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Friday, July 31, 2009

Rants & Raves - Maniacs on the roads
So, well, the website is up and running. You can certainly dispute the "running" since there is hardly much stuff on it. But then like I say in here, "it will grow by fits and starts"...

Very well then. So what do I talk about? There are of course topics by the dozen, genres by the bucketfuls... Politics? Films? Books? Travel? Finance? Life, maybe? Okay, here's what: I will get to better, more uplifting topics later. For now, let me hold forth on one of my pet peeves--pouring molten lead: the unmitigated disasters that drive on the roads of Delhi... no, make that India.

Most drivers on the roads of our dear nation haven't a clue about driving--their skill being very categorically limited to starting up the engine, pushing the clutch, shifting the gear and letting go after that. The likely response from these worthies, when pointed out, would run something like these:

"Indicators? What are they? Lanes? Eh? Where on earth are these things? Traffic lights? What do you mean, 'traffic lights!'... oh, you mean one has to go by their changing colours? I always thought they were bad copies of disco lights... and hey, why should I go by what others tell me? India is a free country. And listen, do not tell me about high beams and low beams at night! I need to see where I am going... what do you mean by saying my headlights blind drivers coming on the opposite track? They have to fend for themselves, and in any case, such wimps can wear dark glasses! And don't go on and on about 'right of way'! I haven't heard of this thing in my life and moreover, there is no need for me to know either. So there!"

Well, there you are. That's the attitude rife on our roads. But you take one of these urban souls and plonk him on the roads of a country like, purely as an example, Singapore, and see him transform. Bloom, literally. He will mutate before your very eyes into a paragon of driving, following each rule meticulously, obeying the law of the land, with no random creativity streaks hampering such compliance. Why? Of course, you know that: He knows deep inside, that a rule-break will be costly, and that there is no escape.

Meandering along, this leads us to implementation of the law. It is not that we do not have laws--we have plenty, perhaps more than we need--it is just that we know--know--that we can get away with it most of the times.

There is of course plenty more to say... but time, that constantly moving ticker, has moved on and so do I need to... but there will be more. Till then, adios.
Fri, July 31, 2009 | link          Comments


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About Indranil

Indranil Mukherjee is an aspiring author of fiction but a long-time amateur writer, who has taken a break from his software career to give expression to his main passion: Writing. And if provided with timely sustenance to keep body and soul together, he loves to read. Besides these, he digs driving, travelling to all corners of the world, sampling all variety of food, meeting people, learning new stuff, listening to music, and about a couple of hundred other things. Curious about life, and armed with 25 years’ worth of experience observing people from all over the world while working with them, he fancies he has stories to tell. Rather nifty ones.

Besides completing this collection of short stories based on an Indian Railways officer’s real-life experiences--he already has a novelette eBook selling on Amazon titled "Re-Kill: when an assassin's professional pride is hurt..."--he has several works underway that comprise sci-fi, fantasy-humour-adventure, thriller, and has a maelstrom of other plots whirling in his head that occasionally meld nicely to create interesting dreams. And yes, a spot of scripting too.

Indranil is married to Sanghamitra, and they live in Delhi, along with their mother. Their son, Ayoush, lives in the US, big into data.
 

He can be found right here where his blog lives, awaiting updates on life, the universe, and everything.
 

You can contact him directly on this mail ID: indranilmukherjeeauthor@outlook.com 

The most important communication between readers and the writer is the former's feedback... it's lifeblood! Request you to tell me things which you believe need to be told! The good, the not so good, and the downright bad! Thank you already! Smile