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?
Unable to find deeper meaning for the above (like a run of the mill).
ReplyDeleteAs a pedestrian, we always search for footpaths which are over occupied by the illicit budding vendors which are overlooked by the Power instead of razing it (A bit rude toward the future entrepreneurs).
Secondment to the above views of CAPTAIN (FRAGGLEROCK) it would be difficult in future to the FOOTS to find the PATH in ever-growing congestion. Sometimes (maybe most of the time) we ignore this as our daily commuting means use of invention of Karl Benz (for moneyed), and the local trains (for meager)…but the problem comes across for all which is not evident with the open eye and close mind.
May be the manner of walking is not lucid to me, but for me it brings out that for us the dwelling place is our country ignorance to the definition of country. We have to first change attitudinal attire which would patron the reinvention of village into towns, towns into city, and city into idyllic city.
Another important aspect of the attitude is the unspoken aggression. This is the 'I am surrounded by idiots' way of life.
ReplyDeleteImagine a situation where a car is standing in the middle of the road; not moving an inch and another car approaching from the behind (err.) starts honking like she's getting paid to (please note the use of the feminine for the driver...vive la women's lib). The most likely thought that will be going through the "vahanchalak's" head is (With the above marathi adaptation, gender is now unspecified)
Abbey bhe#$%^d sadak tere baap ki hai?
What amazes me is that my otherwise analytical people become more anal and less lytical at such times, giving in completely to road rage with an attitude akin to Shivaji who has caught Aurangzeb with his pants down (Or Akbar chancing upon M. Pratap at a compromising moment, or 'Insert Historical Epithet With Positive Behaviours That Are Worthy of Emulating Epithet Here' if you prefer).
Ease up and check your hypertension folks. Haldighati is now a tourist destination.
Also wanted to highlight a particular idiosyncracy of how the fairer sex choose to occupy the roads when walking together in a group of 3 or more.
ReplyDeleteI choose to say roads here (rather than footpaths) since much has already been bandied about the lack of appropriate pedestrian footpath infrastructure in the country.
Did you ever notice that when women-folk (especially college going girls) walk together on the road in groups of 3 or more, they invariably walk side-by-side (be it groups of 3, 4, 5 or even more girls!!!) in a horizontal queue formation thereby occupying the entire road. And suffice it is to say that the pace of their walking is invariably leisurely, so it can be would say the upholders of Right to Freedom.
While common sense and rational would screech that they split into smaller groups and don't form a human chain on the road, seldom does it prevail as far as this habit is concerned!!
Imagine any vehicle coming from behind or even pedestrians who are walking behind and wan't to overtake them - all they can do is honk or request excuse me respectively to move ahead.
You are reminded of the reality that when a group of girls walk together, they are entitled to treat the entire road as their fiefdom.
Pardon if the comment sounds chauvinistic but it is an observation which I think you can easily experience if you observe...
On the slightly tangential but somewhat related note, one can also comment on the proficiency of majority of women drivers (Renuka Kirpalani is an exception in India atleast!!!).
Perhaps, for a separate discussion...