Two decades after modern gated communities made their appearance in urban India,we are seeing deleterious effects all around us,especially on kids

For a country whose 'elite' has never started decolonisation, this is proving fatal as we have moved rapidly from pic 1 to pic 2
1/n

There is a marked difference between children who have grown up in a gated community and the ones who have been interacting with real Indians around them

The deracination that was always present has accelerated at an unimaginable pace as children stay walled away from India.
2/n

It is fostering groupthink among parents and children. The elderly are hardly visible inside. Living conditions are idealized to map to subdivision-living in the West ; inspiration and culture borrowed from a global order whose ideas are increasingly hostile to our survival.
3/n

It’s creating islands of entitled little sahibs/memsabs,obsessed with 1st world problems and increasingly unable to relate to regular Indians except as maids and drivers.

They laugh at 'halli' accents,traditional attire,local languages, roll their eyes at parents/grandparents
4/

Can't blame builders for moving where the demand is. But we can create new models of living and community spaces for raising kids

We need private architects,planners,builders who can design alternatives. There is a business opportunity right here for the enterprising dharmika
5/

People who desire to bring up children connected to our punyabhumi can choose communities designed in agraharam style, with a temple and water body in the centre.

Access doesn't have to be restricted. Whoever can contribute to building dharmik communities should be welcome.
6/n

It would be nice to have tax breaks for such traditional living spaces, in the interest of protecting a dying civilization and way of life.

Anyone with money to invest and ready to take up this challenge? It will be key to raising the 1st gen of ‘elite’ decolonized Indians.
7/7