Graphic Reflections

A pun on the north-pointing sign found on maps, this graphic tries to depict the attraction of or inclination towards the West. Most developing countries (India included) wish to develop themselves like western countries, most educated individuals wish to have the same kind of lifestyle as their western counterparts. If there is one direction in which the world is headed, it is probably west.

This typographical graphic tries to portray the irony of water. The clear liquid that is essential to all known forms of life, that constitutes 60% weight of the human body and covers approximately 71% area of our planet is getting scarce by the day. Scarcity of fresh water has got less to do with increase in demand and more to do with careless use, poor water management, little or no effort to harvest rain water, destruction of wetlands, pollution of rivers and destruction of forest lands. Its incredible how even with rising water shortages all over India we continue to take its availability for granted…

A simple graphic to illustrate what can potentially be done with one (A4) sheet of paper. For most uses mentioned here, the available real estate is double (the other side as well).

One significant difference between developed and developing countries lies in the way they manage their garbage (I am specifically referring to municipal solid waste here). Several developed countries have strict rules and proceedures in place regarding garbage disposal and violators are fined heavily. Proper management of grabage is a strong indicator of a responsible and developed society. To become a developed country in that sense, India has a long way to go. Today, in India, there is an urgent need of strict garbage disposal rules, proceedures and related education. (Bottom right photograph: garbage collection in Sweden. Photographer: Niklas Johnsson, curtesy Stock Xchng. Top left photograph: garbage collection bin outside a South Delhi neighbourhood.)

This graphic tries to portray the ‘weight’ that India’s billion strong (and growing) population exerts on the development process of the country. To develop the country or to ‘uplift’ such a huge population, India’s development process will have to be that much stronger, weightier and tougher.

Up till a few years ago in North India (from my experience of living in the cities of New Delhi and Jaipur), winters used to start from late October or early November and continue well into March. Winters here now start late in November and end as early as last week of February. The reason: Global Warming? Increasing vehicular and industrial emissions? Loss of trees? Have you felt the same in your area, have winters shrunk?

A direct graphic to depict ‘Sustainable Development’. A country’s development (dictionary meaning: to grow, become more mature, advanced, or elaborate) process is only justified if it respects, protects and nurtures the natural environment on which depends the existence of all life forms including Man.

Is India’s population eating up the country is the question this graphic (based on the famous computer game Pac-Man) tries to ask. While many say India’s workforce will be younger than China’s in the next few decades (right now China is world’s fastest growing major economy) and give China a run for its money, a few relevant questions that arise in ones mind are: will the (already crumbling) infrastructure in Indian cities be able to cope up with the demands of a rising polulation? Will India’s already-under-pressure natural resources be able to sustain the requirements of a mega population? And most importantly, which socio-economic classes do most current newborns in India belong to, what kind of education and healthcare are they likely to receive and how likely are they to get a piece of the economic growth pie?

This graphic is based on a common upper and middle class notion in India that stereotypes poor people as thieves. Money or item of even small value missing or misplaced is considered to have been stolen by a known/unknown poor. It is not difficult to ‘see’ that an overwhelming majority of poor people are not thieves and that a lot of them work very hard and do menial tasks often in inhuman conditions, to earn their bread. Those willing to leave aside their egos can seek inspiration from the lives of the poor and see in them presence of a great many values. By peering into the lives of the poor one can sometimes find justification for their acts or behaviour.

Religious clashes deface and destabilise the country is what this graphic (based on the Gujarat riots of 2002) tries to portray. No religion teaches hatred, senseless destruction or killing; riots are often fuelled by sly political agendas and usually result in loss of life, peace and property among other things. Riots are almost always a setback to the development process.