The most obvious answer to this is "to get to the other side". Yes I know that. Isn't that the reason why anyone would cross the road? I should have titled this post as "Why did the Indian walk on the road?”. Aww forget it. Let’s get to the point. You may have observed millions of our fellow countrymen (we hardly do try to observe our own behavior; even if we did it would obviously be biased) walking on the road (and yes sometimes crossing it in the process). You may have been the observer, while driving a car; or while sipping coffee at a roadside coffee shop; or at while waiting at the paanwala shop while he is busy working with his skillful hands on some agricultural products to pander to your tastes (or addiction). What do you see? Nonchalance galore. Their slogan- "Mere Baap Ne Mujhe Ye Road Janam Din me Gift Diya hai". Be it a mighty truck or a lowly bicycle, nothing will stop the onward march.

Is it nonchalance? No. Definitely not. There is a not so obvious reason in this seemingly callous behaviour. It is a combination of fatalist attitude and the belief that one in control of a stronger power at that moment (be it government, police, press, anyone relevant to the situation......in this case the driver of the car) will do what it takes to control the situation - I (the road crosser) may take it easy and if anything goes wrong; it was fate.

Or maybe I am wrong. It could very well be a secret defiance of authority. A more careful observation reveals that this march may be very well kept in check by the public bus but almost never by a car. "The public bus is one of us, not the car". Is that the case?

LET ME CLARIFY that I am completely mindful of the fact that every city in this great country of ours has ignored the pedestrians. We have NO infrastructure for pedestrians and one cannot blame them for walking on the roads. I am simply trying to observe whether the behaviour also has some deeper meaning than simple explanation that there is no place to walk. Yes there is no place to walk - but the manner of the walk says a lot. What do you think?