Choking on Tomorrow: Surviving the Apocalypse in Slow Motion
How Living in Delhi Turned Me Into a Climate Crisis Paranoid (and Why You Should Be One Too)
Forget alarm clocks. The first thing I notice each morning is the gritty taste of the air in my mouth reminder that, in Delhi, even breathing feels like a risk. I pull back the curtain and see my housing complex shrouded in a thick, gray haze. It’s not winter fog. It’s PM2.5, PM10, and a cocktail of invisible poisons. Welcome to Delhi—where the air is so toxic, you can almost chew it, and the Yamuna, once a sacred river, now looks like a slow-moving chemical spill.
I’m not just worried about the climate crisis. I’m obsessed. I’m paranoid. And if you lived here, you would be too.
What Is the Climate Crisis, Really?
Let’s get this straight: the climate crisis isn’t just about melting ice caps or polar bears stranded on shrinking floes. It’s the slow, relentless breakdown of the systems that make life possible. It’s heatwaves that melt roads, floods that drown cities, droughts that turn fields to dust, and air so foul it shaves years off your life. It’s the Yamuna, black and bubbling with industrial waste, and the air in Delhi, thick with a million exhaust pipes’ worth of poison.
The climate crisis is not coming. It’s already here. It’s the invisible hand squeezing your lungs, the silent thief stealing your future. Don’t know why I remember reading “Silent Spring” in 70s.
Why Is It So Damn Hard to Feel in India?
Here’s the thing: in India, we’re experts at surviving chaos. We dodge potholes, leap over open drains, and navigate a daily barrage of noise, crowds, and confusion. We’re so busy hustling for the next meal, the next job, the next breath, that we barely notice the slow-motion apocalypse unfolding around us.
The climate crisis is a slow burn, not a sudden explosion. It’s hard to panic about something that creeps in quietly—one degree hotter, one bad air day at a time. Plus, when you’re surrounded by 33 million people in Delhi, it’s easy to think, “If everyone else is coping, maybe it’s not so bad.”
We are like a fish who doesn’t know that she is swimming in polluted water as it is her home.
But here’s the truth: just because we’re used to surviving doesn’t mean we’re immune.
Are You Really Affected? Here’s How to Know
Still think the crisis is “out there”? Let’s do a quick reality check:
- Do you cough more in winter? That’s not a cold—it’s pollution.
- Does your skin itch after a shower? Thank the Yamuna’s toxic brew.
- Do you feel tired, foggy, or anxious for no reason? Chronic exposure to bad air can do that.
- Have you noticed more people with asthma, allergies, or heart problems? That’s the climate crisis, up close and personal.
- Do you dread stepping outside during a heatwave? Welcome to the new normal.
If you ticked any of these, congratulations: you’re already living the crisis.
Can AI Save Us? (Or At Least Help Us Breathe?)
I’m a tech optimist, I have to admit: AI might be our best shot at fighting back. Here’s how:
- Hyper-local Air Quality Alerts: AI-powered apps can give you real-time air quality data, right down to your street. No more guessing—know when to mask up or stay indoors. I will liberally fund an Indian startup doing work like Aclima. Dr. Arkopal Goswami @IIT Khargpur – Are you listening?
- Smart Water Monitoring: AI can track pollution levels in rivers like the Yamuna, alerting authorities (and us) before things get worse.
- Climate Prediction: Machine learning can spot patterns in weather, helping us prepare for floods, heatwaves, and droughts before they hit.
- Policy Nudges: AI can analyze massive data sets to show policymakers what’s working (and what’s not), pushing for smarter, faster action.
- Personalized Health Tips: AI-driven apps can suggest when to exercise, what to eat, and how to protect your lungs—based on your location and health profile.
But let’s be real: AI is a tool, not a magic wand. It can help us adapt, maybe even slow the damage, but it can’t fix what’s already broken. That’s on us.
Micro Survival Guide: How to Handle the Apocalypse in Delhi
If you’re still reading, you’re probably as paranoid as I am. Good. Here’s how to survive (for now):
1. Mask Up—Always
N95 masks aren’t just for pandemics. They’re your daily armor against Delhi’s air. Wear one every time you step outside.
2. Seal Your Home
Invest in air purifiers. Use wet mops, not brooms. Keep windows closed during peak pollution hours (usually mornings and evenings).
3. Drink (Filtered) Water
Don’t trust the tap. Use a high-quality water filter, and if possible, get your water tested regularly.
4. Green Your Space
Grow indoor plants like snake plant, aloe vera, or money plant. They won’t fix the air, but every little bit helps.
5. Stay Informed
Download air quality and weather apps. Follow local climate news. Knowledge is power.
6. Push for Change
Join local clean-up drives. Support environmental NGOs. Vote for leaders who take climate seriously. Your voice matters.
7. Prepare for Extremes
Keep an emergency kit—water, masks, basic meds, a flashlight. Delhi’s chaos can turn deadly fast.
Final Word: Don’t Get Used to This
The scariest part of the climate crisis isn’t the heat, the smog, or the toxic river. It’s the way we learn to live with it. We normalize the apocalypse, one bad air day at a time.
Don’t. Get. Used. To. This.
Get angry. Get paranoid. Get involved. Because if we don’t fight for our future, no one else will.
Delhi isn’t just my home—it’s ground zero for the slowest, deadliest crisis humanity has ever faced. If you’re not worried, you’re not paying attention. And if you are, welcome to the club. Let’s survive, and maybe even fight back, together.