United by a shared sense of helplessness : Part II
Thursday 21 March 2013
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Blabbering may or may not be
human nature but is certainly a prominent feature exhibited by them when
confined in limited space. A war of words broke out in the bus with the
philosophers, the humourists, the satirists and the critics among the
passengers pouring out their words of wisdom, aggravating tension in the
atmosphere inside the bus.
“The demon of corruption is slowly eating away our economy. For every
petty task, those in authority demand money. Everyone seems to have been caught
in this intricate web of lust and greed for money”, a philosopher in the
bus observed. There was absolute unanimity on the subject of corruption.
“In the coming days it seems, you would have to part away with your
pennies to even ask the way to your destination”, a humourist interrupted.
The passengers laughed bitterly hearing this and many others joined with their
tales of agony as everyone had been a victim of this malaise at some point of
some in their life.
Jagdish stood quietly in a corner pondering over these wise
thoughts and wished if such harmony prevailed in the Indian Parliament as well.
The passenger standing next to him had his own way of relaxing by playing some
old unheard songs at a high volume on his phone that looked like an exact
replica of the expensive Apple iPhones.
The argument outside the bus had
now descended to ugly physical expression with some beleaguered young men
pelting stones at each other’s vehicles. As the situation turned violent, a PCR
van was called to ‘restore’ law and order. After hours of hard work, the snarl
finally broke as the traffic lights were made functional. The arduous journey
resumed.
Shoddy accident investigation and
rampant corruption coupled with periodic cosmetic recommendations made by the
government regarding road safety have made Indian roads deadlier than ever. The
need of the hour is to develop an organised system of traffic management and
safety. Overloading, drunken driving and driving beyond speed limits should
invite strict action in terms of challans
and even imprisonment. The cops found taking bribe on duty must be severely
punished. There should be compulsory training before issuance of permanent
driving license for vehicles. State Road Safety Councils may be set up to
strictly enforce traffic rules.
Every year, a large number of
innocent lives are lost in road accidents. Let us pledge to adhere to the laws
and ensure a safe travel experience for fellow citizens.
JAI HIND
Categories:
common man,
corruption,
destination,
development,
emotions,
struggle
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