"rid of open defecation" were the first words I heard as I entered the much talked-about Global Citizen Concert arena. The concert had actually started five hours earlier and people had been listening to various other things since 3 pm. I only entered when I thought that it would be time for Coldplay to come on.

The evening seemed to be as much about the music, as it was about “causes”. From open defecation in Mumbai to low cost housing for the homeless to sanitation, eradicating severe malnutrition and moderate malnutrition, gender equality, clean water, eradicating poverty and what not. No big cause was spared. There was even an announcement made for a few hundred crores earmarked for women entrepreneurs - nobody even heard that one as that came after Coldplay ended singing.

Even though I entered for the last act of the day, I managed to hear almost all the causes that were being taken up. Our global-favourite, Sachin Tendulkar was there as UNICEF ambassador and told us that 100,000 children in India die due to diarrhea. He urged us to wash our hands before eating and also after visiting the toilet.