NOT SO EQUAL

I posted about the Statue of Equality and the trip I had with friends. I then slept over it and got up all roiled to think that though built recently, it was still disabled friendly. There would be Agama Shastra to stop you from doing good for the aam junta because it is a temple and to be studied and later constructed only by those few learned ones knowing about this shastra and of course all about what God wants and needs. Give me one good, friendly priest, who will explain why the Agama has to be followed to the `t' even now. 

We are still following many rules set during the British times, including in areas like education and prison reforms to mention a few.... But considering people are building houses close to temples; airports are being built in every small village; keeping all this in mind a few changes can be made, especially for the differently abled.

The Statue of Equality is not a temple. It is built as a tourist attraction, already giving it the status of being the second largest statue after the Buddha Statue in Thailand. So, while they are building records and have already started monetising on the same, surely they can think of those persons who would want to visit all these places with the family, with ease.  They should make a beginning, so others can emulate. 

As I mentioned earlier, the guards have been told to keep the steps free of people unless they are climbing up or down, but there will be a few who are tired. But the shrill call of the whistles is discomfiting and yet people do not move. A lot of SOPs have to be built and the people watching over them have to be trained to have patience and good manners. 

Like though the place was not crowded, there were a few guys asking us to hurry on. There was no touching, but with some crowd, it will be the same as in Tirumala, with unnecessary touching, shoving and yelling into your ears. But at the end of it you get darshan on Perumal, the Lord of the Seven Hills. Whereas this place is a tourist spot and must be treated like one, especially near the statue.

There are the 108 divya deshams, a darshan of 108 temples in other words. Luckily no worship is done here and thank god for that. In fact forgot to mention yesterday that towards the end of the 108 desham trip, there are a few which are festooned with thermocol pieces trying to look like snow. These are the temples far up north of the country, including one in Nepal. One of them is called Shaligramam and we were discussing this, when a gentleman, removed his mask (he and his friend were the only two persons wearing it properly. Mine too was covering my chin. But the rest did not even bother about a pretense) and told us that these few places were in the Himalayas and Shaligramam is one of the 108 divya darshanam. But the thermocol snow was cute. 

Even here, at the 108 divya desham, a lot more has to be explained for those interested, or at least put a placard on the side with the name of the temple, where it is situated and so on. A quick update, even as you are walking along.

This entire project will face the vagaries of nature, both during summer and monsoons and will then probably wear a much visited look. I will probably be visiting this place more often, being guide and such. But soon influence can be used and the car can be parked closer to the main entrance. There were already a few `VIPs' doing that. But then that is truly only for the privileged few.......

The aam junta will continue to trudge along in all kinds of lines, shoved along and the crowds will continue to be unruly because they feel entitled. Everywhere. All the time. It therefore is the responsibility of the organiser, the owner, the conceptualiser who will set the rules and they should be followed to the `t'. If everything is clear, then why should there be shoving or a queue system. If there are ramps and freely available wheel chairs why can't more Umas travel to such places with the family, instead of saying "I am not interested and wish I had got my knitting." 

The CMs posters hang around everywhere outside on the main road, as you enter and exit the place. It would almost seem that the TRS government has built this place, considering the pink flutter all around. And by the way, you do know that our CM KCRgaru did not attend the inaugural programme with the PM, because he was taken ill all of a sudden. Well, his flexi presence says that his blessings are always there......