Driving Culture of India: घुसो

If there is one word to describe the driving culture in India, there's no apt English equivalent word that comes to mind. In Hindi, it'd be घुसो (Push through is perhaps the closest meaning).

I'm so fed up with how people drive selfishly, just cutting other vehicles to get ahead. And then jamming junctions, just so that their vehicle can get out of the mess. Not realizing they just created one, and most likely, got trapped in it too!
And it's not like it's a freeway where you'll get an advantage (and mind you, even a freeway gives you just a 5-10 minute advantage of driving 10 miles above others).

So there's no real reason for not driving safe, defensive, but nobody does that. And like culture, it truly percolates. I find myself even falling for this.
Safe driving actually attracts blaring horns from other drivers, wanting to go about with their rash driving. Because they don't find you pushing ahead, doing the same.

Now go to a town, and see how driving happens there. People are more patient.
And well, even if you are in a downtown in any of the US cities, you know the rash driving I've described above.

So the real problem is not the people. The real problem is the lack of infrastructure. There is just wee little space on the two lane roads, to use after the encroachment and curb parking. People just get frustrated getting stuck, and fall for erratic driving which causes all the more problems.

I don't think anybody likes driving during commute hours. Yet they have to, because public transport infrastructure is not up to the mark or convenient. Although public transport is what makes sense, and should be viable for the levels of population here.
Yet, even though I have to commute from Sarjapur Road to Electronics City, I'll have to first walk to a bus stop for 5 minutes, then change 2-3 buses to reach work. Include waiting time, and I've taken double the duration I duration I would if driving. So why wouldn't I drive?

Though I'm all the time conscious what a cost to environment and efficiency it is, to be a single person driving in a car that can seat 4 comfortably. Each journey of 10-12km costs me Rs 65-75 (depending on the volatile petroleum price).
I'd happily pay 10% more if there were a bus that'd drop be to work.

But guess, that'll have to wait!

What be Death

Oh river, your water dissolves into the mighty ocean
Still not matter who puts a dam, you want to go to her

If death not scare, the meek against mighty
Why bravery, why not call it just course

Isn't death a true passing, through a door
Opening to another dimension

Isn't Vishnu, Shiva, Devi Sharada
All around me, just in different context

They stay hidden, because eyes can't see
For laid the rules, and through them justice

So there is indeed, no need for devotion
None but the, necessity to be free

The Dollar will Stay, due to...Immigration

America will continue to remain the most vibrant, and developed country in the world. Not because of the Dollar, or oil reserves or work ethic, but simply because of its openness to immigration, as a culture!

The only land which prides on being the land of immigrants. Where most of whom I've known were first or second generation immigrants. People eye it with jealousy, say it's on the way down due to lack of "morality". But I have seen, the prominence given to family, and community. The pride for religion, and tolerance to others'. Yes, there are the extremes, but that's true for every country. I've seen the respect being given to people or visitors from other countries. I was most touched when my father got a "Namaste" from an ordinary American, in the DC area.

So much pride is placed on liberty, that at times where the line needs to be drawn, is very difficult. That was the conundrum with LGBT rights, and currently with gun control. But through all the debates, as there should be, we can still see the country going in the correct direction.

It is this openness that attracts the best talent. Success will inevitably follow. And the currency will stay strong as long as innovation will keep happening.

Innovation cannot happen in a unilateral culture. It needs a cross-pollination of ideas. And the root has to take place in the upbringing, which currently only America offers. Where one grows up to know there are people of various races and faiths, and they are all good. We just have to be willing to listen, accept, and at times, just let be.

So the universities come up with most research papers, or companies come up with the best inventions or sciences come up with the best discoveries, not because of the dollar investment. But because of the talent attraction. The dollar value is but a byproduct of these outputs.

The hesitation the best talent faces before choosing to immigrate is departing from ones culture. It'll be a few generations more before faiths like Hinduism and Sikhism, and longer even for Islam, to feel at home in America. And this is the opportunity for other countries in the world, to take note, and take steps to retain their best.

India perhaps has the best chance, because it has an equally strong if not more representative democracy. Our foundations are strong in the acceptance of other religions. But riots do happen, and so too are we more narrow to personal choice. The neighbors opinion and social acceptance matter a lot here. It'll take a few more generations to develop a "let be" culture. And this is where we need to realize where USA had a lead ahead of us. of 180 years no less. So we have to be more accepting that even this acceptance of other cultures will take its time in India.

Each individual should, in that sense, look upon himself as being the foundation father of a glorious Bharat!

I the medium

When I put ink to paper, may poetry create
When I speak and sing, may Sharada be heard
When distress arrives, may I retain the calm within

I have come here and gone, many times before
I am that conscious Self who, drives all the life force
May each step of life affirm, who I really am

The purposes get fulfilled, for why I am here
May Karmas begotten, be washed, surrendered here
May I soak in true bliss, beyond or here
And Mukti attain, for the true union