Purana dilly – delhi old city

Old Delhi tells the story of migration, survival, and forgotten lives. Many people living there have come from nearby states like Bihar, Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand in search of work and livelihood. They left behind villages, lands, and agriculture hoping for a better future in the capital city.

But the reality they live in is painful.

In many crowded slum areas, hygiene is poor, drainage systems are broken, trash piles rise like small mountains, and roads remain damaged with deep pits. Meat shops, waste, polluted drains, and lack of sanitation exist side by side with daily life. People eat, work, and survive in these same unhealthy surroundings because poverty leaves them with little choice.

Delhi gives them employment and revenue, but not dignity in the way they live. When you look closely, you do not see people living with comfort or peace — you see human beings struggling every day just to survive. Their lives often appear neglected by society and forgotten by development.

Then comes another side of Delhi — NCR regions like Noida, Gurugram, and Ghaziabad. These cities stand modern, polished, and developed, resembling the infrastructure and lifestyle of wealthy nations like the USA. The contrast between Old Delhi and these developed regions feels like two completely different worlds existing within the same country.

After seeing Old Delhi, I felt a deep urge to clean those streets myself. I imagined taking a broom and sweeping the roads, drains, and surroundings, not just to remove dirt but to awaken people toward cleanliness and dignity. The dream of Swachh Bharat is not only about government campaigns; it begins when ordinary citizens themselves decide to change their environment.

Mahatma Gandhi once said, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.”

If I ever get the opportunity, I would take ten brooms and begin cleaning those streets myself, hoping that people would feel inspired, awakened, and encouraged to live in healthier and better conditions.

Because real patriotism is not only about words or slogans — it is also about caring for the people and the nation around us.

Jai Hind.

• — Jessy Jacob ❤️