My Gujarat Diary

a fact file...

I had been to Gujarat for 3 days (20, 21 and 22 June, 2013)  last month mainly for 2 things. 

• First to take Darshan of Dwarakadhish and and Somanatheshwar.
• Second to witness the development by Gujarat Government. In fact, to call it correctly in Gujarati slang, Modi Raj. I wanted to see, whether it is really developed or it is just a balloon filled with air.... I don't wanted take risk of just praising someone without facts to prove.

It was overwhelming, soothing too to have Darshan and blessings of Dwarakadheesh and Somanatheshwar. A long time dream came true. Jay Dwarakadheesh, Jay Somanath.

I even had been to Sabarmati Ashram. It was really inspiring.

I am being proud Kannadiga (Of course, Proud Indian as well) and Bangalorean for this Life, was really surprised to see that new land called Ahmedabad, in fact, Gujarat.

All Roads in Ahmadabad and Gandhinagar are so wide (200 - 300 ft) with a divider in place and no humps, no digs, no damages, no potholes. Though it was too humid there, but, I really enjoyed the travel (I mean being on road).

When I had to visit Dwarka and Somanath, I chose to go by road. I saw many roads are two way roads with a divider even in the interior parts of the state.

I cannot imagine Bangalore ever reaching that level in another 10 years. Because, the roads are so narrow here, widening them is too difficult task. Maintaining quality roads itself is very difficult here. Forget about widening and managing...

I saw no road side posters and banners. Not only roads, but, even the road sides are very clean. Where as here... Film posters, banners, political rally banners (they will be hanging for months together even after the function is over) useless politician's birthday posters adore the roadside walls and electricity pillars.

The Ahmadabad - Gandhinagar, twin city corridor road (30 - 35 km) is beautiful. I felt being in Europe. If you don't believe then plan a trip before 2014 elections, so, it might make your mind to vote for real development (Modi-fication).

Then the interesting part is, I interviewed almost 13 people during my travel across Gujarat, all common people, auto-rickshaw walas, hotel persons, students, mandir Pujaris, Guides, Police, etc... (always, Khangress spokes person's tell that to go and ask the common people in Gujarat what problem and plight they are facing, life is terrible there, etc...). Out of them 12 People voted Modi Raj and BJP in Gujarat. 1 person an auto-wala seems to be victim of some problem, he was blaming the Gujarat Government throughout our 16 km journey.

All other 12 people (not related in anyway to each other) told 3 points with emphasis in common, but, to my surprise, it was not about roads and transport.

One, the electricity supply doesn't stop for a single minute throughout the year in Gujarat. While saying this, they remembered the condition 5-8 year ago, when there was always scarcity of electricity in Gujarat. Due to which lot of small scale industries were closed. This is not a point only told by an Ahmadabad resident but, even people from Dwaraka, Porabandar pointed out the same. 

In Karnataka, in my village, we have only 10 hours electricity supply, that too on papers but, many a times it is off for 12 – 15 hrs a day. In Bangalore, in my area, a prime area, every third day the transformer fails, in rainy season. No one bothers to get rid of it. 

Second, a person can roam in the city holding bag carrying big amount without any fear of getting robbed and even if robbed has a assurance that he will get the money back. Similarly a girl or lady can go out alone in the late midnight around 2-3 PM without any fear or security issue. These words and situations are not articulated by me, rather I am writing here what people shared through their observations and feelings.

Third, (Which is time and again doubted my many outsiders) the harmony in the normal citizens/residents. Ahmadabad has a very big area called Bapu Nagar and many other areas from old city are densely populated with migrants from northern and western India, all leaving respectful and peaceful Life. 3 auto-walas were from north India whom I rented. All they said is,"though Ahmadabad is bit costly, but, we really have Value for Our Life and it provided us a tension free Life". One thing, we so called techies need to remember that In Gujarat still computer technology is not yet boom here. Still they are earning sufficient. I felt if IT is gone, Bangalorians cannot with stand the current growth but, there it is entirely independent and indigenous.

What a progress! This is where a person earning lakhs together or few hundreds of rupees a day; everybody feels Value for Life here at the end of the day!

Then I felt, In Bangalore (We surrounded by techies) we earn by burning ourselves, Here we die earning, live talking about Value for Life!

If somebody is still unhappy and expects a sudden change over in one term, then either need to be ready to be disappointed for another decade or two or need to be happy with his dreams or need to get a gin. :)

I do understand, It doesn't need to say everything here is perfect with just one glance, but, can say a step towards good governance. At least, he has something to showcase beyond dirty communal/secular/garibi hatavo politics in just 2 terms, which is not possible for others after being in power for more than half a century both in states and center. 

The moment touched me the most is when the Taxi-wala (who was companion for us for 2 days) dropped us at Ahmadabad Railway Station. and said, "Sir, your visit was very short, you hardly saw a part of Gujarat, next year come for a weeks trip, and call me, I will take you to wonderful places. Gujarat has beautiful places, Sir!", Nothing great in his feelings and sharing, everyone says this, but, the astonishing thing was he is not from Gujarat rather he is from Uttar Pradesh.

I felt it was worth visiting Gujarat. Now, I can say, openly that what I saw and heard from people there, I am expressing the same facts not telling blindly or with over exaggeration about any one in person.

Ab Kuch Din to Gujaro Gujarat Mein! :)

-- K. Kalyan