When we first translocated to Bombay in one of father's numerous intercity transfers, we were quite fascinated by the metropolis, having been mostly stationed at relatively small places,though they went by the grand names of District Headquarters
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We were suitably impressed by Bombay with its skyscrapers (all of 5 floors high!!) on Queens Road where we lived. Even more so, by double decker buses and traffic lights. My brother Joe and I were also fascinated by the adventure of crossing the road, gallantly escorting Mummy who was nervous, as befitted a lady-likeu00a0 lady. She had been a Queen of the roads in our previous posting at Vijayawada. In Bombay she would remain glued to the sidewalks letting 'I dare not wait upon I will!!'
Joe (13) and I (11) would take her by an arm on each side and guide her across the traffic, like two tiny tugs in a stormy harbour! But Bombay traffic was safe and orderly. It just seemed overwhelming to a District HQ mind.
u00a0When father retired we came to Bangalore to settle down. Mummy didn't have to navigate the roads on foot.
We had a large ugly car (a Hudson) which could accommodate our family of 2 plus 7. Or cycle rickshaws and (later) auto rickshaws. Traffic in the '60s and '70s was a bit disorderly, but not unsafe.
Compare that with today. From the '60s the town/city began to grow. People chugged around slowly on a Jawa, Lambretta andu00a0 occasionally a 'Bullet'. Now every body believes they must ride or drive like a bullet. The topic of Bangalore's unsafe traffic is flogged to death.
Old pensioners cannot expect to count out their days in Paradise. In the natural way, not being rushed there by overspeeding b******s, in the early hours of dawn. Pensioners on their morning walks, get rammed by drunken b******s on their way back from partying all night.
The rules of the road have been changed, or at any rate the 'spirit' of the driversu00a0 has changed. I remember Father protesting 'What's the matter with you children, turning night into day and day into night? I wonder what he would have thought of today's topsy turvy town.
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It is unsafe to walk on the roads. Or on the sidewalks which have been turned into 'skywalks' two feet above the road. So one has to jump up and down every 5 to 10 feet.u00a0 Or walk in the middle of the road, or... It is equally hazardous to drive or ride a vehicle.
u00a0It is even unsafe to travel by public transport. The pedestrians are striking back.... Burning tyres, breaking unbreakable windows of buses. Though their victims are very rarely connected with the 'crime', or 'grievance' which the 'Sene' or 'Raj' or whoever claim to be our moral police.
Perhaps the only way for survival is to stay off the roads. Stay off the sidewalks. Stay off the skywalks. (Even at 2 feet high people are not safe from drunken, speeding traffic!!! As you probably read...)
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