VIZAG matters - Sohan Hatangadi's Blog

Every time we talk of tourism we want to cram something more on to our beach road. Our beaches are destination for Events. Food joints.  Shows. Sports. Flash dances. Protests. Rallies. Parties. Awareness drives and every other whimsical idea we come up with. Every alternate day there is some idiotic programme on the beach road as if there is no other place anywhere in Vizag. Every week folk like us are impacted terribly by the sound, increased curb side pollution and gridlock on our roads. Our beaches are suffering and the citizens are suffering. I appeal to all to stop this campaign to do more on our beaches. Leave our beaches alone at least from Coastal Battery to VUDA park.

Hello again Please read my article that appeared in the Times of India last Sunday titled "What's your civic quotient?". I am pasting the image below as it appeared in the press, but am also pasting the word document below which you may find easier to read. Please take a moment to comment on the blog or directly to me at sohan.hatangadi@gmail.com Dodging bricks Many decades ago, on my way to school, I encountered a wall being constructed across the dirt path I took every day. On the wall was a mason, puffing a chutta (local cigar), as he laid bricks. Being a latent activist, I was upset by the obstruction and asked why the wall was being built there. He looked down on me kindly. Something in my chubby, inquiring face must have touched him. He threw a brick at me! Thanks to my quick reflexes honed by dodging assorted missiles in class, the brick missed but I learnt an important lesson. If we ask inconvenient questions, we must be adept at dodging a brick or two....

This article appeared in The Times of India today. The original (and unedited) word document is also pasted below because its easier to read. Building a great Vizag Sohan Hatangadi Now that all the hullabaloo surrounding the separation and the elections are behind us let us get down to some really important business. First we must face the reality; Vizag will not be the capital of the residuary state of Andhra Pradesh. I hate that “residuary” word, sounds like something the doctor prescribes for poor bowel movement. Many Vizagites will be sorely disappointed. And some wanting to avoid capital punishment will be secretly relieved. No need to be capital to be a great city You do not have to be the administrative capital of the state or country to be recognized as a great city. Delhi may be capital but Mumbai has got more moolah muscle. Washington DC may be the capital of the USA but San Francisco and New York win the popularity contest hands down. Canberra is the ca...