Tattapani - destroying identities

From Shimla Balajee and I headed to a serene quiet village called Tattapani which is about two hours from Shimla. The roads leading to the place were perilous to say the least. Narrow roads carved out of tall hills, which are of course covered with hills in all directions (not four, all). There is no room, or should I say inch, for mistakes on this road for it would mean ending up in the depths of the valley.

Tattapani was one of the most beautiful places I have been to. The River Sutlej flowing just about 50 feet from out hotel balcony, tall green hills all around, a tall majestic bridge over the river connecting two hills and an old defunct iron bridge behind it. This place is famous for the natural sulphur hot springs that are found on the river banks, hence the name Tattapani.

In the evening we settled for Chai at a tea shop and struck up a conversation with a group of villagers. There we learnt that a dam has been constructed upstream on river Sutlej and when they decided to open the dam, the lower half of the village will be submerged. So in about a year's time, there won't be any natural sulphur hot springs for the present river banks would be submerged.

For the 'economic progress of the country', read power for urban India, a village is paying a price - that of its identity. The name Taatapani would be meaningless, almost ridiculous, without natural hot springs there. How easily they are destroying the most important characteristic of a village. And this is the model that is being followed throughout India. Systematicaly destroying the character, soul, history and depths of a place for blind 'economic progress' that benefits a few.