INTRODUCTION Mehrauli, the largest urban village in Delhi, can boast of its age as a flourishing settlement of more than 1200 years. The built fabric bears testimony of its journey from a citadel, a summer retreat for rulers to an urban village. Surrounded by ‘serais’, it has always been an important commercial and administrative center. Kalka Das Marg is the main commercial spine running North-South through Mehrauli, connecting Shamsi Talab and ‘Tehsil’ (District Magistrate Office). It is an important religious center with the 13th C Bakhtiar kaki dargah and Dadabadi Jain temple, where Pilgrims visit in thousands to complete their religious voyages. With time, the gardens have transformed into public parks, the forest is now protected, 12 monuments (if not all) are under the purview of ASI, and Qutub Minar is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Presently, it is fraught with challenges and struggles to breathe amid the great chaos of urbanization. BUILT & SOCIAL FABRIC One of the seven cities of Delhi is Mehrauli : The spatial arrangement of houses birth intimate interaction spaces called ‘chabutras’ and ‘chowk’, ‘kuan’ (wells) were congregational spaces as well as landmarks, and ‘eyes were on the street’. Until a decade ago, mutual dependence, healthy social relationships provided a sense of belonging and safety. The society although ethnically diverse, coexisted peacefully. There were activities such as fairs, shows, movie evenings and gossip sessions that tied people together. Similar socioeconomic backgrounds of most households meant that patterns of consumption, needs, and expectation from the environment were similar. The present population of Mehrauli at1.2 lakh, has seen a tenfold increase since 2000. The village was urbanized in 1990 and witnessed a peculiar pattern of expansion. The Built fabric has dramatically changed to provide for the influx of people. The in-migrant population is 65%. comprising mainly of the economically weaker sections of society from neighbouring states (UP & Bihar). Drawn to the city primarily for employment opportunities, become permanent residents in due course of time - an urban village in such a case is the first point of contact they establish with the city. For all practical reasons, it is an obvious choice the overall living costs are lower, bylaws do not strictly apply and employment opportunities are aplenty. The native population (inhabitants from pre-independence and partition era) is moving out of the ‘lal-dora’ either on the fringes or changing localities for improvement in the quality of life (immediate response to the improved financial condition). Plot houses are turning into apartment buildings in ‘galis’ that are sometimes only good for two people walking abreast. It leads to scantily lit and poorly ventilated spaces in maximum structures. Inter-community bonding is prevalent as familial ties are established amongst people who speak the same language. However, the native population is intolerant toward the increasing population and the resultant sprawl. A strong feeling of resentment is an outcome of a lack of cohesion and a feeling of alienation in their land. Subsequently, Polarization has led to a disintegrated society that only sustains but does not flourish. The quality of Public Infrastructure is not adequate to provide an environment for interactions. ROLE OF PUBLIC SPACES One may assume, that change and its nature are the cause of problems but in reality, it is the lack of vision in a society that makes transitions problematic. Ideally, the infrastructure should induce, enable and promote interactions. It should lay the foundation of a culture that is independent of religion, caste, economic background or time.
Public Spaces in Mehrauli have witnessed a dramatic change in character. Playgrounds have been converted into parking lots, ‘chabutras’ are no longer fit for conversations (because of stench from the overflowing ‘nalis’, lack of sunlight and breeze). UnAs a result, children no longer have safe play-spaces, teenagers are limited to the internet and adults do not have any means of restitution. Such a society will not inspire people to become competent and virtuous. They mediocre resources will limit their ability to build a successful life. The quality of public spaces affects the quality of life of inhabitants directly since interactions are primary for the sustenance of human life for it is the result of all our actions. They become smoother and efficient if the environment facilitates its proceedings. Therefore, The Physical Infrastructure must comprise means of learning, interaction, and entertainment. The most critical form of Social Infrastructure is a Library as it assumes the best out of people. “The services it provides are founded upon the assumption that if given a chance, people will improve themselves”3. The oldest Library of Delhi survives in Mehrauli but is in a deplorable condition. PUBLIC LIBRARY – A SOCIAL BRIDGE & ELEVATOR The Public Library is located in Zone F-15 (MPD 2021) on Kalka Das Marg, adjacent to Tehsil (District Magistrate Office) and outside the ‘abadi’ area. The Library was inaugurated in 1947 by Sardar Vallabhai Patel and designed by Ar. C.S Gupte. It was established under the Adult Education Scheme to promote learning amongst the young. It falls under the jurisdiction of the State Government and is a modern building of Independent India. The Building perched upon a plateau with stairs leading to it, is inspired by the design of the neighbouring Adam Khan’s tomb. In 1976, Nehru Yuva Kendra, an autonomous organization under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, within the Government of India, set up its district headquarters in the same building. They have been the sole occupants since 2006. The responsibility of the maintenance rests with CPWD and NYK shoulders everyday upkeep. The Library was an active public space until it shut down in 2006 when the scheme was scrapped. It was widely used by residents of Mehrauli and neighbouring villages with an average footfall of about 40-50 people. Adults mostly elderly, read newspapers and magazines as the collection of books was modest. This Library is an ideal example of public space as it served more purposes than being just a repository of books. Every Friday of the week was reserved for the screening of the latest movies or songs, bringing in people to enjoy the evening together. It was a preferred location to spend time interacting in the lush green area surrounding the building. It was of special importance to retired people as they considered it the best way to keep themselves busy and informed while also engaging in healthy conversations. Teenagers would spend time reading and socialising in and around the complex making it a popular ‘hangout spot’. The culture it induced and upheld for more than five decades impacted numerous lives by providing a choice to people on how they wish to spend their time. “Many people who understood the library’s importance and benefits wrote letters, pleading to re-open and maintain the library. Some of them worked very hard for a lot of years for this cause but all in vain” laments the last librarian Mr. Meena, who was transferred to a government school in Rajasthan. MPD 2021 requires a library of at least 2000sqm for every 1 lakh population. With this distinctive facility being shut, there is no other home for all the functions it served. It has not only left a void in the lives it enriched but also deprived the future generations of quality public space. The impact of our neglect is evident in the Library’s dishevelled condition. Its
visibility from the Main road is only 20% due to unkempt foliage and is bound to become obscure from sight as it has from memory. Most importantly, NYK lives in constant fear of it becoming a haven for anti-social activities, as it has in the past; the absence of surveillance makes it fertile ground. Urbanization has led to a space crunch and the pressure on available land is immense. It is only wise to put existing facilities to judicious use. The need for such a facility hasn’t evaporated but is more pronounced than ever because of disproportionate open-to-built ratios in increasingly dense settlements. If the government fails to provide adequate facilities, needs will be met in alternate ways which may or may not be ideal. To cope with a lack of a Public Library, reading rooms (labelled as Library) have surfaced. These ‘pseudo libraries’ are set up privately by individuals and are seen as an emerging business in the market. Four-storeyed apartments all over Mehrauli are replacing single-story houses to accommodate its growing population. The dwelling units in such buildings are unfit for large families that migrate from villages. Personal preferences and patterns of study are not supported in most households especially where there are no other educated members. Also, most houses share walls and are otherwise in close proximity and noise pollution is a distressing concern. It is safe to say that our homes cannot always accommodate all our needs. Therefore, an increasing number of children and adults (15yrs – 28yrs) desperately aspire for an environment that will suit their needs. As a result, private libraries are gaining popularity. Established in basements of apartments or shops, owners do not possess a valid commercial license and conveniently flout laws. These facilities charge INR800 - INR1000 per month for a 2ft x 3ft study area, Wi-fi and drinking water. There is an additional facility of seat reservation on extra payment and choice of sitting for as many as 16 hours. One can avail of the facility each day of the week. Ironically, these Libraries which claim to provide an advantageous environment for study, lack natural light, ventilation and design principles of a healthy built environment. Accidents can prove to be fatal since safety is blatantly ignored. One cannot visit this facility for leisure because of the lack of any reading material whatsoever. Students have been actively using the only library-cum-reading room in Mehrauli because it is the only available option. A quick conversation with any tired face exiting the cramped room will reveal their aspiration for a better environment. It is the responsibility of the government to ensure quality public infrastructure. It is also the responsibility of the citizens to make themselves aware of opportunities in their surroundings and their lawful right to basic amenities. The Public Library being defunct is a classic example of neglect, ignorance, and disrespect of National Heritage. A bottom-up approach to development It is imperative that no individual makes a compromise on the quality of life due to lack of quality Infrastructure.