Renovation

Ramnath is staying in multi storey builder housing complex. He had shifted there few years back to save on commuting time as his office was near to that housing complex.

complex had offered ready to move in flats where all internal works, providing of cupboards, fitting of air conditioners, geysers, exhaust fan, chimney, modular kitchen were done by builder.

complex as per rules permitted modifications after taking of possession within three months. Renovations required permission from RWA and maximum time limit as per rules were limited to 3 months.

In the tower where Ramnath was staying Mr A purchased pent house. Took formal permission from RWA for renovation.

As a part of Renovation he broke everything except columns. Columns were strengthened, walls between columns were reconstructed, flooring was redone with Italian granite,ceiling and walls heavy pop designs were incorporated. Painters were called from outside for wall painting designs.

one portion was converted to temple, God’s statues in Marble were brought from Jaipur, Rajasthan.

Roof was encroached upon to build centralised water filter system and installation of solar panels.

A room for his pet dog was also constructed.

Furniture, lights, bathroom fittings were imported from China.

Rennovation took almost two years, causing lot of inconvenience to families staying in the tower, damage to lifts and stair transit ceiling corners ; however Mr A remained unconcerned about inconveniences, damages and managed to avoid any disciplinary action from RWA for gross violations of bylaws.

He shifted and started conducting every three / four months parties at terrace.

Incidentally there was a common maid and car cleaner catering to Ramnath and Mr A’s family.

Mr A and A’s family was asking house helps working with them to be very punctual and in case they were late beyond 15 minutes more than three times they were fired and replaced.

Mr A and A’s family used to give old items as gifts to servents and asking them to remember the same.

One day Ramnath received a mail from one of the residents:

Dear Residents,

By now some of our residents must have come to know incidence of a pet dog of resident of Tower —-attacking my wife at around 9. 15 PM on monday when she had gone out for walk. The furious dog was being brought by resident unchained from Gate no, 3 and owner boys were playing with him without chain. When my wife was passing through tower —all of a sudden dog attacked her due to which she fell down and her wrist has been fractured. When I went to make complaint at the same time the boys misbehaved with me and their mother who was little caring  at that time told me that whateever expenses are incurred will be reimbursed by them and they will immidiaitely come to hospital. They never visited the hospital what to talk about expense reimbursement.

Doctor has suggested complete surgery of wrist and has raised bill of Rs 186000/ (Rs one lac eighty six thousand) Besides the mental agony which my family is going through, I have made complaint to RWA and would request PRESIDENT to take stern action against concerned resident,

A lesson has to be taught to them, Further all residents in society come together and raise the voice.

Dog belonged to Mr A and again Mr A was able to escape any actions.

such type of behaviour/ actions are part of our day to day life.

people with money power and influence are able to do any kind of anti social acts and get away with the same.

Indian democracy is said to rest on the venerable four pillars of the legislature, the executive, the judiciary, and the press.

All the four pillars have cracked to a great degree and Indian democracy is not healthy.

In brief, we have:

A legislature epitomized by a non-functioning Parliament

An executive whose power is centralized in few individuals

A judiciary that is outdated, backlogged, and corrupt

A press that is influenced and selective.

Is there hope? Yes, there is.

There is a fifth pillar of our democracy which unfortunately has not been christened as such, never given its due in the theoretical framework of pillars underpinning democracies.

That pillar is the Indian citizen, most us - we-

The “common man” is always silent, except when it is election time. His “voice” is heard only once in every five years.

In the last general election, he has spoken the loudest in two decades.

As an optimist, I have faith he will continue to speak to break and renovate walls between pillars With all the other so-called “pillars” of our democracy crumbling, the true, solid pillar of the Indian citizen as one of is is our only hope for generations to come.