Cold comfort, but the Problem is Inexorable Warming
"Madam, you are the first person to bring your own bag." This, as I buy a few apples from the fruit vendor and place them in my shopping bag. To me, this 'award' / 'title' / 'compliment' has been frequent, from greengrocers for the past several years, through my stay in localities in Bangalore, Coimbatore and now Delhi. As I walk away, a thought occurs, and I turn back to enquire, "How long have you been fruit-vending in this locality?" "About 5 years..." "And in all this while have not customers brought their bags along?" "No madam, they start to argue if I do not offer the the plastic bag..." To say I am appalled or aghast would be to overstate feelings... 'sad' better relates to what one feels. But the ubiquitous colourless p.bag is evident all over. At the weekly vegetable market, "Bhaiyaa, give me another carrybag...", can be frequently heard while grocery-shopping. Sprawling malls, wide ro...