It’s here again, yes the Ganesh immersion!

Last year during the same time, with an equal anguish I have written an article suggesting and pleading the society to be considerate and little more compassionate towards the environment. When the most famous, well respected individuals and institutions have failed to make people realise what they are up to, how can an insignificant writer who attempts to touch upon only the very serious un-interesting topics can bring about any change?

But here I would like to try once more, once again because I care for my nation and for my society and above all I love Hyderabad! Speaking about Hyderabad, the only misfortune for this city is that it doesn’t have seashore like Mumbai, Chennai and other big cities. The only river it had, the river Musi that once always was up to the brim with serene flowing water is now reduced to no more than a sewage line. It did not take a long time for this, just a few decades! Present young Hyderabadi’s have every right to question the previous generation on this, as no one has the right to spoil the natural resources we are just the custodians who live on these resources and are bound to pass them on to the offsprings. The same is also true in the case of already much neglected Tank Bund, the future generations will have every right to question us!

Not many of us know the origin of having Ganesh pandals during Ganesh Chaturti. It was Shri. Bal Gangadar Tilak, a good enough reason why Ganesh Chaturthi is huge in Maharashtra, he initiated this tradition and he had two reasons to start it. While those who know this story know only one reason i.e., it was a strategic move against the British, a move that helped in social gatherings which was not allowed by the British then. The other reason is Shri. Bal Gangadar Tilak was keen on spreading the brotherhood and bridging the gap between Brahmins and non-Brahmins! Which clearly we know is not happening every community now establish their own Ganesha and don’t really show an inclination towards joining other communities in organising Ganesh Chaturthi.

When it comes to selfishness in the form of customs and traditions nothing matters, even if it means destroying the very place where we live! Having understood this well, now I would like to propose another easy and simple solution to this problem. We have tried educating people to establish the eco-friendly clay Ganesha’s but how many have done so? Abysmally low! So, now the Government can have a system in place where it could collect all the Ganesha’s from Hyderabad and move them to the sea and immerse the Ganesha’s in Bay of Bengal.

The government can make various proposals like the organisers can still have the procession and celebrate with same fervour as they otherwise do the only difference is instead of they immersing the Ganesha in Tank Bund; they would handover the Ganesha to the government institution on Tank Bund itself, as this place is now synonymous with Ganesh festival for decades and as become a sentiment! From there it’s the institution responsibility to move the Ganesha safely to the sea. Various logistics can be considered here, the best would be the train as we Necklace Road railway station from where the Ganesha’s can be loaded onto the tracks. The government if it can also sponsor the travel of one or two organisers per Ganesha, so that the organisers have an assurance that their loveable Ganesha is safe and they would get to see their Ganesha being immersed with great respect and divine ceremony.

It might be an extra cost to the government but it saves the environment and more importantly the most historically important site of Hyderabad, the Tank Bund! At the same time the government would save some cost that it usually incurs on cleaning Tank Bund post the immersion day and the other arrangements that it usually makes on Tank Bund.

The solution might not be full proof but in this world no solution is a wholesome solution. If there is a better solution lets propose and resolve, we need to move quick, we need to decide, and we need to protect our city we just can’t let this happen to great Hyderabad.