Christmas 2022: Accomplished young Indians share their dreams for the society

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As told to Aastha Atray Banan, Jane Borges, Mitali Parekh, Yusra Husain, Heena Khandelwal, Nidhi Lodaya and Shreya Jachak

‘I hope parents of transgender persons keep their children in their prayers and lives'

Dr Aqsa Shaikh, 39
One of India's first trans woman doctors and Associate Professor of Community Medicine at Hamdard Institute of Medical Science and Research

I work with the acutely marginalised and long discriminated transgender community. Mainstream society, culture and religion are prejudiced against this group, and they are excluded not just from education, employment, and healthcare services, but also from community celebrations and festivals.

I wish that parents of transgender children take a step forward and try to bridge the gap, embrace their children and make them a part of their festivities and prayers.

I also wish this year brings them closer to societal acceptance, not as beggars who are to be sought out when you want to bless your child or a newly wed couple, but as individuals.

‘I wish for heritage homes to be put to adaptive use'

Mallika Keer, 26
Conservation architect and the face of Beyond Heritage, a firm that works on restoration of properties in Mumbai

I want to see the past glory of heritage houses, bungalows, properties and villages of Mumbai, revived. I often think about how we are losing our heritage. Pockets like Ranwar village in Bandra are trying to preserve their community living by organising festivals and restoring old structures. Why can't we do the same for all heritage areas of our city?

Heritage structures held either by the government or in private ownership, are run-down and empty. But we have encouraging examples of repurposing heritage structures. G5A [Foundation for Contemporary Culture, Mahalaxmi], converted an ancient warehouse in Laxmi Mills to carve out a cultural space.
I spent two years in Delhi after college and when I returned, I realised that so many of the old structures that dotted Bandra had been pulled down. Towers stood in their place. There was no trace of them. No farewell.

The adaptive use of properties, which belong to the community as much as they do to an individual, is the only way to recapture the spirit of our shared heritage. This can benefit both, landlords and stakeholders.

‘I wish that history and humanities make for viable careers'

Anirudh V Kanisetti, 28
Researcher and author of Lords of the Deccan: Southern India from Chalukyas to Cholas

I hope more young Indians, from a plurality of caste and class demographies, get the opportunity to write their histories. We need equal and easy access to libraries, research journals, academic books - all of which are now difficult to get your hands on unless you are associated with an elite university. Building from that, I wish that history and the humanities become viable professions for more people, and lose the aura of being the pastime of those who live in ivory towers. Every country benefits from diverse media and narratives about itself, especially one as young and creative as India.

‘I wish for affordable healthcare to be available to all Indians'

Parikshit Dhume, 37
President, Intellectual Cell of the BJP, Thane

I wish that the infrastructure projects currently underway in Mumbai and Maharashtra finally see the light of day. The other hope is for cleaner air for future generations, and access to affordable healthcare for everyone. The truth is that no matter how much we prepare for the pandemic, we are still lagging behind in health infrastructure. And with the threat of newer waves of COVID-19 looming, this is going to be of utmost importance.

I also hope we get to live in a world without wars and weapons of mass destruction, a world where everyone receives a good education; that there's enough food on everyone's plate and there are equal employment opportunities. We are a biased society. I hope we can all work together to come closer to equality.

‘What a relief if we became a spitting-free country'

Abhi, 29, and Niyu, 32
Social media creators, represented India at the 27th Conference of the Parties (COP27) in Egypt

WE say we love India, but we don't treat it as our home. When we talk about patriotism, it needs to be practical patriotism. We spit and gargle in public despite knowing that we are the tuberculosis capital of the world, and that it spreads through respiratory droplets. COVID-19 also spreads through similar ways. When India hosted the G20 Summit Sherpas recently, we heard that close to R25 crore was spent on beautification of various parts of Mumbai; walls were painted to cover spit stains and white curtains erected to mask litter.

Both of us have started practising this: before we get into an auto, we ask the driver if he chews tobacco. If he says yes, we don't get into the rickshaw. Maybe the ones we've refused to ply with may have felt that somebody is watching, that somebody cares about the streets and city and its citizens health. It might prompt them to change.

‘I wish that Mumbai's many worlds get back in perfect sync'

Aalap Desai, 36
Chief Creative Officer, Dentsu Creative West and Experience, India

I moved to Mumbai from Kanpur around 20 years ago. It was a dream to live and work here; I adored everything about this city. What amused me the most was that it was one city with many worlds. Christmas is celebrated with as much joy and fervour as Diwali. A local train argument was peppered with three different accents of Hindi. You could choose from more than one cuisine at every restaurant you visited. And, the most beautiful part was that all worlds were in perfect sync.

These many worlds sort of drifted apart some time ago. I wish we could encourage more of this behaviour and that we accept those divergent from us and be more tolerant.

I would love to learn more, experience more, and live more in the city I love. And, perhaps do my bit creatively to bring these worlds closer again.

‘How lovely would it be if everyone contributed to development of urban slums'

Suhani Jalota, 28
Social worker and only Indian among three finalists for the Global Citizen Prize: Cisco Youth Leadership Award 2020

More than half of Mumbai's population, across religions, has lived in slums for generations in harmony, and in areas devoid of amenities and hygiene. Now that the city hosts international events, it's time we talk about urban slum developments. People working for the betterment of these communities find it difficult to support these residents from within. When it comes to hygiene and women, the situation is dismal. I wish we can create a world where everyone has access to basic amenities and opportunities where they aren't constrained by the lining of the slum settlements.

‘I want Indian classical music to be for everyone, not just the elite'

Suryakant Sawhney aka Lifafa, 35
Musician

MY one wish for the musicians' community is to look deep inwards and begin the task of understanding what our ancestors created and left us in the form of Indian classical music. I'm eager to hear us mine the history of our lands to create something new, not just add a kick and clap to a loop, and call it a day. The theory of music in India is completely different from the way it is or was approached anywhere in the world.

We dream in oscillations and drones, a strange, divine method of creating music that taps into the very way reality works. Sadly, it became a form of music kept away from the masses, considered fit only for the ‘purest', kept alive only through strict codes and upbringing.

I wish it does not sit locked away in these safes, fading away; it must be unleashed. It holds formulae for music that we have forgotten and haven't even begun to use to their full potential. They say that music has the power to make it rain.

‘I wish that people start respecting each other's opinions'

Aditi Sunil Tatkare, 33
Member of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly (Shrivardhan constituency, Raigad) and former minister of state

I contested the Assembly elections for the first time in 2019 and by March the following year, the pandemic had hit. The time after has been challenging for everyone. The situation started improving this year, but with the current scenario in China, and the fear of another wave, my only hope is that we don't have to go through the chaos again. We have seen how our lives took a hit, health-wise and financially. I wish and pray that 2023 brings good health for everyone.

I also hope we stay clear of religious divisions. Somehow, this problem has grown more pronounced. India is one of the largest democracies, and is known for its liberal and secular views. No Indian citizen wants clashes between communities. Our freedom of expression is also being suppressed, and we have been noticing how those who have different opinions from the majority view, get categorised. I would urge people to respect each other's opinions - we can all harbour our individual views, and still co-exist.

‘I want this to be the country that respects the craft and nuances of coffee roasting'

Rahul Reddy, 33
Entrepreneur and founder of Subko Specialty Coffee Roasters and Bakehouse

I Wish for the increased appreciation of coffee in India. The fact that it is a fruit and hence, has fruity characteristics such as acidity and juiciness, that should be accepted and celebrated. It is our commitment to present coffee in unique forms and unexpected flavours that are a testament to its origin, and less about it tasting nutty or chocolatey.

It would be great to see the public's palate turn towards coffee in a way that it has for green teas and wines.

My second wish is that people understand that sourdough can be a little sour [without it being conceived as rancid], that they are amazed by the technical nature of how a croissant is created. Creating laminated dough, which is essentially what a croissant is, demands dedication, time and nuance, all of which I'd like Indian consumers to be aware of and appreciate.

‘I want to see India in the global top three badminton nations'

Chirag Shetty, 25
Badminton player and recipient of Athlete of the Year - Olympic Sport award (male)

Professionally I have high hopes from the coming year for badminton in India. This last year has been a phenomenal one - we received a lot of recognition [Shetty was part of the team that won the Thomas Cup and he, along with Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, won India its first-ever gold medal in the men's doubles at the Commonwealth Games]. Our performance over the last couple of years has enabled us to set new benchmarks. I hope we only get better at the World Championships. We [Rankireddy and Shetty] ranked at number five globally, recently; our next goal is to be in the top three. I also hope to be injury-free in the coming year, and wish for the good health of all.

‘I wait for an India where the wheelchair isn't a disabled person's identity'

Karan Shah, 24
Canine behaviourist, disability activist and Bharat Prerna Awardee

I am living my dream life and it's a joy to be with dogs, but I wish a person's disability didn't become their identity or indicator of their capability. Some people still ask how can I train a dog if I am in a wheelchair.

My other wish is that more places become wheelchair accessible. I know it's a complaint you hear often from people-on-wheels, but it seems like we are not loud enough. Is anybody hearing us? I was in Gujarat recently, going to my ancestral village of Bachau (call me Jethalal from Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah! We are both Kutchis, vyaparis and come from the same village), and there, all public bathrooms were wheelchair accessible. There were also special booths for people with disabilities.

I also wish that all of us develop a connection with nature. A luxurious urban life in comfort can stall emotional growth, and we forget to pray to the environment.

‘I want that audiences continue to flock to theatres'

Triptii Dimri, 27
Actor who wowed critics with her performances in Bulbul and Qala

As we get into 2023, I would like to see more peace and happiness for everybody. I hope that now, we have no more battles to fight, especially against COVID-19. I do hope we are free of those shackles. I also wish that we can learn to value each other, and respect our differences. That would be the ideal way to grow. If we make a mistake, let's learn from it and move on. And at the end of it all, I do hope we learn to enjoy life and make this a happy place for ourselves and others.

For my own community, the Hindi film industry, I wish 2023 sees fresher stories, and new talent being given a fair chance. Of course, this can happen if more people go to the theatres. Fingers crossed.

‘I hope everyone turns mindful about what they buy, gift'

Taran Chhabra, 39
Founder and CEO of Neeman's, the eco-friendly footwear label reducing carbon footprint

I wish that everyone turns into Santa (not in a secret way, but proudly and all year through) for the greater good of the planet. I hope they change the norm by gifting their loved ones products made with natural, sustainable, and recycled materials. Imagine what a world that would be! If all of us could look at options that are good for us and great for the planet, we will be creating and steering a ripple effect.

Hopefully, in 2023, people will rethink how their build their wardrobes and realign their choices with the planet's health.