Survival At Stake - An Anthology of Essays by Rashmi Mayur

Edited by Roshni Udyavar Yehuda and Priyavadan Shah

Action Group India, June 2012

Introduction

"Life is a moment to be immortal" - the concluding line of his poem conveys the essence of the vibrant persona that was Rashmi Mayur - environmentalist, scientist, poet and much more. After traversing his earthly mission like a brilliant flash of light, he left on 11 February 2004 to continue his journey into the unknown universe. His spirit lives on in the souls of thousands whom he inspired to tread his path. Popularly known in India as the “doomsday professor”, Rashmi Mayur prophesied that if human beings continue on their present reckless path of mindless development, the earth’s ecological systems would collapse and the human race will become extinct.“The consequences of the war that has been waged against this planet for the last 200 years by human beings, may be that we may have no human inhabitants in the future.” However, unlike many crusaders who relinquished hope and left the battlefield, and others who refuse to recognize the symptoms of a diseased planet, Rashmi loved it enough to see it with the eyes of truth.

Dr. Rashmi Mayur with Roshni Udyavar, UNICEF South Asia
Director and Ricaardoe Di Done, President, Organization for the
Protection of Children's Rights (OPCR) at the International
Summit on Children, Poverty and Violence, October 2001

He was too optimistic to be biblical. “Nonetheless, we cannot be immobilized by the ugly reality. As long as we are alive, as long as we have vision and as long as we think of the future of the earth and our children, we must hope that sanity and wisdom will prevail.”

Armed with a doctorate and full of hope and enthusiasm, Rashmi returned to his country from the United States more than 30 years ago, determined to make a difference in the lives of millions of suffering and voiceless people. He was convinced that educating people about the outcome of their path and providing ecological alternatives would bring about a sustainable future. Ever since he has been on a relentless struggle: writing papers, educating through seminars, conferences and producing live projects such as ecovillages. Dr. Robert Muller, former Assistant Secretary General, described Rashmi as a “one-person world organization”.

Dr. Rashmi Mayur with then Chief Minister of Gujarat, Shri
Narendra Modi and Roshni Udyavar in 2002

Having aligned and worked with intellectual giants like Arthur C. Clarke, Jean Paul Sartre, Paul Ehlrich, J. Krishnamurti and Donella Meadows, Rashmi had a holistic vision for the planet,one that embraced peace, humanity, justice and equality not only for humans, but for millions of species who share this unique abode of life. “We must live on the planet during our brief span with such care and concern and love that the Earth has become richer again. And one day, when we are ready to go – because the evolution must continue – whatever footprint we leave on the planet will determine the whole evolution. Let us depart such that our children and the flowers will have another beautiful morning to enjoy the ecstasy of this earth and evolution will continue beyond tomorrow into eternity.”

Roshni Udyavar at the World Peace Assembly Taiwan, 2001

Rashmi was a world citizen. The earth was his home. He was revolutionary in that he denounced redundant institutions and practices, even patriotism. Rashmi was a doer. At the same time, he had the ability to inspire and work with a wide variety of people. He was an inimitable orator. Equipped with the latest, most relevant statistics, an immutable logic and humour matched only by his passion, he almost always set the audience on fire, awakening people to the reality and bringing forth followers. His Program “Voices of the South” on WBAI radio broadcast from New York had a fan following of thousands of people. His voice had a simplicity and logic that appealed to friends and foes alike.

Rashmi did not limit himself to any particular group. He built alliances with activists, NGOs, professionals, academicians, businessmen, religious groups and all types of people with a singular purpose of realigning them to the goal of sustainability. He recognised the need to integrate all sections of society, to garner their support and goodwill and wisdom for the protection of the planet. He was versatile, one moment shaking hands with the President of a country, the next moment laughing and talkingto children from a slum in Mumbai.

Rashmi had a strength, purity of purpose, simplicity, objectivity and incorruptible judgment seldom found combined in one individual. He was always in search – of true love and eternal happiness. He had a rare combination of knowledge, logic and passion. He often expressed his deep grief through his poems, which remain unpublished. He was convinced that suffering was

bad. He believed in human creativity and its boundless possibilities for civilisation and evolution.

Rashmi was a giver. He gave off his material assets as easily as he shared his deep and pure love. His belongings were few – a collection of 13,000 rare books, a suitcase packed with his bare minimum requirements and mostly gifts for friends, a bulky passport which he lost innumerable times along with his wallet and some cash which often slipped through the holes in his suit pockets. Despite his hectic schedule, he never grovelled over petty problems or cared to discuss his personal or financial problems. Nor at any time of his career did he vouch for high positions, which he could have easily attained. His mind was restless, always pondering about the welfare of humanity and the question of sustainability. Rashmi was a tireless workaholic. It was natural for him to get off the plane after a trip around the world and land up in office the next morning ready to send press notes and interviews.

Mark Dubois, a close friend and international coordinator for the Earth Day International once remarked of Rashmi: “ I think genetic engineering is dead wrong given our collective human maturation, ethics and economics, yet the world would be better if he (Rashmi) could be cloned and his touching, motivating, awaking presence inspire more people of the world to act.” If but a small part of his character, devotion and intellectual genius remains alive or is transferred to the youth, our country and this planet will see a brighter tomorrow, or as Rashmi often phrased the conclusion of his articles: “The future of our children’s dreams”

- Roshni Udyavar Yehuda (March 2004)

COASTAL ROAD - Why we don't need it

Roshni Udyavar Yehuda

The proposed Coastal Road is being purported as a solution to relieve the city’s congested roads and thereby reduce air pollution. It is also suggested as a measure to increase open space by sea-front promenades next to the proposed transport corridor.

This is a car-centric solution. If the number of cars have increased by 137% and two wheelers by 306% in the last 14 years in the city, the coastal road will ensure greater growth as the additional road space will induce demand. However, as the number of cars increase, infrastructure such as parking will prove inadequate in the city center. Already monumental structures (10 to 13 storeys of parking in residential buildings!) are being raised for the purpose of housing cars in a city where real estate rates are reaching the sky. The increasing numbers of cars and their parking lots as well as parking along roads and on footpaths, have already de-humanized the city. Even pedestrians walking on footpaths are not safe anymore.

Further, it will defeat the very purpose of decongestion and reducing pollution, as more cars will increase and not decrease pollution in the city. This is also highly unsustainable as the country imports nearly 70% of oil (3.8 million barrels of oil per day in 2013)– mostly for transportation. This exposes the country to the fluctuating global market and dollar. 

International urban best practices show that most countries – Germany, Denmark, UK, Netherlands - are moving towards creating car-free city centers - in a move to humanize them.

The plan for the Coastal Road mentions the increase of open spaces. It is not clear how access to these open spaces will be provided. Many of the present sea-facing properties are likely to have no access to the sea view. Most cities in Europe are now pedestrianizing their water-fronts - putting people before cars. 

 

Copenhagen - car free and pedestrian city centre

With just about 18 exits/ entries planned along an approximate 30 km stretch, it is certainly not suitable for bus transport which needs to halt at regular intervals and will also not be convenient for bus users as feeder transport such as taxi or auto rickshaws will be required to carry people to their final destination.

If the reclamation option is chosen, being the cheapest of the three options, at least 100 m seaward land will be created. This will surely change the coastal ecology, increasing the sea pressure in some areas, decimating mangroves and affecting beach widths. Already the reclamation for the Bandra Worli Sea Link (BWSL) has stripped the once verdant beach to a bare minimum strip full of garbage and many coastal structures are facing erosion. In a densely populated city where beaches serve as recreation spaces, we are endangering the ones that are left and creating artificial open spaces at exorbitant costs. This makes neither ecological nor economical sense.

Beach at Shivaji Park is reduced to a strip of garbage

The preparatory studies for the Greater Mumbai DP indicate that 51% of modal share is pedestrian transport, while 25% is train, 12% is bus, 5% is rickshaw/ taxi and 2% is cars. It seems that the entire infrastructure of the proposed Coastal Road on stilts and through tunnels, is targeted towards the 2% modal share of cars while not addressing the maximum modal share of pedestrian transport or even the train or bus. In most parts of the city, footpaths are either non-existent or inaccessible for even people who are not physically challenged. Surely the cost of improving this vital infrastructure for the majority will not be exorbitant.

There is no justification for spending Rs. 8000 crore (perhaps even more) on a transit system that will cater to a minimal population of Mumbai. It is subsidizing the wealthy few at the cost of the majority. Besides, who pays for this, as there is no mention of any tolls? The Bandra Worli Sea Link that was projected to be used by an average 65,000 vehicles per day, is being used by an average 45,000 vehicles per day and the toll which is by far the highest in the state at Rs. 10 per km, does not suffice for its maintenance. The Coastal Road will prove to be a high maintenance project. What are the costs to the exchequer?   

Besides, have natural disasters such as earthquake and Tsunami been taken into consideration in the planning, being a coastal city with a moderate to high-risk vulnerability for earthquake?

Solving Mumbai’s transportation issues is no mean task. We need a multi-pronged approach that considers all sections of the population and all modes of transportation. Addressing the problems of the weaker section and dealing with low-cost solutions, should be the first target.