This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Varun Badhwar, director for growth and monetization at Condé Nast India. It’s been edited for length and clarity.
I’ve lived in Delhi my entire life — for four decades now — and I’ve seen it grow over the years into the melting pot that it is today.
Everyone is talking about the pollution in the city this week, but I’ve experienced it since I was a child.
I remember back in school we used to take these government buses with diesel engines. They would emit such huge clouds of black smoke that we would feel suffocated.
I bought my first air purifier in 2016, when people started talking more and more about the Air Quality Index (AQI). This week, when the AQI hit 1,500, I bought my third one.
At least three or four people in my circle have moved out of Delhi due to the pollution. The smog means people who develop breathing issues are advised not to stay here anymore.
I have considered leaving Delhi many times, but I still haven’t.
Why Delhi’s pollution problem is so bad
Our population in Delhi has skyrocketed in the last couple of decades with an influx of people coming in for jobs.
Our infrastructure didn’t grow at the same pace, and maybe our government didn’t anticipate it.
From a geolocation point of view, Delhi is also at a disadvantage because of the surrounding mountains. It’s harder for the winds to sweep away the clouds of emissions, so they linger.
Our state is also close to agriculture-heavy states like Punjab and Haryana, where burning of crop residue is common and adds to the situation.
It’s especially worse in the winters every year; there was a picture recently of a woman standing in front of the Taj Mahal and you can’t even see it properly.
I do my part to stay safe. I try to stay indoors, keep physical activity to a bare minimum during the winter, and work out extra during the summer months until about August.
I drink a lot of hot water and ginger tea, stock up on air purifiers, and do my breathing exercises.
I usually escape to the hills, but it’s no longer as sustainable
The situation has become so common that people who can afford to move out of the city to less polluted places during the winter. I tend to go to the hills every time the pollution spikes in Delhi, and usually, it gets better in a few days.
This time, it was more concerning. I went to the Kanatal hill station for three nights, and when I came back, my air purifier said the AQI was still 900.
But I don’t want to leave Delhi. I was born and raised here, my extended family is here. About five years ago, I thought of moving to Canada, but I didn’t pursue it because the opportunities were better for me here.
I think I’m better off in Delhi than somewhere I’d have to start all over again. It’s hard to find a community like this outside.
Apart from the pollution problem, Delhi has a lot of positives. It’s a melting pot, and especially after the tech boom in Gurugram, people come from all over the world.
The malls have the biggest brands in luxury and high fashion, the heritage and history are incredible, and the job opportunities are great. It’s a great place to be.
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