Why an opinion article on Delhi's air pollution upset many Indians

A New York Times story of an eight-year-old’s struggle to draw a breath of air set off a storm of protest. Was it a case of shooting the messenger?

 

Within nine months of the family moving to Delhi, Harris’ eight-year-old son Bram suffered respiratory distress, lost half his breathing ability, and had to take steroids regularly. Then the Harrises agonised if it was ethical to continue living in the city at the cost of their children’s health, especially when they had a choice. They could move elsewhere, while most of the city’s residents were grounded.
Everyone he talked to advised him against raising his children in Delhi. A professor of preventive medicine in California said children from some of the most polluted parts of Los Angeles lost most or all use of their lungs. Los Angeles is far less polluted than Delhi.
Another study said children never fully recovered even when they moved to better areas. But surprisingly, the Harrises persisted even after their son suffered another attack of asthma.

A boy swims through floating debris in the river Yamuna in New Delhi, India. Photograph: Harish Tyagi/EPA

The horror story didn’t end there. Harris mentioned the sewage drain that is the river Yamuna, widespread open defecation, shoddy construction that caused sewage to mix with freshwater piped to his house, and congested traffic. These are not special privileges reserved only for those living in Delhi. Open a newspaper on any day in the southern city of Chennai, and you’ll find similar stories.
Harris said he finally had enough of the horrors of Delhi, and he was relocating to Washington.
Many agreed with him. An article in Firstpost said Delhi “is beyond redemption. It is time to think of transferring the capital to some other place.”
NDTV conducted an online poll asking readers if they agreed with Harris. An overwhelming majority did.