Life in a Big City

India has many big cities. Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore, etc. are some of them. But 80 per cent of our population lives in the villages.

A person from the rural area may find himself lost in a big city. Life in a city looks attractive and glamorous. People are progressive. They are constantly keeping abreast with the developments in the world and even the government takes care to see that the big cities begin to look like any other big city in the world.

This is a desirable attitude to the extent that it keeps India modern and any foreigner coming to this land begins to realize that we are after all not a country of only snake charmers and elephants, as was the impressions in the West until a few years ago.

Cities provide job opportunities to people and we find thousand of villagers moving to the cities to get employment.

However, one finds that on comparison village life is a more peaceful one. In cities most people live like strangers. A city dweller works from morning till night. He seldom finds time to socialize because he has long office hours. There is the problem of commuting.

Distances are long and to keep any appointment in a big city is difficult. People get stuck in traffic jams and have to also stand in line for hours waiting for a bus to arrive. Buses are packed with people and there is a lot of harassment. People become aggressive. Each man feels the need to satisfy his own need for comfort at the cost on his neighbour.

Facilities are limited everywhere and there are too many people to avail of these facilities. This causes trouble at railway stations, in trains, at cinema theaters, in buses and at petrol stations. Man has become materialistic and selfish in a big city.

Nature is neglected and even if one wants to enjoy the peace that comes with nature he cannot. Tall buildings obstruct the view of the stars in the sky. Pollution makes the air thick and city dwellers suffer from respiratory trouble.

A man of the city is a product of his artificial surroundings. He becomes insensitive to the needs of his fellow men. One cannot blame him because everyman has to nurture his own family and the pressure of the city life makes it impossible for anyone to even have the time to stop and look at his neighbour. Children get neglected because both their parents work and often have long office hours. Schools are more demanding and children are burdened with heavy bags.

Despite all these, the city still holds our interest as it promises a life of action and progress. There are unlimited opportunities. Any one, who wants to, can grab these opportunities and improve their lifestyle.