"Our PM Narendra Modi extends his sincere support towards your efforts to clean up the water channel," Ms Bedi concluded. On camera, she spoke like a true politician.
"Usually, people come asking me to solve their many problems! But here you are, not only with a solution to your problem, but, being the solution," she added later, and offered a phone number reachable any time of the day and night. " Call me if you need anything," she added, off-camera, acting like the legendary Kiran Bedi we had heard of when we were kids. Fearless and sincere.
My brother was accompanying three 'ploggers' from Delhi to the governor's mansion, and had taken this opportunity to talk about our neighborhood's initiative to clean up the water catchment in the vicinity.
Yes, you read it right: ploggers. I am certain the word has already entered the hallowed corpora of the Oxford dictionary, and many a lexicographers and editors have been itching to announce this Swedish-origin expression as the word of the year. Against a scenario, where economy is down, and unemployment up, the vigor and optimism of the youth has given way to a growing sense of disillusionment. With nowhere to turn to, but to their own conscience, a small group of these young people have taken to voluntary plogging. Plogging, a combination of the Swedish word, 'plocka', which means 'to pick' and 'jogging', the word literally translates into 'to pick while jogging' (the implied noun, in this case, is 'litter'). As simple as that, but, "It is not as easy as it sounds," cautions Ripudaman, the undeclared, but unanimously accepted leader of the group. He shows us the techniques of picking up garbage on the move. "You have to be careful not to hurt your back," explains Sanjay, another young plogger from Kumaon, who happens to be a freelance journalist as well. Sidharth from Madhya Pradesh, is the quiet one. "He's a great runner", his companions tell us, adding "and also a photojournalist by profession". The team's aim is to plog through 50 major cities in India, and inspire locals along with them. While in Coimbatore, they were supported by a whole team of marathoners, in Pondicherry, the presence of just one runner to accompany them at short notice, was enough to raise their spirits.
As they move from one destination to another, they are deeply conscious not to produce any unnecessary waste, and thus refrain from using paper napkins/toilet paper, etc.: conveniences, which could make their long distance travels a dash easier. Indulging in any kind of pre-packed food is also frowned upon: no chocolates or biscuits, we are told.
The dining table explodes with stories, passionate discussions, and laughter, as we share a meal with this new species of humans, called ploggers. All in their early or late twenties, they seem easy-going by temperament, but it is their youthful idealism and unflinching determination which gives them that extra edge, and courage to do what they are doing.
Promise me you’ll always remember: You’re braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. (Christopher Robin to Pooh )
Nicely stated, as always!
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