In the grand tradition of Delhi doing things last minute, the capital whipped out its metaphorical jhaadu and scrubbed itself shiny for the recent G20 Summit, where world leaders arrived to breathe in fresh ambition—and allegedly, a light misting of PM2.5.
As Modi-ji welcomed dignitaries with folded hands, Delhi simultaneously folded entire colonies into massive green cloth partitions. Overnight, potholes were reincarnated as smooth roads, and suddenly, there were more potted plants than people. Stray dogs mysteriously vanished (rumors say they were sent on a vacation to Himachal), and Delhi Metro staff began smiling like they were auditioning for a toothpaste ad.
Now, while it’s impressive that the capital can transform from dusty grey to diplomatic elegance in 48 hours, the clouds of cynicism, much like Delhi’s smog, still linger. Were we cleaning for the visitors or for ourselves? And more existentially, if a pothole is fixed but no one from the G20 drives over it, did it ever truly exist?
The G20 gala came and went, leaving behind glossy leaflets, grammable LED fountains, and a lingering suspicion that all of this is possible when we really *want* it. So here’s a mildly cheeky thought: maybe we should pretend Justin Trudeau is visiting every month. Perhaps throw a state dinner for Olaf Scholz just to get Connaught Place’s parking sorted. Or name a traffic signal after Joe Biden to ensure it stays functional.
Delhi’s hospitality is legendary, but her sense of self-preservation feels like a standby setting. Will the plants stay when the cameras leave? Will the clean roads remain or return to their potholey personalities? Only time and approximately 27 more summits will tell.
Meanwhile, while we can joke about freshly painted walls hiding crumbling ones, maybe, just maybe, the G20 cleanup blitz was a sneak peek of the Delhi we could actually have. Minus the motorcades and mirror-polished monkeys. Just a city that believes it deserves to look presentable—even when royalty isn’t watching.
Until then, if you see a dog on a hammock taking a break in Shimla, give him a medal. He too served his nation.
#G20Delhi #CleanCapitalChronicles #DelhiMakeover #SummitSeason2023 #DiplomaticDustfest
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