10 yards to death
Was involved in a traffic accident saturday. And came close to being squashed under Madras’s famed MTC Buses.
Stopping at signals when they turn red is generally assumed to be safe. Not so in Madras. A speeding car hits me from behind (darn coward), sending me leaping into the air (I never knew I was so agile, and so light) and squeezing my poor bike to a third of it’s original length.
Had I landed 10 yards further off, this post wouldn’t have been written.
In a way, I’m glad of the accident. It gave me a chance to see close enough the legal and policing system of the city. Plus, it afforded me the chance (while I was cooling my heels, waiting for the police investigators to arrive) to observe the city I love go past me.
The accident happened on Madras’ arterial Mount Road. For about the 20 minutes I was waiting there, I had the feeling that Madras and his bike went past me. I fell upon reflecting the history of Mount Road and it’s businesses, the city and all that it signifies.
As to the other part, having been this close to the legal system, I can qualitatively say that it sucks big time. Loads and loads, rather miles of red tape, a slow lethargic response system. And sure to frustrate a million people. The police officers I met were good, courteous and probably efficient. But one gets the feeling that not all of them are that way.
The way the system now functions, it brings all of them down to a common level. Not up. There are a few people I know exist (but haven’t met) who wouldn’t bat an eyelid to pull the wool over you.
I believe in raising the rest to a higher level. But the current legal/governance system and our own society believes in bringing the rich/endowed/good to the level of the rest.
One of the reasons I believe in anarchy and a society sans society.
Coming back to the accident, a million forms to fill, reports to verify, complaints to file, people to meet. Insurance to claim. And all this because I stopped at a red light. Sheesh!
Even when one’s not the cause of an accident, rather a victim, one’s got to “take care” of the police. “saar, koncham pathutu ponga saar” (a little something/chai-pani/baksheesh) is a standard response.
Greasing palms happen even if justice doesn’t.
RSS/XML
August 30th, 2004 at 1:25 am
Hey, Didn’t know about this y’day when u were there for the blog meet.
BTW, ask your mom to thirushti kazhichufy. seems selective amnesia’s one year’s anniversary had someone envying you.
anyway i don’t have to say take care. you were looking ok y’day
August 30th, 2004 at 10:51 am
Hope you are unhurt man!
August 30th, 2004 at 10:54 am
Omigod you poor baby, how you feeling now? How is pain/bruises??? This sounds soo awful…
August 30th, 2004 at 10:57 am
woah! Glad to know u are alright! Has the selective amnesia gone?
August 30th, 2004 at 11:38 am
So you lived to blog about it. I think you can go on with a couple of follow-up posts on the status of your injuries. Hey, What about pictures of your poor bike? No mention of it all. Hope the bike survived too.
August 30th, 2004 at 12:12 pm
Naanga yellam left signal pottu, right0la kai kaamichu, straight-aa povom…neenga enthooru?
August 31st, 2004 at 1:41 am
Veetla ore tension aayitruppangalae..
Sema doseaaa??
August 31st, 2004 at 5:17 am
So how r u now.
No broken bones or anything?
August 31st, 2004 at 6:12 am
Damn..hope you are doing ok man! Are u hurt badly after the leap? Madras traffic sucks big time. What happ to the car which hit you?
August 31st, 2004 at 6:14 am
appappa..ippo thaan parthein…comment moderation veraya. Yaaru pa athu maha vetti, comment section koda spam pannaranga?!
August 31st, 2004 at 7:26 am
OMG! tht sucks
.. hope u are okay??.. yeah had a near death experience once too.. tho on a cycle :-
August 31st, 2004 at 9:41 am
All of you, thanks for the concern. I’m really alright. Not hurt big time.
A few minor cuts, and a small burn when my leg was introduced to the silencer on the way up. (I was flying a few moments after the impact).
But that’s not the point I wanted to talk about at all. My meeting with an accident is pretty common these days. Darn motorists don’t have any sense. But beyond that, I wanted to talk about the legal and policing system of this city (which is typical of all of India) and that is where I was hurt more.
September 1st, 2004 at 7:02 am
Wow mate. I should have checked on you earlier. Hope you are OK. Seriously if you hadn’t stopped there would have been a cop on the other side of the intersection to give you a ticket for running the red light
September 1st, 2004 at 7:35 am
OzG, thanks! As I mentioned, Haven’t been hurt at all. A few minor cuts, which will heal in no time at all.