foundation stone.
But on the other hand, at every nook and corner of the park, the colonial mindset is all pervasive.
A cycling track running along the boundary of the park has a huge signboard of inauguration by one of our ruling party politician.
Inside the park a statue of Lenin still exists, mostly used for selfies purposes when once in a while cleared of bird droppings .
Someday the statue may also be removed on the pretext of making our fresh and new world allies happy.
For some weird and strange reasons one may not find a single bust or picture of the person in whose memory the park was inaugurated.
The sign boards of “Ek ped ma ke naam”(one tree in mother’s name) is the new highlight of the park.
A wonderful gesture and initiative but then one may fail to spot the trees planted for the purpose apart from the few peepal trees (ficus religosa) that too planted at all the wrong places .
The silver-steel framed boards grabbing our complete attention due to its abundance appear to be scattered all around the park.
Highlighting and reinforcing the name of the NDMC head, appears more about propagating the colonial mindset .
Nehru Park in Chanakyapuri aptly represents in bits and pieces the miniature version of a big colonial setup.
The colonial mindset here is reflected through the private advertising of a public property by the politicians and officials .
Colonial imprints or footprints like carbon footprints are all around us immersed in the environment in the form of blaring sirens and horns of VIP cars, the persistent traffic jams due to routes, the unauthorised vehicles bearing the stickers of being the police or government vehicles parked outside, all reflect the colonial mindset.
Instead of being the representative of the masses, projecting oneself as being a superior amongst them will always be considered as the symbol of a colonial mindset.
Moreover, the psychological residue of the British rule still floats around, like the polluted air of the national capital which requires a special kind of filter and purifiers to eradicate it and a thorough cleansing.
But then ..it’s a long drawn process.
The recent removal of the bust of Edwin Lutyen and its replacement with Rajagopalchari at the Rashtrapati Bhavan may be one step towards decolonisation of the mindset.
But it’s a long road ahead..
Rajagopalachari founded the Swatantra Party and was one of the first recipients of India’s highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna. From June 1948 to 26 Jan 1950, he served as the first Governor General of Independent India and though he was the last one but was also the fonlyt Indian to ever have held this esteemed colonial office.
Freedom from colonial rule and mindset is about doing service to the people but here it has become a mere replacement for the old ones.
Expecting public servants to treat politicians with high-end reverence also mimics the colonial mindset.
There still exists the House of Commons’ and the House of Lords’ in our country, aping the west. Rulers may have changed but the ruling mentality is still the same. Where their power is not to be questioned, promoting the mindset of slavery.
Today the colonial masters have only been replaced by the political ones. Rest all remains the same.
Anjali, with a masters in English, is a teacher on a sabbatical. She loves travelling and spending time in natures lap, observing its bounties and being thankful to the hills.
