Mahatma Gandhi wanted less cars on road and more space for walking

          Mounting proliferation of cars in our towns and cities is a bane of modern times. It has caused unending problems starkly manifested in rising levels of air pollution, traffic jam, and   lack of space to walk and park vehicles.  Too many accidents and the increasing phenomenon of road rage responsible for needless scuffles and death of many people is attributed to sharp increase in number of vehicles and reckless driving. It is a worldwide problem. It is said that in the USA and other countries "carbon emissions from cars and trucks have exceeded carbon emissions from electric power."  Joseph Stizlitz in his book ‘Making Globalisation Work’ has written that while 80% of the global warming is caused by hydrocarbons and 20% is caused by deforestation. Increasingly more and more people are possessing cars which are symbols of status, individuality and mobility. The threat posed by growing number of cars to environment is well known. Now it is being asked if planet earth can cope up with the toxic emissions from 4 billion cars possessed by peoples in America, China, India and Europe. The ability of people to have cars and provide fuel to them does not augur well for the climate. Combined with refrigerator and air-conditioning it will cause irreversible damage to the ozone layer and carrying capacity of the earth. Annihilation of distance coupled with pursuit of comfort will further contribute to unsustainable development.

            India  with its vast population and people's desire  to possess personal vehicles  is facing multiple crises on account of too many cars purchased and possessed by people.  Because of gathering crises caused by phenomenal increase of cars  several cities in the world are adopting a day on which cars should not ply on the roads and people are encouraged to commute by using public transport. 

It is heartening that in 2015 an initiative was taken in Gurgram in India  not to use cars on  Tuesday. Such car free day was thought of to address  massive problems caused by  to too many cars. The  Delhi Government also planned to adopt a day in a week to make some roads of the city car free. However, it was not successfully implemented because of inadequate cooperation of other agencies of governance functioning under the jurisdiction of the Union Government.  Some time back the city of Hyderabad also experimented with such a measure.  A city like London is imposing heavy congestion fee on cars which enter central London so as to keep it free from toxic fumes and traffic jam caused by  too many cars. There are many other towns in the world which do not allow cars to enter the core areas of the urban setting. A particular day on which city roads would be free from car rides  would be welcomed by people because of the less traffic and less air pollution they would  face.

            Mahatma Gandhi had anticipated such a problem when India had hardly any motor vehicle and that to cars.  It is well know that Gandhiji  was a staunch critic of modern civilization based on multiplication of wants and desires and mounting application of machinery replacing human labour.  His book "Hind Swaraj" written in 1909 was a manifesto against modern civilization and is hailed as the bible of the post materialistic world order.  He predicted in that remarkable book that in modern civilisation people would like to have their newspapers and cars ready by just clicking a button.  Such a man critical of the modern civilization did not favour a society  which would accord priority  to  possession of a car. He in fact lamented that in the cities of the modern civilization of 20th century people were packed like sardines in a car and commuted from one place to another.  On 12th March 1930 when he commenced his epoch making Dandi March some people used a car to fetch some fruits for the consumption of the marchers.  He was deeply pained and urged those who used a car not to do so and coined a catchy health slogan,  "Avoid the car if you can walk".  In 21st century world doctors have been prescribing people affected by lifestyle diseases, particularly diabetes, to walk as much as possible by avoiding the use of car.  What was prescribed by Gandhiji in 1930 is being prescribed by doctors with a view to encouraging physical activity and protecting health from many non-communicable diseases which are life threatening and often described as silent killers.

It is extremely educative to note that on 12th February, 1938 one Dr. John D Boer informed Mahatma Gandhi that Mr. Roosevelt, then President of America, wanted that every American family should possess two cars and two radio sets.  He then asked  Gandhiji if he would not like to look forward to seeing  such a society in India when every house would have a radio and everyone a car.  Listening to Mr. John's such  remarks Gandhiji observed, "If we have so many cars there would be very little room left for walking".  He then added that he  would not consider possession of car as a meritorious thing. A year letter on 14th October 1939 he wrote something concerning car which  is worthwhile to quote. He said. “I can not only imagine but am working for a civilization in which possession of a car will be considered no merit…..”

More than eight  decades back Gandhiji had nursed a vision of India in which  there would less cars and  enough space for people to walk.  It flowed  from his vision of a healthy society which would give primacy to physical activity and spiritual enrichment. 

            Adoption of a car free day is step towards realization of that civilization about which Mahatma Gandhi wrote during freedom struggle.  Very painfully the modern and 21st century world and India is now realizing the demerits of too many cars and, therefore, consciousness is emerging that a day should be dedicated in cities and towns so that at least that day would be a car free day.  The decision taken by public authorities in Gurgaon not to use car on a particular day augurs well for our time which is confronting accelerating pollution of air, mounting use of fuel imported from abroad and increasing use of public space and road which are inadequate to accommodate too many cars. Because of care free day the city of Gurgaon experienced better air quality and less traffic. Now Delhi is planning to have a car free day every month on 22nd October. The larger objective is to make the capital city congestion free.

            The odd even formula adopted by Delhi Government on some occasions was an attempt to reduce the number of cars in the roads of Delhi.

 It is, therefore, important to recall the vision of the Father of our Nation when such policies are being adopted to meet the growing crises caused by multiplication of vehicles.  Greater access to public transport can provide solution to this problem.  Along  with more public transport we need to have more dedicated cycle tracks which could be used by people of all age groups and particularly the youth to use bicycle.  Such measures would inevitably reduce our dependence on private mode of transport and save us from pollution of air, congestion of traffic and many other problems  caused by too many cars on the road.  A car free day will make us free from many problems.

The author served as Officer on Special Duty and Press Secretary to President of India late Shri K R Narayanan and had a tenure as Director in Prime Minister's Office and Joint Secretary in Rajya Sabha Secretariat.