Yeh Mera India

India’s 65th Independence Day, and I was reminiscing about the various parts of India that I have seen.

Let me share my observations (nothing more – just observations) on traffic in two areas of this unique and varied country of ours.

Area 1: Chandigarh
The first thing that struck me about this city was the clean, wide roads and the lack of traffic on them. It took me a while to realize that there was actually a significant amount of traffic – be it cars, motorcycles, scootys, autorickshaws or even bicycles. Trucks were conspicuous by their absence.

The impression of lack of traffic was mainly because of the impeccable traffic sense of the people. No one crossed the white line at the signal, lane discipline was immaculate, overtaking was from the right side. In short, proper traffic discipline. Possibly the presence of CCTV cameras at virtually every signal contributed to this.

Also, apart from certain areas, it was rare to find dirt and muck on the streets.

That is one India.

Area 2: UP
I had the opportunity of travelling across the state; from Allahabad, to Lucknow, Kanpur, Rae Bareli and Aligarh. And the first thing that struck me – or nearly struck me – was the motorcyclist coming at full speed from a lane and trying to overtake from the wrong side of the road. A few seconds, and he could have been killed, or worse!

Across the state, the observation was the same. Daredevilry at its best, rash driving at its worst, no regards for road discipline or traffic sense. Signals are working, but being made a mockery of. And the traffic police was conspicuous by its absence.

Everyone seems to be completely ignorant of the traffic rules. Signals are rarely given at turnings, and even when given, are ignored by the guy behind. Turning right from the 3rd lane is as common as Vettel standing on the podium this year.

Speaking of Vettel, I do not think even he can open the door of his car, bend down and spit gutkha, at the same time driving straight at 50-60 kms/hour, as virtually every driver I saw could do with ease!

And that smell, that all-pervasive smell! Why would it not be? I was in Lucknow, near Charbagh, one morning. A BMW 5-Series was ahead of me. We had just taken the left turn on Kanpur Road, going towards Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia National Law University when the BMW stopped. No signals, mind you – except that its brake lights worked well. It just stopped. A gentleman emerged from the rear door, walked on the footpath, and proceeded to do his job right there while the driver was waiting for sahab to return.

For God’s sake, the public convenience was less than 100 metres away, in plain sight!

But this is not an isolated instance. Marking one’s territory this way - the way tigers do – is something common, I soon realized.

That is another India.

And we know where most of the drivers in Mumbai come from!

Jai Hind!

People like him make me believe (Dreams!)

Was watching snatches of a singing reality show on TV last night, and saw an amazing display of raw talent.

The participant was a 31 year old auto rickshaw driver who had migrated to Delhi from Kanpur in search of livelihood.

He had absolutely no training in music. Everything he learnt was by listening to songs. But he decided to come for the auditions - accompanied by his wife and little daughter - to 'fulfil his dream'.

For his audition, he selected one of the more difficult songs of Kishore Kumar. And he sang with such unbridled passion and such amazing command that there did not seem to be a single person who was unmoved.

One of the judges - a fantastic trained singer and one of India's most versatile singers himself - had this to say about the performance, "If I was a 31 year old who drove a rickshaw daily to earn a living, who had absolutely no training in music and was singing on stage for the first time in my life in front of eminent judges, I would not have been able to sing even half as well as you have done!"

But the real reason that compels me to write about this person is not his singing. Rather, it is his dream that moved me to tears!

On a stage where people stand up and proclaim their ambition of being the next Lata, Asha, Rafi, Kishore...the biggest thing in the Indian Music Industry; this man shared his simple dream.

Due to poverty, his wife could not complete her studies and achieve her aim of being a teacher. And all he dreamt about - and was working towards - was to enable her achieve her goal!

Even his participation in this reality show was a step only to achieving that dream!

What does one say to that???

Here was this person who comes from a state infamous for its male chauvinism, which ranks towards the bottom on virtually every development parameter, which has gained notoreity for its crimes against women, for female infanticide, female foeticide, which has one of the worst gender ratios in the country, and all he is dreaming of - and working towards, even to the extent of migrating out of that state to another city - is to help achieve his wife's aim of studying and being a teacher!

Hats off to you, young man!

It is people like you who make me believe, despite all our problems, in the potential of our country.

It is people like you because of whom I can proudly say, "I am an Indian!"

My first blog - with thanks

Hi there everyone!

After weeks of deliberating, here's my first blog. Just an introduction about myself and what my blogs are going to be all about -

I'm pretty bad at introducing myself, but still, here goes.

Mubin Khan, 41 years old, stay in Navi Mumbai, work in Mumbai in Media Sales. Also have worked as a media planner and media buyer, and dabbled in research. Like my field of work (media), like cricket (most Indians do - yawn!), passionate about Islam and about religions (have studied comparative religions - Hinduism and Christianity). Get hugely irritated about a lot of things that one sees on the streets daily - and you'll soon know what I mean by this.

Enough of I, me, myself. Here's what my blogs are going to be about-

I'm going to write about topics that concern me - and make me the person I am. Also, about things that bug me, and things that hopefully I can do something about - change for the better, hopefully. These would mainly cover my country, city, religion, work and passions. So there you are - my blogs would cover India, Mumbai/Navi Mumbai, Islam, Media (planning, buying, selling and research) and training and coaching.

It is an accepted fact that people generally like to inaugurate any new venture at the hands of some VIP or the other; whether a film star or a politician. And then there are all the "Thank You" speeches. So why should I be different? Let me also inaugurate this blog with none other than the Honourable Chief Minister of Maharashtra. And here's my "Thank You" speech...

Thank You, Mr. CM, for giving us a dream - a dream of the city of the 21st century! And thanks for giving us such amazing reasons in the last century to convince me to move here - lock, stock and two smoking barrels!

Thanks, Mr. CM - for giving us this amazing city, where there is no electricity for 3 hours daily. Thanks for preparing our children for the harsh world that awaits them.

Thanks Sir, for giving us training for the Moto GP through the dug up roads. The road between Sectors 5 and 6, Koparkhairane is dug for the past 2 months, ostensibly to put in a new water pipeline. I'm not exaggerating - 2 tankers have nearly overturned, 1 truck had its load thrown off, a lady broke her leg, and the road is not repaired yet! Hutments have sprung up, local goons have already broken the pipeline and started stealing water - and all this within 300 meters from the Ward Office, and the Ward Officers do not know!

Thank You for the video parlour and liquor store within 20 meters from a school (I thought there was some law about it somewhere?). Makes life so easy for all of us, na!

And we are seeing this daily and grinning and bearing it! Thank You, Mr. CM, for teaching us patience!

Thank You Sir, for the unruly auto rickshaw drivers who stop as they wish, using 3/4th of the road (no jokes!!!) leaving less than a lane for traffic at Teen Tanki, right outside the police chowky, while there is not a single policeman to be seen!

Thank You Sir, for the 90 minute drive from office weaving through trucks and tourist buses who make it a point to use 2 lanes on the right side at Vashi Bridge, while there is a police van standing right at the start of the bridge.

And lastly, Thank You Sir, for charging me Rs.30 everytime I have to go into Mumbai and Rs.30 everytime I return home (which is daily), just for the privilege of staying in this wonderful city of the 21st century.

(Disclaimer: This is not a personal note to the present CM. He was not even in politics when I was swayed to move to this city. And also, despite all the above, Navi Mumbai is a lovely place to be in - just get used to sharing your living space with stray dogs and mosquitoes - that's all!)