India, Nov. 8 -- In a quiet corner of Sector 1, close to the Rock Garden and Sukhna Lake, lies Smriti Upvan - Chandigarh's "Forest of Memories." It was conceived as a thoughtful alternative to traditional memorials. Instead of building concrete structures, citizens could plant a sapling in memory of their parents or loved ones.

It was a rare blend of environmental care and human emotion. During my years in the Chandigarh administration, I regarded this initiative as a remarkable example of sensitive urban planning. I, too, planted a tree there in memory of my late parents. However, when I visited the site recently, a troubling thought crossed my mind: how did such a meaningful initiative gradually lose its direction?

A living legacy tha...