Why are we always in such a hurry, we Indians, myself included? Say, for example, why this innate dislike for queues? You could read Sid’s post here for more on our queue conundrum.
I feel if possible, and at times it indeed is, we just pretend that those in a queue do not exist at all. We march right ahead feigning urgency without regret. Or, maybe we do? Fake remorse but only when someone from the back calls us for it. Better yet we use offence as our defense for how dare anyone stop us from ignoring the queue? We are after all kings and queens in our heads. It’s as if waiting in a queue, following a rule, wasn’t in our ‘How to live your life’ brochure. Don’t get me wrong even I hate having to wait. But I do, even if I sulk, I still follow the line however boring it all might be. Thus what I can’t understand is this innate hurry that we as a nation seem to be in.
Look at our streets! Where do I even begin? Those on foot cannot seem to wait for the traffic lights to signal a safe passage. It’s like at any moment a whistle is blow inside our head and we run. Who cares if it’s into a barrage of poorly driven cars? I’m guilty of this too. In fact, a few months back when I was in Europe I found it so hard to wait for the green walk symbol to cross virtually empty streets. The Indian in me wanted to just run to the other side. Of-course, the fear of being fined and the strong grip of S stopped me from, well, being me. So you see what I mean? We are in a perpetual state of haste for some strange reason. And I have no idea what that is.
Bikes swish-swoosh through the streets with no respect for direction or even people for that matter. In fact, apart from roads they lay claim on the footpaths too. But then are our cars and buses behind? Oh certainly not. Have you seen how we all drive? Traffic signals are a nuisance to us. Be it red, amber or green we always push the accelerator with the same might. Cars with the ‘L’ symbol on them are not spared either. I think we are bullies in many ways. For us, only our time is valuable while anyone else could just go take a hike for all we care. I don’t know if we will ever change. Perhaps our population equation is one of the reasons for this hurry, callousness and disrespect for rules? Maybe. But still I don’t see why we can’t try to be better at it and maybe, just maybe, control this urge to break every basic rule. I mean we could start with not crossing the road unless it is advisable by the color of the signal to do so? I’m sure population or disparity in wealth as a nation has nothing to do with that?
I guess it’s something we all need to ponder on.
Well, in other news, I finished reading Dissolution by C.J Sansom yesterday. It is set in the 1500s in England at a time when monasteries were being dissolved. I took time with this one but it was definitely worth it. In fact, one of the best written books in terms of attention to detail with respect to the subject and era. So I can definitely say that the past one week was well spent read. The next book in line is Police by Jo Nesbo. Will let you know how this one goes.
That’s all for today.
Have a great weekend.
Ciao.
PS: No Offence meant to anyone. Just my observation.
It seems to have become a part of our DNA. The chaos we have around and the high pressured lives we lead is also to blame.
Naba, I agree with you. The Indian in all of us wants to just run to the other side. May be too much population here and too much waiting has made us impatient. I long back realized the same thing, people in hurry, too much noice and chaos around and had posted a Hindi poem on my blog.
We all need to ponder on this thing and need to learn to be patient!
Someone once told me that driving on Indian roads is like a yoga in itself. Lots of practice for mental calm and detachment and equanimity. I agree.
So try to see the good in everything, I say 🙂
But seriously, the problem is not so much that we don't want safer roads or more disciplined traffic etc. It is just that even though we have all these traffic rules and fines for breaking the rules, etc. , but there is no strict implementation of those rules and punishments. Lack of proper governance, that's what it all comes down to, I think.
I have a theory on that… it's to show people that they are busy!! What else could be the reason for everyone to be in perpetual state of haste. I have slowed down a lot after coming here. I could so relate to your green signal incident 😀
It is said, he who can drive on the roads of Kolkata, can drive anywhere and everywhere 😀
Jokes apart, most of our cities, not only Kolkata, suffer from this disease of 'speeding for nothing'…we are always busy..so busy that we don't have the time to obey the traffic rules….sigh…I can relate to your post Nabanita..fully..
yea.. agree with you. We speed unnecessarily and we are always so busy!
We all need to slow down just a bit.. take a deep breath and then move again! heh!
yeah! we are always in a hurry to reach somewhere..where? not many know exactly 😛
Yes, Driving, walking and definitely queues in India are like going to war. Whole of Indian needs patience and courtesy.
No offence taken whatsoever. It is a very valid observation. The fact is people are made aware and conscious only when there is a penalty to pay. That is the sad truth. The idea of doing something because it is right, is a lost cause. Nobody believes in that anymore. Sad state of affairs. Very clearly stated, Naba.
The thing is we Indians have so much patience in all the wrong things. We can wait for months to get a loan sanctioned or a paper moved in the government office. We can patiently wait for the corrupt officials to consider our case……so the only place we can show our impatience is on the road and stuff.
Funny we all are.
This post is amusing Nabanita! 😉 Like I love this line, "we use offence as our defense" haha 😉 However, I would like to inform you that we in the Western world are not always great at queues either! Depends what the line-up is for? 😉 <3
This post is amusing Nabanita! 😉 Like I love this line, "we use offence as our defense" haha 😉 However, I would like to inform you that we in the Western world are not always great at queues either! Depends what the line-up is for? 😉 <3
I think the whole world is in a hurry…seriously! LOL
Having fractured a hand thanks to the 'urgent' incursion of a bike on the footpath, this SO vibed with me 🙂
Very true, Naba. After staying in Phoenix, where traffic rules are followed by each and every individual, both drivers and pedestrians, it felt wrong walking on Indian streets, especially Bangalore. I will probably publish a post about it soon. This comment section is not enough to pour out my thoughts on that. It's true, people are in rush and for what we never know. It's like they got it in mind that by unfollowing the rules they can save more time. I say they because we were not breaking rules in India but eventually we had to, you know how it goes there. 🙂 But here in UK where we live now, it is kind of India. Drivers follow rules though but not pedestrians.
So true ..all of a sudden it seems it's easy for us to rush …It comes so naturally
True Shesha..our population and the waiting due to that could be one of the main reasons
True Beloo that would certainly make things easier…And yes implementation is truly a major area that is a cause for concern
Ya showing off is again one of our intrinsic traits…So yes it could be that!
True…the fact is that we don't even think that it is actually really dangerous that we don't!
I wish we could do that …I really wish!
hehe true…that's the million dollar question I think! 😀
Oh yes we certainly do!
So sad …If only we could just follow some basic rules, just some not even all!
That is actually so true Red…We do wait for so many things in which we should actually fight the system and not let things be dragged on..But sadly we take that all out in the streets
Oh I'm sure the extent is very less there Elly….I think we have a huge population that is one of the reasons for the impatience
In a perpetual race no!
Oh I didn't know that Suresh…These bikers I tell you!
I guess we defy rules in different ways in different corners of the world, reasons and rules being different…What do you say?