Accessibility

Happiness makes up in height for what it lacks in length' ~ Robert Frost

Felt that happiness when things start falling into place?

I never understood how things were in place the first time or how is it that they were being in the right place! Who decided which place was better? It is more out of cynicism that all of us decide to ignore the many signs that stress ourselves, filled with tiny anonymous stress pangs. Everything we work for ends up being categorised as having done for self, or others. The best part of this feeling is that it makes us feel in control of situations and events that otherwise as some would say are pre-defined. Enough of my cryptic talk here. Let me get to the happier part.

I have had the most amazing, work-filled long week and I'm not complaining about it because I can't. It gives me immense happiness to be working for something I truly believe in. My design philosophy and inclinations have always been very clear and focused about inclusive design for all. And I am happy that right now I am working on a project that merges my design beliefs and architectural faith and my commitment to creating an environment for equal accessibility to all able and differently-able bodied people alike. The team I am working with is a wonderful mix of people with diverse architectural philosophies sharing a common goal of creating Universal Design solutions for every person with varied abilities. Accessibility is an important aspect in Urban Planning now taken seriously and with more interest by governments and planners in India. The daunting task of creating barrier free environments in a country with poor urban infrastructure requires a huge bureaucratic, political and social will & intervention. Every single time I come across poorly created corridor spaces and inaccessible toilets, my contempt for designers rises a notch higher than previous experiences. It is absolutely ridiculous that we as architects, planners, designers who claim to understand spatial layouts ignore these very basic design elements while creating magnanimous urban spaces. DO we really only abide by Darwin's Survival of the Fittest theory in principle? Why would people with special needs be ignored in such an inhuman way in our able world?

Here's hoping this new change that seems to have kick started with the Prime Minister's initiative titled, Accessible India Campaign reaches fruition and helps in a broader understanding and sensitivity towards differently-able people and their active inclusion in public spaces. This is a start and it will result in a much better smart elevation of cities that politicos are trying so hard to sell to common people.