Where does this happen?

You enter this building, fully air conditioned, lots of computers and people sitting and working there. Ofcourse they have customers in front of them and they are serving the request. Now you are a stranger to that place and you need some help from them. You enter the building and walk in. There are some people sitting idle with the computer before them but no one bothers to ask you, "May I help you". And later on you feel so much out of the place with no clue as to which side to walk and enquire your query!! Finally you head to a desk where someone is not busy with any customer and tell them excuse me, and you see them looking at you only after a long gap and finally responding a simple "YES". By then, you wonder why did I come here for my work. I should have gone somewhere else where is there is more concern for customers :(

Cinematic Truth

This is something I had been wanting to pen down for more than a month now. I heard 2 extreme acts by dr and drivers which made me wonder where are we heading to.

Until few weeks back I never really thought that hospitals will deny admission to patients of road accident with the reason as "Police case". The patient was bleeding with head injuries after a hit and run by auto man and the hospital denies him treatment. I also learnt from this accident that there are so many GH in towns where they still dont have basic first aid facilities as well!!

You take a non stop bus from one place to another. Half way thru the journey you receive a emergency call and ask the driver to stop right in the highway as you need to travel back right away. As humans we expect that drivers will understand our emergency and stop the bus for couple of minutes. I heard of this incident when the passengers pleading for stopping the bus inorder to handle some emergency were denied saying "Non stop service"

Are human values lost forever in India?

Changes in a short time

I know I am yet to feel more difference than what I have felt. In continuation to my previous post, as we landed in Doha airport, I started realising that I miss USA and will miss it more in days to come. The atmosphere and feel at the Doha airport was enough to start with. I realised I am already quite far from US!! Secondly on landing in Chennai, the way people removed the seat belts even before the signs were up and the way they were so fast to take the hand baggage from the cabin above made me wonder if I was already in Koyembedu Bus stop!!

Just 3 baggage claim area made me wonder, how could people call this as "Anna International Airport" Except for the fact that international flights really arrive, there was not a single reason why it should be called "International"

The horn sounds from vehicles together with Air pollution adds to once tension. Very soon roller coasters might be termed milder when compared to Chennai Auto Drivers!

This is just the changes I have seen in 12 hrs. Wondering how much more to see but at the same time after a week, I would get used to it as well!! Thats India for Indians!!

Do we have fear to drive in Chennai?

I often feel 90% of people driving in Chennai drive as though they can anytime meet the dead end!! But is it never possible to have safe driving in our cities?

I wonder sometimes if our people in Chennai know the meaning for Discipline in Driving!! Its not just with the drivers but we also need good roads to drive through.  I had never done anything more than 5 or 6 hrs in car in TamilNadu. Even in the few drives of 5 hrs, we had ended up picking a taxi / mini van. I know it does not make my travel any safe. Atleast when we drive, we have some control but with the taxi drivers its worse. Even when I tell him "You can be slow, I am not in hurry" the reply we get is "எனக்கு தெரியும் மேடம், நான் பத்து வருஷமா வண்டி ஓதுநர்" My entire drive would be a mess as I would be worrying about reaching home safe and would never enjoy the drive.

When every driver fails to go by rules, why is that he is not realising its his life too in trouble? Or have we lost all importance to a human life? We hear so much every day but then can we avoid travelling? No!! Even to get to work I have so many friends travelling 1 hr in bike and car. Infact its not that only long distance can lead to traggic road accidents and death but any short drive which is rash and bad can put our life in trouble.

Very often when I read my friend's Blog, I had thought what is the use of his writting? No one is changing and follwoing rules while driving. But today as I write I can understand how he would have felt everytime he wrote. May be its more because he drives every day while I take to driving very rarely.

The day I realised I have lost my dear friend in a tragic road accident, I went so mad that I wondered if I should ever drive again? One second and one mistake, it can end a person's life!!! Road accidents and death right from school bus to youth in bikes and middle aged people in car!! Where are we heading to?

The driving I have seen in US is fun, enjoyable. The real broad roads with perfect lane maintainence, makes me drive more often than usual. I would not be partial to say its too perfect here. I can point out one place, Los Angeles where driving is not as good as it is in other parts of the country. When we drove in here I felt like being in Chennai!!  At the same time its too good in some other places here. We have taken long distance drive like 11 hrs at stretch and we never felt worried or tensed. It was all plesant and fun to have those long drives. 

Its time our people value human lifes and keep in mind all driving safety measures and follow them even if fellow drivers neglect. Ofcourse equally important is the road maintainance system. I wonder if there will ever be changes there!!!

Why is our system so bad?

Will we ever have any of the below implemented in our country?

1.When someone makes an accident while driving, he should be given a heavy ticket

2.Cases of fatal accidents, licence must be ceased....

3.Once you get 3 tickets , your licence is cancelled.... Go thru the complete process once more and get a fresh licence...

4.You have to first go and write the written test for driving licence and cant just sign a paper and driving school gets you the learner licence.

5.Planned driving road test must be conducted and paying driving school should never help you get licence as now....

I see all this as just silly dreams.... But sitting away from India, I admire each of these systems followed here. Everyone here checks for the speed limit in each area and drives. The first day it sounded shocking and then from day 2 I enjoyed that system and understood how much it reduces accidents and traffic issues :)

I am scared that very soon I will feel I should settle here in US :( Infact I am so eager to drive here these days :)

Exam Fever.. Election Fever... IPL Fever.. !!!

First and foremost which of the above 3 is toping the list in Chennai/India now? I dont know. For every student the first one will decide his future career..... the second one is supposed to improve our country status to get us as a developed country and the last one is for our pride..afterall cricket is religion in India :) and I am no exception to that list of cricket lover :)

I wonder how the election fever is back home. I miss it this time... But how does it matter who wins... the problems of common men will never change... Traffic jam, bad driving, unsafe travel... Poor education system, education for money .... no punctuality in any sector.. no planning of work... pathetic broken roads, dirty mess everywhere in the roads , this is a never ending list :(

One thing is sure, when i go back to India, the first few weeks will be miserable to handle and get set with my old life :( But at the same time, one major factor pulling me back home is family :) So whatever is the trouble of living there, I will come back soon :)