The Lost Art Of Walking

Walking in Bangalore has always been a wonderful experience…but sadly no more! I would love to walk to my clinic which is just 20mins by walk. But the shrinking pavements and the blaring noises makes it an ordeal. We are slowly but steadily losing the pleasures of walking, unless it is reminded to us by a doctor who himself can do with lots of walking!

The simple act of walking represents a particular stance of man towards the environment. And that has undergone a drastic change. The ascendancy of car culture and the ubiquity of cheap communication technology are increasingly alienating us from our environments, our neighbors, and finally, ourselves. Is modern life moving faster than the speed of thought or thoughtfulness?

As Thoreau remarked “the moment my legs begin to move, my thoughts begin to flow” ! There is no thought so burdensome that one cannot walk away from it!

In the words of WH Davies:

                Now shall I walk

                Or Shall I ride?

                “Ride” Pleasure said,

                “Walk” Joy replied!