Recently I have noticed a subtle but significant change on the roads in Bangalore. People have been making way for ambulances where not so long ago the sirens would be pretty much static behind a mess of vehicles that refused to move out of the way. I have to say I am very glad it is happening, albeit slow and inconsistent.
Every time I travelled out of the country on work, one of the things that always struck me was how motorists would move over quickly the minute they heard approaching sirens, and I would always wonder why we couldn't be the same way here.
The assumption, based on the minimum requirements to get a driver's licence, is that all the people on the road are at least basically educated. If that is the case how come they don't move? Is it apathy? or a more sinister lack of consideration for anyone but themselves? It can't be that difficult for these drivers to put themselves in the shoes of the family and friends of the person in the ambulance, who is probably hanging on, literally for dear life, while they hog the road and hold up the medical attention they need.
But it is not always a case of selfish behaviour. Our roads are chaotic to say the least and many a time I have found myself in front of an ambulance and desperate to pull over but thanks to the log jam in front of me, left with no room to maneuver. So there we have it - selfish people and choc-a-bloc roads, the perfect recipe for bad situations.
There is lots to fix and I am sure there are probably a lot of other reasons out there for what I have been seeing - but the fact remains that I see an improvement, and no matter how small it is right now - it is a huge step towards what we want to be and hopefully it is just the start.
Monday, July 18, 2011
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Evil that people do...
Three bombs went off in crowded areas of Bombay yesterday. 21 people are dead and dozens others injured. Who is responsible and what was the point? Innocent people killed or hurt and much speculation about who did what. The usual platitudes from the politicians and equally predictable outrage from the people of Bombay. Could it have been different? Would it have been different if the people, and I mean all of us, had a different bent of mind?
I can understand the frustration the people of Bombay must feel, after all they have been at the receiving end of terror attacks, natural disasters and goodness knows what other calamities. But blaming the Government for not securing the city, in my opinion, is daft. The most well policed cities in the world have also been victimised by terrorists at one time or another.
Perhaps if the general public were a little more aware, vigilant and responsible it would be more difficult for terrorists to plan and execute their nasty plots. I mean - how many of us would actually take on the onus of doing something if we saw unattended bags or packages lying around? How many of us would actually notice someone strange hanging around our neighbourhood? Most of us go through life in our own little bubble and leave the care of our surroundings to others...well here's a news flash - the 'others' we are depending on to watch out for us are also doing the same thing!
What we CAN blame the Government for, and not just in Maharashtra, but all over the country, is not putting in place a system and the infrastructure to deal efficiently with a calamity when it happens. There was a picture in the papers today of people wounded in the blasts, quite literally heaped into the back of a small truck to be taken to hospital probably because there was no telling when, if at all, and ambulance would arrive. Response time is insanely slow and the authorities who do respond are inadequately trained and don't follow any kind of protocol when dealing with the aftermath of disasters.
What I am trying to say, is that we have a lot to learn and we are all equally to blame. The government and authorities for their apathy and lackadaisical attitude and the population for their disinclination to prepare themselves for any eventuality and educate themselves. Why do we always look to blame someone else and never take responsibility for our own safety and well being? Surely there cant be a lack of motivation to protect oneself and one's property?
If an average person like me can have a zillion ideas on how to improve the infrastructure and make life safer and better in the cities, I find it hard to believe that politicians and administrators cant think similarly. So now what remains, is to see how long it will take us to stop throwing stones and pointing fingers and take it upon ourselves to improve the quality of our security.
I can understand the frustration the people of Bombay must feel, after all they have been at the receiving end of terror attacks, natural disasters and goodness knows what other calamities. But blaming the Government for not securing the city, in my opinion, is daft. The most well policed cities in the world have also been victimised by terrorists at one time or another.
Perhaps if the general public were a little more aware, vigilant and responsible it would be more difficult for terrorists to plan and execute their nasty plots. I mean - how many of us would actually take on the onus of doing something if we saw unattended bags or packages lying around? How many of us would actually notice someone strange hanging around our neighbourhood? Most of us go through life in our own little bubble and leave the care of our surroundings to others...well here's a news flash - the 'others' we are depending on to watch out for us are also doing the same thing!
What we CAN blame the Government for, and not just in Maharashtra, but all over the country, is not putting in place a system and the infrastructure to deal efficiently with a calamity when it happens. There was a picture in the papers today of people wounded in the blasts, quite literally heaped into the back of a small truck to be taken to hospital probably because there was no telling when, if at all, and ambulance would arrive. Response time is insanely slow and the authorities who do respond are inadequately trained and don't follow any kind of protocol when dealing with the aftermath of disasters.
What I am trying to say, is that we have a lot to learn and we are all equally to blame. The government and authorities for their apathy and lackadaisical attitude and the population for their disinclination to prepare themselves for any eventuality and educate themselves. Why do we always look to blame someone else and never take responsibility for our own safety and well being? Surely there cant be a lack of motivation to protect oneself and one's property?
If an average person like me can have a zillion ideas on how to improve the infrastructure and make life safer and better in the cities, I find it hard to believe that politicians and administrators cant think similarly. So now what remains, is to see how long it will take us to stop throwing stones and pointing fingers and take it upon ourselves to improve the quality of our security.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Back! BACK I say!
Can someone tell me exactly what it is about 'personal space' that people do not understand? The other day, I was at a bookstore having my stuff billed when a woman comes up, shoulders me aside and picks up a pen from one of the many on display at the cash counter and proceeds to test it on a scrap of paper. I don't think it ever occurred to her to say "excuse me" or to try not to get in my airspace.
This has long been one of my pet peeves and it makes me want to actually hit people when they shove and push and just generally crowd me when it is not necessary. From people who stand too close in lines to the ones who squeeze into an already crowded lift, squishing you into a corner like a sardine, they are all universally obnoxious.
What really gets me though is that they truly do not realise what they are doing is not acceptable. Our country is a crowded one, lots of people squeezed into everything, from markets to busses, trains, schools and even hospitals. So we are used to elbowing ourselves a space and slipping into it wherever we go. The concept of giving someone their own personal space is rather alien to most of our population and more so if the person crowding you happens to be of the same sex, so it is okay if a woman happens to be pressing up against me in a bus and if I were to show discomfort or object I would be the weird one! As a people, we don't seem to have too many personal boundaries, and those of us who do are doomed to have them crossed every time we step out into a public space.
As a result I have developed my own defence strategies which include such ingenious things as carrying a messenger bag slung diagonal so it can be swivelled in whichever direction I need protection, and a slightly model-like stance in lines, with one foot stuck out in front (suitably clad in closed shoes of course) to ensure anyone backing into me without looking stumbles over it and then has to apologise for stepping on my toes thus making them more careful for the remainder of the queue time. Also in my arsenal are files or books held in the crook of my arm to impale any frontal attacks, one hand on the hip angled as required to give the elbow strategic advantage, switching bags from side to side and last but certainly not least, the perfected glower, guaranteed to wither all but the most thick skinned pusher and shover.
Perhaps I am being overly fussy - but I genuinely do not like being too close to people who I don't know and I think its perfectly reasonable to expect everyone to respect that. So, please, general public, GET BACK!!!!!!
This has long been one of my pet peeves and it makes me want to actually hit people when they shove and push and just generally crowd me when it is not necessary. From people who stand too close in lines to the ones who squeeze into an already crowded lift, squishing you into a corner like a sardine, they are all universally obnoxious.
What really gets me though is that they truly do not realise what they are doing is not acceptable. Our country is a crowded one, lots of people squeezed into everything, from markets to busses, trains, schools and even hospitals. So we are used to elbowing ourselves a space and slipping into it wherever we go. The concept of giving someone their own personal space is rather alien to most of our population and more so if the person crowding you happens to be of the same sex, so it is okay if a woman happens to be pressing up against me in a bus and if I were to show discomfort or object I would be the weird one! As a people, we don't seem to have too many personal boundaries, and those of us who do are doomed to have them crossed every time we step out into a public space.
As a result I have developed my own defence strategies which include such ingenious things as carrying a messenger bag slung diagonal so it can be swivelled in whichever direction I need protection, and a slightly model-like stance in lines, with one foot stuck out in front (suitably clad in closed shoes of course) to ensure anyone backing into me without looking stumbles over it and then has to apologise for stepping on my toes thus making them more careful for the remainder of the queue time. Also in my arsenal are files or books held in the crook of my arm to impale any frontal attacks, one hand on the hip angled as required to give the elbow strategic advantage, switching bags from side to side and last but certainly not least, the perfected glower, guaranteed to wither all but the most thick skinned pusher and shover.
Perhaps I am being overly fussy - but I genuinely do not like being too close to people who I don't know and I think its perfectly reasonable to expect everyone to respect that. So, please, general public, GET BACK!!!!!!
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
You're NOT the boss of me!
Gulam Nabi Azad was reported in today's paper as having said that homosexuality is a disease and has come to India from 'western' lands or shores or some such. When I saw the article I thought I had misread it - but no such luck.
It is incredible that the Union Health Minister of a country like India would make a statement like that, showing his ignorance, bigotry and overall idiocy. It is really shameful that he is a representation of the quality of people that govern this country.
India has a huge gay and lesbian population, who, I am sure, didn't just pick up their sexual orientation by sitting next to others on a bus. It is a choice that they made and are totally entitled to. As much as I believe that religion is a totally personal thing and should be treated as such, I believe that a person has the right to choose their partner from whichever gender they wish. What gives any of us the right to stand in judgement?
So being homosexual in this country is a disease - but honour killing, rape and harassment of women by repressed creeps is not. Oh no! THAT is our own - our very own Indian culture, the great 'reeti-rivaaj' that is constantly being tom tommed by the moral police and daftoid politicians like Mr. Azad. No western shores involved there, I'm sure! Well done people!
It is not a disease Mr. Azad and frankly I think you and every other bigot and prude in this country should keep your noses out of people's very personal business.
It is incredible that the Union Health Minister of a country like India would make a statement like that, showing his ignorance, bigotry and overall idiocy. It is really shameful that he is a representation of the quality of people that govern this country.
India has a huge gay and lesbian population, who, I am sure, didn't just pick up their sexual orientation by sitting next to others on a bus. It is a choice that they made and are totally entitled to. As much as I believe that religion is a totally personal thing and should be treated as such, I believe that a person has the right to choose their partner from whichever gender they wish. What gives any of us the right to stand in judgement?
So being homosexual in this country is a disease - but honour killing, rape and harassment of women by repressed creeps is not. Oh no! THAT is our own - our very own Indian culture, the great 'reeti-rivaaj' that is constantly being tom tommed by the moral police and daftoid politicians like Mr. Azad. No western shores involved there, I'm sure! Well done people!
It is not a disease Mr. Azad and frankly I think you and every other bigot and prude in this country should keep your noses out of people's very personal business.
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