Envisaging a just social order for all
Updated On: 13 October, 2023 07:07 AM IST | Mumbai | Rosalyn D`mello
Could the world be re-organised in a manner where priority is given to how it can be accessed by those most vulnerable, those most in need of support and assistance?
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What if world politics, architecture, culture and society evolved through the prism of child welfare? Representation Pic
Travelling solo with my 18-month-old to Dubai and back felt like some rite of initiation. Under regular circumstances, for most people, taking a flight involves taking a cab to the airport, checking in, going through security, immigration, finally boarding, alighting and the rest in reverse order. Given the remoteness of where I live, getting to the airport involves taking at least three trains and a total travel time of at least five hours. Imagine putting a child through this ordeal and then expecting them to be patient for the next six hours on the flight. I combatted this by heading to Bergamo the day before our flight and staying the night in a hotel. It was an additional expense, but if it offered both of us a good night’s sleep, it was worth it. I am getting increasingly good at keeping my inherited middle-class guilt at bay when it comes to making decisions that feel crucial to my well-being.
Ever since I returned from the trip, I have been feeling a sense of ease, an equanimity. I narrowed the reasons for it down to being in possession of a sense of closure. Until recently, I had always found myself wondering about my choice to be so far from my family. Would it not have been better for me to be back home in India for the first year of our child’s life? I used to fantasise about having more access to help, relying on a support system cultivated over the years, and not feeling anxiety about asking someone to lend a hand. Being in Dubai, a place one could jokingly refer to as one of the cleanest states in India, helped me come to terms with our choices.
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