Try being a traffic cop in Mumbai
A few days back, I was waiting for my dad at Goregaon Check-Naka. [If you unfamiliar with Mumbai, this is one of the busiest traffic signals on Mumbai’s western express highway.] It was about 7:45 PM and traffic was bustling from all four sides of the chowk. There were three traffic cops trying their best to man the traffic lights (cops were manually handling the lights since the traffic was uneven so the automatic option was not viable) and at the same time, trying to make sure no one disobeyed the lights. It took a lot of effort but they were managing exceptionally well. They were at the peak of their efficiency. I felt proud and happy to see how professional they were!
In the midst of the controlled chaos, some upstart teenager yelled at one of the cops to make his signal light green. The cop gave him an earful (once again I felt happy!). In due course, the light turned green and the teenager sped away. But as he went past the cop, he hurled an abuse and vanished before the cop even had the time to think!
I was standing next to the cop and I felt angry. The cop stared in the wake of the teenager’s bike, enraged. Slowly, as the event sunk in his mind; shoulders crouched and head down, he walked away from the signal to take a temporary break from his duty. His was the walk of a schoolboy wrongly ordered out of the class by the teacher!
Is this what we give him for doing his job and that too exceptionally well?
Sometimes, I think as a race, we are crass!
In the midst of the controlled chaos, some upstart teenager yelled at one of the cops to make his signal light green. The cop gave him an earful (once again I felt happy!). In due course, the light turned green and the teenager sped away. But as he went past the cop, he hurled an abuse and vanished before the cop even had the time to think!
I was standing next to the cop and I felt angry. The cop stared in the wake of the teenager’s bike, enraged. Slowly, as the event sunk in his mind; shoulders crouched and head down, he walked away from the signal to take a temporary break from his duty. His was the walk of a schoolboy wrongly ordered out of the class by the teacher!
Is this what we give him for doing his job and that too exceptionally well?
Sometimes, I think as a race, we are crass!
posted by Leziblogger at 11:56 PM
2 Comments:
There's a thing called "Sanskaar" which we seem to be forgetting to pass on.
In this materialistic society we are becoming, we give our children good toys, good clothes, good education but miss on giving them quality time which they need where we could pass on the good values we have inherited from our elders.
what do u say?
Loner: Agreed! values or virtues of sankaar, whatever one calls it, is in such a short supply! your comment brings up such a valid point about parenting also!
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