The changing morning rhythms of Patiala

There was a time in my royal city of Patiala when mornings bloomed not just with schoolchildren pedalling away on their bicycles but also with dedicated teams of sanitation workers. At every colony junction and on the city’s broad roads, a supervisor would direct the staff with brooms and baskets in hand as they set out to sweep the streets clean. After their morning round, they returned to their meeting point for roll call and a simple shared cup of tea, their camaraderie and commitment quietly visible to all.

As a child, watching these unsung heroes go about their work was both reassuring and inspiring. Clean roads, vibrant community spirit and the sight of service in action these formed the essence of Patiala’s mornings.

But urbanisation and technology have changed this daily ritual. Today, digital platforms host pictures of cleanliness drives, yet their impact is mostly virtual. The physical presence of dedicated staff is seldom witnessed. True cleanliness now risks becoming only a trend on social media, rather than a lived experience in our neighborhoods.

It is time to blend old and new, to revive local, ground-level traditions and not just promote them online. Our city’s true royal beauty, I believe, can best be preserved when social pride and civic action walk together through Patiala’s streets.

Ravee S Aahluwalia, Patiala