Herd Mentality

It is amazing how Indians always quote their ancestral sayings and beliefs so regularly and consider them as maxim.

I have heard this particular quotation, say a million times -
"Wo kuyein mein kudega to tu bhee kuud jayega" (If he'll jump into a well, will you also jump into the well?)

Yet, I see that everywhere in India, there is a general tendency to not think for oneself and follow a herd mentality.

"If you are by yourself, wait for a while, let there be a group and then whatever we'll do we'll do it together." is a meme which is so prevalent here.

You can see it on the roads, in terms of traffic, or colleges with their students all wanting to do engineering, investments in land, venture(that actually might be a bit wise). Even when breaking law, it is a common excuse that 'baaki bhi to nahin kar rahe, to mein kyun karoon' (if others aren't following, then why should I?).

I say, thats excellent my dear herd. For the shephard!

Well organized barricades and direction boards VS. Screaming police walas

When it comes to organizing, lets accept it, most Indians fall into the last minute planners. And this is true even with IPL organizers and the local police.

Personally, I feel that well designed barricading and boards with clearly written directions(in various languages) work better than impolite policemen screaming on top of the their pitches and threatening with their 'lathis'. Tell me if I'm wrong.

Thats no way to make some one welcome. IPL, Mohali Police.. knock knock.

Jugaad mentality

Should one's endeavors be to pursue perfection at what one tries to do 

OR ....just to get it done.

We are India. We like to sleep.

Pic Courtesy: Preet Arjun Singh's Blog

The Indian society

Thapadh: Indian Roads Kill??

A hundred credible sources say that India has the highest road accident deaths in the world. Most recently the India Today cover story gave some gruesome numbers about Indian road accidents.

- 1 out of 10 road deaths is that of an Indian (10% of the world road deaths)
- 13 people die on the roads in India every hour
- 114,590 deaths per year, more than that by terrorism or natural disasters

If these numbers don't shock you and you think this is yet another statistic, then YOU are the problem. Wake up and stare at this big number.

When you go out on the road in India, you are risking your life for a need as basic as transportation?

You drive rash, change lanes rapidly without indication or even a look into the rear view mirrors. You honk at everyone and don't respect others on the road .. be it pedestrians, automobiles or bicyclers. You drive on the wrong side and cut through traffic jams at the expense of others. You stop in the middle of the road JUST to buy your groceries, while others suffer and are stuck in a jam behind you. You unjustly overtake and overspeed to save off a couple minutes off of your journey, but end up waiting with me at the next traffic signal. You risk it all .. my life, your life, pedestrians life .. only to shave of a few seconds from your travel time. The roads cant kill .. they are inanimate, YOU KILL.

Yet when one of our kin dies in a road accident, we are shocked.



Wake up and be a 'JUST' and responsible driver.

"In an unjust system, injustice will visit you too, sooner or later."

Thapadh: Committees and Probes

“A committee has been formed.” or "A probe has been launched" are probably the most written lines in newspapers in India. I wonder why we never hear of the probes or committees bringing out any useful conclusions to issues/problems. I guess the govt. just uses the "surplus" tax money it collects to pay-off these committee members and to fund the "special" probes and never really bothers to check their reports, while they sleep in govt chairs. No offence to useful Indian govt employees. Oh wait .. lets have a count of those people.