Journey on Wheels

This maddening pace of life appalls me. I am unable to understand the intolerance of man especially on the road. This age has left no value for life. Day in and day out I see the number of youngsters traveling on footboard increasing. Now it has further gone a step ahead – from footboard to the wheel; youngsters precariously hanging on to the windows in the public bus without even a foothold. I wonder how much it would pain the parents of such youngsters if they are spotted performing such fetes. What is the hurry after all? What could be more important than life itself? What use is thrill if no life remains to enjoy it? What pleasure does such risk provide? What would one choose after all; the risk or the thrill? Which of these has a more lasting impression?

Why does it pain a man to wait in queue at a traffic signal? Is it education or is it culture that influences traffic etiquette? What will after all happen by a moment’s delay? Such gross deviations in traffic rules are actually loud indicators of what a mockery the government has made of itself. There are silent spectators of such spectacles everyday. A common educated office-goer who follows the rules is only left behind and ridiculed. In order to be accepted and not be the odd one out, he too joins the rat pack. Why isn't there anything called common-sense or logic left in man? If a regular commuter trespasses the oncoming traffic of the opposite side then why will there not be a traffic jam? Even when there is a free left, there are irate drivers honking continuously till the vehicle in front moves out of the way. It is said that in foreign land, honking is considered to be an insult. Then imagine the number of times a common man is insulted every day and also in turn insults a fellow human being. The countdown at traffic signals is another everyday event which surprises me. There are especially the 2-wheelers and auto drivers breaking all possible rules. These drivers will be the first ones to shoot off at countdown 3 or 2 itself.

Money has become the basic necessity of life. But it now rules our world by all means. I salute the ‘share’ auto drivers who strive to survive in this big bad world. This vehicle is their second home. Photographs of all gods & goddesses, and many a times of all religions donne their small & humble abode. It is after all their living. But the greed for a better living has always dominated the human life. That is the basic reason why fire came into existence – the discovery that cooked food tastes better than raw food. That explains – “Necessity is the mother of all inventions.” But does that explain why speakers are substituting for proper seats in these ‘share’ autos? A regular scene in Chennai nowadays – office goers getting late for office, the over-crowded public buses literally spilling with commuters is of no help. The autos are in now way dependable. They charge far more than what is the normal rate. Therefore these ‘share’ autos are flourishing. Who would pay Rs.35/- for an auto ride in comparison to the Rs.5/- fare in this ‘share’ auto. But it really is a sight to see such grown-ups sitting huddled up inside a box. In place of maximum 5-6 people being seated, 11-12 people are taken on board.

Summarizing the whole debate, reaching our destinations on time is more important than how we travel. Right from a stylish college student to a domestic maid, a labourer to an office-goer, this ‘share’ auto is a boon compared to the undependable public buses and autos.