There is a peculiar phenomenon that happens on Bangalore roads. Whenever the traffic stops at a signal, some of the vehicles behind quickly make their way outside the median onto the side of the road belonging to the traffic from the opposite side. These vehicles move ahead a bit and then try to get back by fobbing the guys who have been disciplined enough to stick to their side. In most cases, they are not able to, and they are at the receiving end of contemptuous glares. I wonder what these guys believe- the Bhagavad Gita moral of ‘end justifying the means’? Or is it to do with solving the immediate problem and figuring out the right/wrong of it later?
The last few days have been bad for the global workforce in general. While the layoffs in the US seemed somehow far away, the Jet axing was closer. A few days back, a couple of my twitter friends worriedly spoke about how a few of their colleagues were being asked to put in their papers. They are young kids, in their mid twenties, perhaps in their first jobs. Most likely, they have grown up seeing (at least the first) trends of opulence. Even in their earning life, it has been a life of choice abundance, that has spawned a life on EMI.
Sometimes, they remind me of the guys who go across the median. They get glares from those who feel they’re not entitled to be where they are, that’s okay, I think they have learnt to deal with that, but I am not sure if they have learnt to deal with the massive truck that will come bearing down on them from the opposite side. They will panic when they have nowhere left to go. But hopefully, it will help them gain some perspective.
One of the good things about most people of my generation is that they have been brought up with the strong foundations of what is fondly or deprecatingly (depending on who says it) called the great indian middle class. There are a lot of values there that stand you in good stead. I sometimes wonder if the cosmos has its own ways of inculcating the values it wants to see in us mere mortals. Quite a humbling thought, that…
until next time, keep the faith
I Apologize upfront for the gyan – Traffic and values/dreams for a majority of us are like water…you put a barrier and both will just flow around it…into the next available lane…..brain overload…need coffee 😉
You think the universe keeps score?
Unaffected, it just goes on.
hmmm that’s too much generalization I guess!
For myself, I started with a patry sum for a salary but among my friends I have seen those who started off really well and were spoilt for choice but are still quite grounded even if they were pampered silly.
paltry*
Well, unless you have experienced this phenomenon in Mumbai, you havent seen anything ! The difference in Mumbai being, getting on to the oncoming traffic lane is not a prerogative of two wheelers alone.
I sometimes stare in complete disbelief, as i see a BEST bus loom in front of me ! On my lane !
And then you know, you will stay there for a long time. For no fault of yours. You call it Karma and think of ancestral sins and clear the dust specks from the dashboard.
Just like what we are doing to the world !
epiphany: i’ve heard that from you before (on your blog, if i remember) and i agree 🙂
austere: the workings of the cosmos are not so easy to decipher, child :p
stone: sometimes, my friend, sometimes… 🙂
arunima: very good for them 🙂
kavi: lord, here we go, Mumbai!! every place has its own idiosyncrasies. i haven’t seen anything until i’ve seen everything…don’t worry, thats just my baggage 😐 meanwhile, what we can do is not go on the wrong lane ourselves…
With good music, and loads of patience, ignorance is bliss buhahaha !!