Lets play an association game. Think of Cops, especially traffic cops, and what comes to mind? Corruption. For whatever reason. Maybe it is movies, maybe it is the fact that many times we’ve been pulled over to the side of the road and been forced to pay a “fine” for whatever illogical reason, or maybe because nine times out of ten, you can bribe your way out of a situation with a traffic cop.
The one word that does not come to mind when you think of Cops is Efficiency.
From my home to where I work, there are many major crossroads. They are not all aided with street lights, and every morning I see some traffic cop at each “junction” managing the traffic. I always thought they were there to line their pockets, never realizing what they contribute to the smooth flow of traffic.
Imagine my surprise this morning. There was really bad traffic this morning, a commute that usually takes me only 30 minutes took well over an hour. There were no cops to be seen anywhere, at any junction. I don’t know if they all went to some convention or to provide security to some big wig or what, but I was appalled that people driving on the roads seemed to have abandoned all common sense while driving. Why do people think that if someone has stopped their car, they only have to go around them? This causes so much chaos! People on both sides crowd the road, blocking on-coming traffic, so that there is one major traffic jam at every crossroad, and no hope of clearing because there is not an inch to move in any direction.
Dear Traffic Cops, I am sorry. I am sorry for every time I thought you were inefficient. This morning was an eye opener for me, and I appreciate all that you are doing to keep traffic flowing. Please come back to the streets, and deliver us from traffic jams!
Categories: Random Rantings
I was talking to my colleague this morning, and she said she felt sorry for Sanjay Dutt. Sorry because he has had such a troubled life, his addictions, marriages, loss of his parents. But you know what, I may be extremely unpopular for saying this, but I don’t know what there is to be sorry about.
Don’t get me wrong, I am a huge fan of Sanjay Dutt. Lots of people love him. He has had a pretty good run – and I have watched his movies from Rocky to Lage Raho Munna Bhai, so I know. When Rocky came out, all the didi’s in our colony were infatuated with him. Over the years, I’ve had a lot of respect for Sanjay Dutt because he has been so dignified in his choices, playing age appropriate roles: he chose to play Hrithik Roshan’s dad in “Mission Kashmir”.
Despite all this, I can’t find it in me to feel sorry for him. It is tough, definitely, for him to have to spend 6 years in prison. But he had an AK-47, people! At the time that Bombay was burning! For those of us who are old enough to remember the horror of the Mumbai riots in 1993, how can we trivialize this? How can success, charm and talent make up for the inherent arrogance in purchasing weapons that the Indian Army had not had access to? Yes, the media says it was ignorance, stupidity and fear that prompted him to buy the gun, but I think, added to that was the assurance that he was above the law, thanks to his connections, talent, lineage and influence. He was in his 30s when he bought the gun, definitely not the spoilt kid he was when he was battling his addictions. Sanjay Dutt has had a lot of reprieves. He has been given enormous latitude by the courts. Obviously I don’t know him personally, but what I read about him just makes me think he has wasted god’s gifts. Handsome, successful, rich, with access to the best that money could buy: and this is what he chose to buy with it.
I am glad justice has been served. The fan in me is disappointed that an actor I admire will not grace the screen for some years, that Munna Bhai -3 will have to be postponed, but the citizen in me is glad that no one is above the law. The emotional energy I am saving by not wasting sympathy on him is going to be spent on sympathizing with the people who lost their loved ones in the riots.
Categories: Random Rantings
