It was around 8:30 p.m. I was going back home in my office shuttle. I was engrossed with my new mobile phone’s features. The shuttle stopped in a traffic signal. Few buses and lots of bikes waiting for the signal. A traffic policeman came closer to an Activa, took the keys, rattled it in front of the scooter owner and signaled him to come aside. I was shocked at the way the policeman behaved. I wanted to take a video of the policeman asking for bribe(Of course, with my brand new mobile 
). To my dismay, a KSRTC bus came in between and hid the entire scene from my eyes. No, from my mobile phone camera. My blog would have been another tehelka.com if I had captured that video 
24 Feb 2008, It was around 11:30 a.m. I was going back home on a Sunday in Hosur Road. Traffic jam on the way. A three road signal blocked by vehicles coming from all sides. Banker’s algorithm will not help in clearing this deadlock. May be common sense will. (I still remember OS fundas I studied in College!!). All of a sudden, one guy got down from his car and started hitting another guy who was on a TVS 50. The car driver tore the other man’s shirt, hit him badly and pushed his TVS 50 down with a bang. All for the sake of a scratch on his new car. Doesn’t he realize he doesn’t have any right to even touch the other person’s vehicle, if he’s worried about a scratch in his car? The TVS 50 guy tried to resist but someone in the crowd convinced him to leave the place immediately. I could read his face. He was very self conscious when he left the place. His TVS 50 didn’t start properly.
I do not know how I’ll react if I was in the Activa guy’s situation. It depends upon the urgency I’m in to decide if I should bribe or not. But in the second case, what would I do if I were the TVS 50 guy? Will I call the police and complain? When there’s no traffic policeman there, to whom will I complain? Probably, what if the traffic policeman demands for a bribe taking away my keys? Will anyone from the crowd come as a witness if I file a suit against the car driver? May be I will break all his car glasses for damaging my vehicle. Tit for Tat. That will satisfy my ego. I wish the TVS 50 guy had done this.
A common way to start a conversation with a stranger is inquiring about health or weather. If you stay in Bangalore, here’s one more topic to begin a conversation. Traffic.
Who do we blame for this insensitive traffic?
(a) Attitude of drivers (b) Traffic Policemen (c) Government authorities
I’m sure any citizen of Bangalore would say All the above. A few examples of the eccentricities of these classes are:
- The ultra smart decision from the authorities to occupy half of MG road for Metro Rail Project.
- Traffic Policemen who thrive on bribe
- Drivers who fight in the middle of the road.
- Drivers who have forgotten there is a horn in their vehicles.
I leave it to you to discuss the rest with the next stranger you meet.
Scooter said
I like your post.
Sometime your idea is correct.
And make me review myself again.
like scooter on the no destination way.
vijesh said
All IT employees are first prey for this bribing festival. They keenly watch for bikes that comes with other state registration. Sometimes they don even wait for putting a fine, instead first option given is to bribe.
I have my friend, where a policeman shamelessly asked him options of which nearest ATM he wants to go. Then finally ended up getting a ride with him to ATM and getting the bribe money and a ride back.
I would say instead of concentrating on catching these bikers, they could concentrate on streamlining the traffic. That could save lot. They will also be thanked.
Vishnu said
Journalist in you.. Gr8..
@Vijesh: man, thats too much.. Other than worrying over this, can we do something? I guess – that guy should have protested to give money if he had every thing with him.. that should have worked out..
Thunder said
Come late and Leave early
Why worry abt traffic?