Smokeless bhogi

It was a pleasure to get up in the morning on Bhogi festival day and actually get to see the sun shining bringhtly on a clear sky. Did not get to smell the nasty odour of rubber tyres burning. Wanted to check it out during my morning walk in our neighbourhood. Saw households have a very tiny pile of a few sticks and dried leaves in front of their houses and a small fire was smouldering. Environment can easily handle these symbolisms of "shedding the old and ringing in the new".
Over the last few weeks there has been a sustained campaign from the government machinery as well the non government organisation (exnora) in various media appealing to the public to avoid burning tyres and other miscellaneous items on the day of Bhogi. Of course there was a 'stick' policy also from the police, where they said they would come down heavily on people indulging in this activity. Commissioner of police also used technolgy in reaching to every mobile subscriber. An sms was sent first thing in the morning alerting the user about the need for a 'smokeless bhogi' and also asking them to contact a given number if they spot others violating this order. Nicely roped in millions of subscribers into the net. Now with the mobile subscriber base enveloping all strata of society, this medium of contacting the public is most welcome.
Some years back, it used to be so bad on Bhogi day, that flights could not take off for a couple of hours in the morning.Chennai used to appear as if transformed to Finland!Visibility on the roads used to be only a few feet and it was risky venturing out in the mornings.
A similar initiative by exnora also brought in perceptible changes in the public domain. During festivals, pumpkin used to be broken right in the middle of the road, to ward off 'evil eyes'. Whether it did that or not, two wheeler riders used to be heavily affected and many an accident used to take place due to skidding.Now it is almost a thing of the past.
Remember Mr Nirmal, founder of Exnora, as Branch manager of IOB in Teynampet when i was working in Teynampet branch of LIC , 1987/88. Innovation and creativity were not buzz words those days. But he was different, and made his branch a drive-in branch for payment of vehicle taxes. Huge placards used to be put up and vehicle owners who were harassed in the last week of feb/march would make a bee line to his branch. How did he manage the parking space, you may ask. His branch was in the DMS compound in Teynampet, which is a huge sprawling campus. So utilised the unique advantage towards customer service.
I was impressed with him then and have been keenly following his sustained effort at garbage separation, water management, ecofriendly initiatives and many more. Had occasion to attend a one day programme of his couple of years back on 7th sense. Could sense his deep commitment and endless drive and enthusiasm.
A single man and his vision can make a difference to a city!