Breathing Beyond Smog: The Social and Emotional Realities of Delhi’s Pollution Crisis
Air pollution in Delhi has turned out to be far beyond an environmental crisis. It represents a deep sociological phenomenon with dimensions that are physical, emotional, and cultural. Incidents of high pollution levels, even in the winter season, trigger a collective sense of discomfort and reflection among residents. The smog surrounding us influences how people experience their surroundings and connect with others. Everyday life slows down as routines are disrupted, and people adapt to the crisis in various ways. These experiences can be explored through sociological perspectives that focus on how people sense, feel, and make sense of their environment while living in Delhi when the AQI is high. This connects to broader cultural and social themes.
Social and Emotional Realities of Pollution in Delhi
The concept of atmospheric attunements, as theorized by Kathleen Stewart, is central to understanding how high pollution levels affect everyday life in Delhi. Stewart argues that atmospheric attunements are collective sensory and emotional experiences shaped by the environment. During peak pollution periods, a thick layer of smog blankets the city, creating an effective atmosphere of tension, unease, and urgency.
The hazy visibility and stinging air evoke more than physical discomfort. They bring about an emotional and sensory engagement with the environment. Burning eyes, itchy throats, and difficulty in breathing serve as constant reminders of the crisis, compelling individuals to adapt their behaviors, such as wearing masks, staying indoors, or using air purifiers. The physicality of pollution becomes a shared sensory experience that brings people into attunement with their environment, albeit in discomfort.
The smog also alters the rhythm of urban life. Reduced outdoor activities, canceled school days, and changed commuting patterns disrupt routines, causing a sense of stagnation. People perceive the city differently, as vibrant streets turn into health risks. This attunement shapes not only how people navigate the polluted atmosphere but also how they interpret their relationship with the urban environment.
Emotions play a significant role in how individuals and communities respond to the pollution crisis. Anthropologist Andrew Beatty’s work highlights how emotions such as anger, frustration, helplessness, and anxiety are socially constructed responses to shared environmental threats. For many, anger arises due to the inaction of authorities. The government’s inability to implement effective policies for addressing pollution exacerbates feelings of disempowerment among citizens. Frustration grows due to the gap between the promises of urban development and the reality of deteriorating living conditions. Helplessness prevails as individuals recognize their limited agency in combating a systemic issue.
These emotions manifest in everyday practices. Coughing, wearing anti-pollution masks, and setting up air purifiers are now physical embodiments of emotional responses to pollution. Embodiment connects individual experiences with collective consciousness, making pollution not just an environmental challenge but a shared societal experience.
Anthropologist Nadia Seremetakis’s concept of sensory memory adds another layer of analysis. The air of Delhi, when the AQI is high, is filled with sensory elements that make the crisis a collective memory. The smell of smog, the gritty taste of contaminated air, and persistent coughing become sensory reminders of an ongoing environmental crisis. These sensory experiences are not uniform but mediated by class and socioeconomic status. The commodification of clean air through air purifiers, oxygen bars, and high-quality masks highlights stark disparities in how people experience and cope with pollution. Affluent residents can access temporary respite from polluted air, but marginalized communities often lack such measures, exposing them to greater health risks. The spatial misallocation of resources to combat pollution underscores the intersectionality of environmental and social justice. Pollution elicits individual and collective emotions that reflect broader inequalities in urban living.
Cultural Narratives: Pollution, Development, and Modernization
Pollution in Delhi is deeply tied to the cultural narratives of development and modernization. The city’s identity as an urban hub stems from its role as a center of economic growth, political power, and cultural activity. However, these very markers of progress contribute to its environmental crisis. The cultural narrative often frames pollution as an inevitable consequence of development, industrialization, urbanization, and infrastructure expansion. Yet, these narratives overlook the ecological and social costs of such developments. The lived reality of pollution—a choking atmosphere, health crises, and diminished quality of life—contradicts the aspirational image of a modern, developed nation.
This tension is exacerbated by media representations that oscillate between alarming portrayals of pollution and the normalization of the crisis. While news channels highlight the severity of pollution during specific times, such as Diwali or crop-burning seasons, the issue often fades from public discourse once visibility improves. This cyclical attention fosters a sense of apathy and resignation among citizens, who struggle to maintain emotional engagement with a seemingly intractable problem.
The high levels of air pollution in Delhi often become a political and media spectacle. Politicians, activists, and media outlets use the crisis as a battleground for competing narratives. Blame games over sources of pollution—vehicular emissions, crop burning in neighboring states, or industrial activities—often dominate public discourse, overshadowing long-term solutions. The media’s framing of the pollution crisis as a recurring event influences public perception, creating urgency during peak pollution periods but allowing the issue to recede from attention once air quality improves. The political spectacle of pollution also highlights governance issues. Policies like odd-even traffic rules or firecracker bans are often reactive measures providing short-term relief rather than addressing systemic challenges. From a sociological perspective, this reflects the tension between performative governance and structural inequalities that exacerbate environmental vulnerabilities.
Conclusion: Towards a Sociological Understanding of Pollution
Living in Delhi during periods of high AQI transcends the physical realm to form a complex sociological phenomenon. The concepts of atmospheric attunements, emotional embodiment, and cultural narratives illuminate different aspects of how individuals and communities navigate such crises. The polluted air, with its sensory and emotional weight, shapes everyday practices, collective memories, and socio-political dynamics.
Understanding air pollution from a sociological perspective highlights the interconnectedness of environmental and social issues. It emphasizes the need for holistic solutions that address both ecological sustainability and social justice. In Delhi, the fight against pollution is as much about reclaiming clean air as it is about reimagining the city’s future with a balanced approach to development and the well-being of its residents.
