Gurgaon is always seen as the city in rush. Life here is fast and no one really bothers about getting rest – or for that matter – even getting to a rest room. The ‘embarrassingly embraced’ concept of public urination is a common sight in the city. Radhika Raheja bewails…
Some say its uncontrollable and others blame lack of public utilities, its against the law but socially accepted. It’s a common sight to see a man standing facing a wall or a tree pouring down his tension disgustingly. As the strain releases, the man zips up and walks to his destination with his mission accomplished. Left behind are a crying wall, sopping earth and air full of intolerable stink.
With an expeditious highway to boast of, Gurgaon is one of the most crowded corporate cities in India. Unfortunately, although the traffic speed is much amplified than that of Delhi’s, civic amenities along with civic sense remain substandard.
As against many people’s expectations, Gurgaon isn’t too sophisticated. Sure you have fancy cars, lavish malls, designer brands and strutting ladies everywhere, but somehow something is still leaking. Unfortunately, as common it is to spot men in expensive suits here, its no espying to find them taking out a leak in public. As gross and down market the action is, its also a point that raises a few questions. One major question that arises here is: Why do such well-heeled people indulge in something as sordid as public urination?
There are two answers to this question. One being the obvious that once again the Indian population has come to terms with its so-called freedom. Let alone the fear of law, there is not even shame of displaying private possessions. For the ones who do it, it a usual affair; but for the ones who don’t, the experienced players claim that its just a matter of time. Apparently, practice here too makes the man perfect.
Another good question that surfaces is that why are only men always in an uncontrollable state to urinate? Aren’t bladder control issues also extant for women? Thankfully, we don’t see women committing this act in public. May be it’s the female anatomy or may be its just that women still have some shame left. The very fact that we are taught toilet training in childhood is to ensure that we act in a civilised manner as we grow up. So is it only females who really learn this ‘art’? Or are men just ‘naturally’ allowed to ‘lose control’ whereas nature punishes women to control or just learn to suffer?
Some males claim that its much harder for males to hold it than females. If that were true then how come aren’t other countries as drenched in the urine problem as India? Come to think of it, you can’t have a public toilet everywhere. All over the world, the human body function remains the same, so why aren’t other countries facing this issue. In countries that have huge country sides also lack in the toilet infrastructure, yet, you don’t find men urinating in public defending themselves as being in helpless situations.
But to give men the benefit of the doubt, there are surprisingly less numbers of public toilets in Delhi NCR. Gurgaon also lacks public toilets, which is clearly a difficult situation for its residents and passers by. In serious situations like these, one ends up either rushing to a mall (mostly in case of females), or halting at a pavement nearby despite chances of gaining public attention at the wrong time. But yes, toilet infrastructure troubles are a genuine problem.
But years of watching wailing walls is self explanatory of another problem that has cropped up. People have accepted this behaviour and have stopped reacting to it altogether. The municipal authorities have gone numb, public has gotten used to seeing and smelling, and the offenders have found comfort in the act. It has become a socially accepted form of excretion and no one is bothered anymore.
There is a lot that needs to be done. Its sorry enough that various religious places have to literally write requests on their walls to not be dirtied. This problem in Delhi for that matter has reached a point where every solution seems impractical, but the so-called modern townships can still be cleaned up or at least, kept clean. As far as Gurgaon is concerned, there is a large crowd of educated and well earning populace, and it the city depends on them. Gurgaon needs to decide – ‘to pee’ or ‘not to pee’.
