Anahita Bakshi, 6 & Samar Kanwar, 6
Grandchildren of Major General (retd.) G D Bakshi
Having born in a fauji family, stories of valour are very common to six-year-old Anahita Bakshi. She is the granddaughter of Major General (retd) G D Bakshi, who participated in the 1999 Kargil war. Currently a defence expert, he is a regular on television channels, putting forward Indian armed forces’ perspective.
Anahita’s father Aditya Bakshi recently left his job in the merchant navy to become a producer of documentaries, short films, animation and comics based on Indian wars. Her mother Namrita too has also left her teaching job to join her husband’s production house. Little Anahita, who is a student of The Heritage School, Gurgaon, loves watching the Republic Day parade since most of her friends are fauji kids. But, she wants to become a doctor.
Talk about Delhi and she is quick to point out: “I don’t understand why people honk. It creates too much noise. Also people are always angry and start fighting even about small issues.”
Like any small girl, Anahita loves to dance and sketch besides enjoying outdoor games. But what separates her from other kids is her love for green causes. “There are too many cars on the roads causing traffic jams and pollution. My grandpa told me the Lotus Temple used to shine white but now it is turning yellow. We really need to do something to keep our city green. Besides having less cars on the roads, we need to plant more and more trees to save our environment,” she says confidently.
Samar, also six, is the son of Maj Gen Bakshi’s daughter. He has already made up his mind to become an Armyman. His mother Purnima runs a small gallery at Ambience Mall, Gurgaon, which seeks to teach children history by displaying it in a narrative format. Samar enjoys that but he “loves” Batman, Superman, Iron Man and Tommy Guns. Ask him what he would change in the city, and he says: “We should all try to make the city clean as there is so much garbage and litter on the roads.”
What does Smart City mean to you?
Smart Cities are for smart kids who can handle mobile phones and laptops better than their grandpa and grandma.
Do you think Delhi is or can be a Smart City?
I think the smartest kids are in Delhi. It is already a Smart City. We will get a lot smarter.
Things you like about Delhi.
The Lotus Temple, Red Fort, the zoo, the Qutub Minar, the Republic Day parade.
Things you don’t like about the city.
The Lotus Temple is turning yellow; too many cars on the road; too much of noise; people who honk too much; and people who want to fight.
How would you improve the city if you were the Chief Minister?
By ensuring the cleaning of Lotus Temple; restricting people from throwing and burning garbage all over. Also, I would like to see people happy and not angry.