http://blogs.fullhyderabad.com/showblog.php?blogId=1122 Its about Hyderabad A commentary on the Hyderabad Scenario on the occasion of Ganesh Nimmajan with Hyderabad on the threshold of an important decision.   Ganesh never had it so good.  To be in the news for the right as well as the wrong reasons.  To be or not to be was no longer the question.  The Kiranesian Dilemma cannot wait.  This is the time for action.    The swank, newly built, GNR (Ganesh Nimmajan Rendezvous) underwater terminus at the Hussain Sagar..nay… Vinayak Sagar was all agog with excitement as the Nimmajan arrangements for 2013 began.    Every year the Ganeshas from various parts of the city are immersed into the lake and as they enter the placid lake waters they have a dialogue with the venerable Buddha who stands tall, all wisdom & peace personified amidst the pandemonium. Further as the idols enter the HCIP – Hussain Sagar Catchment Area Improvement Project, (JICA aided) waters, they report on the situation of the city in the year gone-by to their predecessors underwater.   But the year 2013 was a momentous year on many counts.  The denizens of Hyderabad would not in recent times experienced such a Hyderabad. Last time around it was the “Dirty Picture” & a different “Kahani”. This year as the administrative machinery had come virtually to a standstill with Geography attempting to redefine History the Bhagyanagar Ganesh Utsav Committee changed tack and gave a new meaning to governance.  It thundered Ganesh Mandaps had only to inform & not wait for approval regarding installation etc.  Ganesh Maharaj Ki Jai!! said over One lakh mandaps in the city !! as the City administration watched helplessly.   Amongst the first lot were those from Begum Bazar.  It was actually difficult to recognize the “Ilaichi ganesh”, “Kapda Ganesh”, “Masala Ganesh”, as their size had shrunk considerably.  Recession is truly in; they all nodded in unison, but what is this 7-8% annual growth!!!! Alas Ganeshas too like the “Aam Aadmi” do not understand the policies made for the Aam admi. The figures the economists profess do not seem to reflect on the health of Begum Bazar. They all agreed that you could still get a meal for Rs 22/- in the gullies of Begum Bazar.  Maybe Montek Singh et al had their surveys done in this part of the country. But with Petrol rates closing in on a century & the plummeting Rupee, Begum Bazar Ganesh had very little to be happy about.           In came the venerable Vegetable Ganesh.  In normal circumstances he brought tears to everyone’s eyes, but this time no tears…..you guessed right, no Onions. Vegetable Ganesh explained how Onions were being imported (actually after exporting what we had) and how the common citizens were getting used to an onion less diet.   The Cantonment Ganesh, usually on time, explained his delay on account of the poor road conditions and how year after year it was the same low lying areas, same roads and maybe same contractors who had perfected the art of taking the Ganeshas & citizens for a ride. Cantonment Ganesh was enraged by the civic apathy which snuffed out the life of a young girl near Marredpally due to bad roads. While GHMC and Roads & Buildings squabbled over jurisdictions, Ganesha opined it was time Hyderabad had responsible civic chiefs.   While on responsibility, the HMDA supported-Clay Ganeshas from RWAs (Resident Welfare Associations) explained that it took the High court, in the wake of a PIL (Personal Interest Litigation) to direct the Chief Secretary to convene a meeting on “How to reduce the Pollution in Hussain Sagar Lake On account Of Ganesh Immersion?” In a well attended meet the moot point remained unanswered that is it not the Industrial effluents that pollute (right under the APPCB nose at Sanathnagar) rather than the Ganesh? As the CS & other seats squirmed in their seats, Ganesh had scored yet again.  The Lord brought many departments, Community groups & NGOs together to bring focus to Hussainsagar. A new development this time around, the little Ganeshas in some areas were immersed in a decentralized manner rather than create more issues of traffic & lake pollution.   In trooped Telangana Ganesh, all & sundry took to him with not exactly religious fervour. He said “How can you do this? How many more Committees will you have? He expressed the hope that the Next Ganesh Utsav will be in Telangana.  Jai Bolo Telangana Ganesh Ki !!!   The Budhha was taken in by the new look laddu in Khairatabad Ganesha’s hand which symbolized a spirit of togetherness as it was prepared by a famous sweet shop from coastal Andhra. Will Hyderabad be a UT / Separate State / Joint Capital ?  The citizens wish Ganesha knew the answers.   The wise Buddha only said “Can we have another Bal Gangadhar Tilak to help us rid of the modern day manipulators?” Buddham saranam gacchami (I go to the Buddha for refuge) Dhammam saranam gacchami (I go to the Dhamma for refuge) Sangham saranam gacchami (I go to the Sangha for refuge) http://blogs.fullhyderabad.com/showblog.php?op=ViewArticle&articleId=6478&blogId=1122 Wed, 18 Sep 2013 07:47:54 +0000