We Are Like This Only!

We Are Like This Only!
...goes the saying in our country. Whoever coined this phrase has said it right.

There was a small plot lying vacant diagonally opposite to the flats where I live. For almost a week, I have been observing construction material being dumped on the main road causing inconvenience to all the commuters on this road...believe me this is the only main road for all the 250 odd flats of Sai Sairam Manor apartments and surrounding residences forget the rest who use this road as a short cut to Srinagar colony from Yousufguda.

Coz of this dumping and construction in full swing, one can imagine what the condition of the road and the plight of the people using this road would be. I decided to follow up with the Maintenance office folks of our Apartment complex to get the road cleared. I got a response from them stating that the supervisor at the construction site is not paying any heed to us so cannot do much!

So I contemplated for a day and then thought of resolving this problem on my own yesterday.

Yesterday, May 6th morning I decided to drop Shreya at her summer camp and then pick up some mangoes from Reliance Fresh as Sandip was keen on relishing some good mangoes...the Benishaan variety especially.

As my driver drove the steep slope of the apartment gate, I was perplexed to see that the road was completely blocked by this damn material and everyone just managed to drive on the rubble but not a single soul bothered to complain or request the supervisor at the site to clear this mess up. (This did remind me of the VIP Briefs ad...showing how people in India "adjust" in all ways possible:-) )

Anyway, I carried on with my work and thought of talking to the supervisor on my return home. I called up Sandip and updated him. (Sandip called up the GHMC call center and lodged a complaint.) As said, I did speak to the supervisor and couple of them at the site requesting them to make way so that people can use this road with ease. I was told that the whole masonry would be cleared in an hours time.

In fact my bigger worry was to get this cleared asap because even 10 mins of rain turns this road into a river, literally! You never know when the summer showers would show up their face in this city!

Being an optimist, I came home a bit frustrated thinking about the people around who live in the flats next door, next blocks, the so-called president of the society, the secretary, the treasurer, god knows what they designate themselves. These guys are always ready to assemble for any religious activity be it Ganesh Chaturti or the not-so-important one day affair of Rama Navami (atleast for me!), etc.

I came home and told Sandip that the situation outside on the road demands that we do something! Not for us but atleast for the people...for medical emergency as there was no space left on the road for an ambulance to drive in.

We decided to lodge a complaint and inform concerned government authorities so that something could be done sooner or atleast get a positive response.

The first thought the came in what to call Diya, our friend, so that we could get a TOI reporter to get this covered by the media. Diya, always positive in approach, told me that she would get back to me asap on this matter.

But I was loosing my patience and was really frustrated and starting questioning:
- Why is it that people are so indifferent?
- Why is that nobody cares or shows interest in getting things in order?
- Forget about the whole society, why does not one Sairam Manor resident come forward to make some difference in the surroundings of the apartment itself?
- Religious activities are given so much of importance...do I called this devotion? Loud speakers being played at full volume so show that Prayers are on.
Isn't this noise pollution?
- If the literates show this attitude towards the society, why do we expect the illiterates to behave in a better way?

Well...time was ticking by and Sandip only prompted to dial 100 and inform police. For me this was nothing new. I had dialed the Banjara Hills police station on various instances to get things in order earlier. Without hesitation I called up Banjara Hills PS but none answered the call. It was very unusual as there has always been a prompt response from these cops. I hung up. I dialed 100 and within 3 mins, someone did pick up the call. I explained the details with location. I was told that the police would reach the spot in 15 mins.

As I was waiting for the police to come, I took my camera and went down to click few snaps so that I could send it to the TOI. Diya called and confirmed the TOI reporter is only available by lunch time. But no worries, the cops called up to confirm that they will be reaching in 5 mins.
Sandip also came down and confirmed that the police would be reaching in 10 mins.

The cops, Sandip and I went to the construction site and spoke to the supervisor. Heated arguments, shouts, could only be expected. The cop was ready to arrest the supervisor and take him to the PS. But we interfered and said that our intention to call police was not to arrest someone but to get things in order. For all you know, the cops would take him to the PS and leave the supervisor after an hour or so...after taking some bribe? What do you think?

In sometime, the matter got resolved. We were promised that the rubble would be cleared in an hour's time and the same would not be repeated. And I did promise the supervisor that everyday I would take a snap of the site and keep it posted to concerned authorities if things get worse after this day!

Finally, came home exhausted but was really happy with the result and was content that we could do our bit to help others at least this way!

But it is sad that for such petty matters, one has to involve the police (these cops have much bigger challenges to handle), otherwise who listens to you?

We Indians are like this only!
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Author- Madhumati Dubey

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Seoni Police - a brief interaction

Our interactions with the police department when one is in the city/metro is limited to a traffic constable, mobile van or the local beat officer.

In one of my latest trip to a place in Madhya Pradesh, we did face the rural cousins of the urban police force. It was a very interesting experience, which I thought of sharing.

Travelling in two cars with the second car following my car we were near a village called Barghat, Seoni district, when I got a call from my friend stating that a motorcycle lost balance and scratched against their car. The motorist after travelling for some distance lost control and fell. As he was describing this, we were crossing Barghat town, suddenly around 10-12 police men were seen in the road and one of them just signalled to us " Side le chalo, Khabar aaie hai ki tum log accident kar ke aya ho". My driver said we have done nothing like that...howeveranother constable stated " Jhachan padtal ke baad pata chalega, tum police station chalo" So here we go and we asked to park in front of the police station.

By this time, we saw the second vehicle also come in and a swarm of village folks following it..."Yehi gaadi hai, jo accidentt kiya hai". Already the by-standers numbers were swelling to 100+ and the police folks around 15+...as if the catch was a notorious terrorist...The complianant was not to be seen.

The typical constable was chewing tobacco(Gutka), shabbily dressed, pot bellied, uncombed hair...however the slogon on the gateand police station stated "Desh Bhakti, Jan Seva". The TI shaheb(Thana Incharge) arrived at the scene in a old rickety vehicle and he then started asking questions...He inspected the vehicel and said..."Pata nahin accident hone waala jaab aayenge tab hum Compromise kar lenge"

As things were moving....its was already an hour and the crowd continued to look at us. Suddenly, we see 5-6 local boys(Goondas type folks-pony tails, jeans, latest mobiles, chewing gutka) walk in and the leader did a namaste and said "Ka ho TI saheb, hamra kaam kaab hoga" As this person entered the TI saheb and all other constables said "sirji salaam, chotte se accident issue solve kar raha hain, uske baad wahin aajanege" A complete role reversal...our police saluting the apparent goonda...the leader walks up to the car and inspects it..."Aare yeh to choti baat hai TI saheb".

While all this was happening the benevolent TI said to us that we can continue in our journey and they will leave the second car after some more investigation.....So,we hired a local jeep and moved on.

After 3 hours of our arrival at the destination, the second car reached...the driver was asked to pay Rs.1,000 as the compromise money(apparently it went to the TI Saheb). We did hear the localites say that come evening the police station turns to a Gamblling and liquor den with the goondas and police sharing the same esteem place.

What an experience...I didnot have the courage to take photos of this incident...Well "Desh Bhakti and Jan Seva" was seen at its prime in this case.

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