THEME DRIVING (24-May-2020)

Albert Einstein quote: “A ship is always safe at the shore - but that is not what it is built for.”

Our car we proudly flaunt on purchase day; we then shudder to drive out due to intimidating experience on our perilous city roads. Forget the Monday blues, one fights the daily blues of driving which sapped our energy. I vowed to formulate a method to this madness, if you will. Theme Driving.

A theme for the driving day to keep our mind focused and away from potential road rage incidents, can range from politics to the esoteric. My mind decided to research - why is the decibel level high on our roads? At a signal behind a lorry I had my moment of enlightenment. “Sound Horn, Ok Please!” has prompted people to honk incessantly and in reverberating tunes. I started to observe what is written behind vehicles, mostly in Kannada in our own Namma Bengaluru.

With my attempted crude translation to English, the most common one read “Stop your histrionics, speak in Kannada” – a diktat to speak in the local language. A hilarious but a poignant one “Just because the one who kisses you has entered your life, do not forget the one who fed you during your childhood days,” – in remembrance of the sacrifices of a mother that befit our universal figure. This democratic auto driver had a place in his life for everyone “Mother is the power, father is the charioteer, wife an inspiration, and children to bring name and fame.”

The next was to solicit respect for the professional auto drivers on the road: “Driver’s Obedience is Owner’s Wealth,” but this driver’s disobedience a complete antithesis. “Do not envy the running horse, dare you to stop me if you’ve the courage” – and he galloped along and vanished. On the lines of speed thrills but kills “For being hasty, results fetch vada / payasa” where typically vada (fried food) and payasa (kheer) are special items during performance of last rites of a deceased person.

Bengaluru is considered a romantic city due to its salubrious climate. Variety relevant to the universal topic of love was impressive. The amateur poet here stated, “Love blossoming from eye lasts until the dream; love blossoming in mind lasts until the last breath.” The next lover was a little skeptical though - “Do not forget me after you have spoken to me; do not make me go through pain after you have given your mind.”

Two autos stood next to each other at the signal ahead of me. My immediate reaction to the line on one was this would perturb our girls “Trust the Tiger in the Forest, do not trust the Girl who goes to College?” Juxtaposed with the adjacent auto it was profound – “Shame on you girl who made me desire your love, instead you threw me into the waterfall.”

A philosophical quote started a new thought process “Is there a rose flower without a thorn, is there anyone who has got love without pain?” This one came with a life lesson “Let there be no life without money; but when there is money let there be no ego.”

The focus away from the road, these musings over allowed the mind to think; the distance I traveled, and the chaotic traffic did not overwhelm me. 

What’s your theme for driving now?