Jai Bajrang Bali!

I just returned to Hyderabad after a 9 months posting in Chennai. The 12 hour drive through the heartless hinterlands of South India kept me wide awake throughout the drive. We (I and my driver) saw 11 vehicles accidents on the way. We also saw the remains of three cattle and around 6 dogs on the roads. The count is a lot lower when compared to what it would have been a couple of years ago. Atleast 50% of the roads are 6 lane highways, the rest continues to be single lane State highways. 

The stoic inclusiveness that is intrinsic to Indian living has its own advantages and disadvantages. Here is the land where all religions of the world prospered, the land where even today, there are more citizens of other countries leading normal lives they could not dare live in their own country. This is the country where cows walk on the National Highways along with 4Kmph cycle drivers and Phat Phatiyas (an Indian biped converted into a triped to carry passengers!). With the BMW’s competing with Hercules Cycles, less to zero patrolling, almost non-existent emergency medical attention and no speed limits either way; the Indian Highways continue to be the killers. The inclusiveness also throws up another interesting aspect of Indian psyche… absolute fatalism. Somebody died on the way... well; I guess it was his time!

Thank you Lord Hanuman from driving us home without a scratch.