quality of life in india

Ever since I've returned to india, I've tried to put my finger on what really constitutes "quality" of life. Does this depend on factors within our control ? Does a good standard of living ensure a good quality of life ? Does the measure of quality depend on the person ?
The answer seems to be that QOL, being a subjective measure of the well being of an individual, is an amalgam of these. Its essential to have a good living standard (economic, health,social, environmental) to begin with - these factors can be measured in terms of average incomes, access to medical care, pollution free air and water etc., and most of the time, life in india revolves around satisfying these basic needs. However, the degree to which we are free to pursue activities in the other levels of the hierarchy of needs (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow) is a measure of QOL.
I've looked at various definitions and studies by organizations that research this field, and liked these defns of QOL --

• The degree to which a person enjoys the important possibilities of his/her life - Quality of Life Research Unit, University of Toronto
• The best way of approaching quality of life measurement is to measure the extent to which people's 'happiness requirements' are met - ie those requirements which are a necessary (although not sufficient) condition of anyone's happiness - those 'without which no member of the human race can be happy.' -McCall, S.: 1975, 'Quality of Life'

So, what makes the QOL in India suffer ? Our standard of living ! We're too busy trying to earn higher incomes hoping that this would liberate us, but think about this - If you owned a ferrari, where would you drive it ? If you owned a beautiful lake side mansion, can you avoid the dirt and pollution when you step outside ?
The other intangibles that add to QOL are far too insignificant in this place and time -- spending quality time with your kids in quiet sorroundings, taking a walk on a clean sidewalk in the morning, breathing the fresh morning air laden with the scent of flowers that bloom on the tall, shadowy trees above, space in your apt complex for the kids to run around, being able to walk on the street without bumping into someone, getting a doc's appt when you need to see him/her and not when he's free ...

jammed for life

can any one be reticent about the traffic in bangalore ? I've seen even the most timid and inhibited types let loose a barrage of pent up emotions when they're confronted with this topic. For others who have seen the city change, it evokes memories, sights and smells of a quiet garden city that it once was. Having spent part of my childhood in B'lore, I remember it as a quaint town with a cosmopolitan population. Returning to B'lore 25 years later, I found it had turned into an ugly shadow of its past. This is a classic example of bad planning or lack there of. And then, there is a half hearted effort to patch up things .. as life goes on ..

you could get mad
you could be sad
you might be stressed
or even depressed
you could complain
or fret in vain
you could lose your patience
or curse in silence
you might even question
your life's destination
if you have to drive thru
the roads of bengaluru
the one ways are there
but the other's under repair
the lights are there
but working ones are rare.
you think your light's green ?
no! its the other sides light you've seen
to go or not to go ?
have you ever been confused so ?
remember our priceless tradition -
is to blend with the confusion.
just stick to that dictum
and dont break the system.
most indians are color blind
and traffic lights they do not mind.
besides following rules is stupidity
and beneath our dignity.


If you're at an intersection
there's no time for consideration.
we dont believe in right of way
the one who drives faster has his say


OK. so its not a rosy picture.
its worse! I dont even see a future.
All I hear is grand plans
of metros, wide roads and trams
that in rumor surface
and then die without a trace.
nothing's changed in a decade
and dont see nothin coming Iam afraid.


Then, whats life without hope,
how else with reality do we cope ?
I would hate to assume
that I'd have to resume
my journey to work
from home without a break
resting for a drink
or catching a wink.
To spend my life waiting
at some level crossing,
or retire enroute
a lengthy commute.