Saturday, November 23, 2013
Volvo Bus Accidents : Bangalore KSRTC and Hyderabad National Travels Safety review
What happened?
Being a frequent Volvo bus traveler, I was shocked to read about the horrific accidents that recently happened near Bangalore. Two Volvo buses caught fire and innocent lives were lost. Without going into too much detail of the incidents, I would like to speculate about why it happened and whether lives could have been saved. Actual details in following links- Forbes article talking about the accidents
- Times of india article about the Volvo's statement about the accidents
Who was responsible?
From preliminary reports, its not clear whether it was a mechanical failure or human error. Volvo also seems to be in the loop to provide any technical help. However, lives once lost are no more with their families so this exercise might even be futile for their families. If not Volvo then did the driver overspeed? True, the buses are powerful than regular buses and drivers need special training before handling them. Unfortunately, to cut costs safety becomes optional in India, sadly. Bus operators carry unsafe cargo, have just a single driver for long haul trips, don't place fire extinguishers in buses and other tricks to make more money.What can be done?
The government already has institutions like RTO to inspect vehicles and issue road worthiness certificates. However, we all know better how to get things done otherwise, right? RTO is a den of the corrupt and greasing palms culture. (I have first hand accounts of officers being bribed in Indiranagar RTO for providing license or passing students in the exam.) Tour operators should keep safety a primary concern and not cut corners.Passengers responsibility
I traveled few days back in a Volvo and I made sure I checked the fire extinguisher hear the bus door entrance, the location of the emergency exits (there are 4 exits), whether hammer is present to break glass if the need arises and the sun roof as well. If you travel, its your life. So you should be prepared and have options ready.Thursday, December 1, 2011
Ticket Please!
Ticket please!
I was running to catch the morning 7:45am Churchgate local from Dadar. My life had enough problems in addition to having an expired train pass. So I said to myself, "Chal beta ticket nikal.".
As destiny would have it, the line was huge.
"Saala, jab naseeb hi #$% to kya karega pandu!"
People still in the queue were getting restless as the guy issuing tickets was taking "strategic timeouts" so long that entire T20 match would be finished by the time he returned from one.
I had managed to take a ticket and was in time to catch the train even though I had to cross the foot over bridge.
Pleased with myself that I was on time at the station, I was walking towards platform number 2.
Dadar station foot over bridge was crowded as usual. From students rushing to college, working people desperate to get to office, hawkers ready to take their space on the bridge, every movement on the bridge had a purpose. Even I was going to be a part of something special that day, and I didn't know it till that point of time!
"Sir, please believe me I had a ticket to Churchgate", a college girl pleaded to a ticket examiner.
"I had it in my hand just sometime back before entering the bridge".
"Then show me the ticket", was the ticket checkers' brief and equally gruff reply.
"I can't find it now sir, I may have dropped it somewhere".
"Is that my mistake?".
"No sir, but I request you to leave me, I am getting late for my exam".
"Come over to the station masters' office, pay the fine and then I shall leave you".
"Please understand sir, all my year long effort depends on todays exam."
"I can't change the rules for you, sorry".
The examiner seemed unmoved.
"Here's the ticket you were searching", I said handing it to the examiner.
"The lady had dropped it from her hand unknowingly and I thought of returning it.".
The examiners' expression changed from serious to perplexed and finally settling at an expression best described as dejected. After verifying the ticket he let the girl go. I watched the girl leave in a hurry.. or was it?
At the climax of of those nervous seconds, she had given me a smile of gratitude so innocent and touching that I stood gazing at her as she drowned in the crowd.
Coming out of his momentary stupor the ticket examiner turned his attention to me. With a still dejected look he asked for my ticket.
"You have already checked it, sir".
"What! but it was the .... wait .. you mean to say you gave your ticket saying it was hers'?".
"Yes sir, I didn't want her to miss her exam just because she had lost a train ticket".
Now the examiner found it too difficult to contain his bewilderment.
"I have caught many ticketless people; but its the first time I have caught someone ticketless like you, shabaash beta. Chalo station master ke office me jaake aaram se fine bharna aur apni bewakoofi pe bhi roona".
"bewakoofi?", I asked.
"You have been good to the girl, but why would she remember you? Wo to chali bhi gayi.. even without knowing that its your ticket you had given.".
"Sir, she would know its not her ticket.".
"Kaise? Tera photo hai kya ticket pe".
"Aap ne ticket theek se dekha nahi shayad. On the other side it says..."
"ALL THE BEST - 9833550975".
Saturday, November 27, 2010
english romance continues...
I am back to my first love.. english. Pls leave a comment if you like it.
The words unsaid
-----------------------
The words are funny,
I do feel so.
Cos' most of the times,
you just don't know.
think you understand them,
and are pretty close.
but its the unsaid words, my friend,
that are louder than those.
words are a science,
words are a boring art.
thats why they probably,
don't talk to the heart.
heart understands feelings,
the only thing it will.
just make someone happy,
and with happiness it fills.
its time we stopped talking,
and we do speak a lot.
better we do something good,
before late we are not.
help a complete stranger,
do what a human would.
they say after all,
good reaps only good.
a good deed done,
don't expect a thanks.
for the good deeds never,
are fighting for a rank.
the gleam in their eyes,
is all that matter.
because its yours heart
warming another..
The words unsaid
-----------------------
The words are funny,
I do feel so.
Cos' most of the times,
you just don't know.
think you understand them,
and are pretty close.
but its the unsaid words, my friend,
that are louder than those.
words are a science,
words are a boring art.
thats why they probably,
don't talk to the heart.
heart understands feelings,
the only thing it will.
just make someone happy,
and with happiness it fills.
its time we stopped talking,
and we do speak a lot.
better we do something good,
before late we are not.
help a complete stranger,
do what a human would.
they say after all,
good reaps only good.
a good deed done,
don't expect a thanks.
for the good deeds never,
are fighting for a rank.
the gleam in their eyes,
is all that matter.
because its yours heart
warming another..
Saturday, October 16, 2010
ayushyavar bolu kahi?
जगणे म्हणजे काय मित्रहो?
विचार केला आहे कधी?
उत्तर माला सांगू नका,
कारण जगणे समजा आधी.
जगणे म्हणजे मोर पिसारा,
उभ्या गगनात न मावनारा.
जगणे म्हणजे सुसाट वारा,
स्वचंदपने घोंगावनारा.
जगणे म्हणजे आयुष्य नव्हे,
तर तो एक क्षण आहे.
या क्षणांच्या घरट्या मधे,
आयुष्याचे एक पिल्लू आहे.
जगणे म्हणजे चालत राहने,
पुढे पुढे आणी निरंतर.
या वाटचाली मधे आपण,
शोधतो जगण्याचे खरे उत्तर.
उत्तर ज्याचे त्याचे असते,
काही लहान कही मोठे असते.
शाळेत ल्या पेपरा सारखे,
यात चूक बरोबर मात्र कधी नसते.
उत्तर शोधने सोपे नसले तरी,
उत्तर शोधायची जिद्द हवी.
आयुष्य म्हणजे असंख्य प्रश्न,
पण त्या प्रश्नांशी मैत्री हवी.
कही प्रश्न अवघड असतात,
कही केल्या उलगडत नाहीत.
कही सोपे प्रश्न मात्र,
सुटून सुधा सुटत नाहीत.
सुटता सुटता कही प्रश्न,
प्रश्नांचा पाऊस पाडतात.
त्या प्रश्नांच्या सरी आपल्याला,
नकळत अंतर्मुख करून जातात.
प्रश्नांशी हितगुज करता करता,
आयुष्य असेच निघून जाते.
आयुष्याच्या संध्याकाळी,
या प्रश्नान्चिच साथ मिळते.
ती संध्याकाळ गुलाबी हवी,
असे तुम्हाला हवे असेल.
आरशा मधे स्वतःला पहा,
आयुष्य तुम्हाला साद देत असेल...
Translation below...
what is living friends?
have you ever thought?
dont tell me the answer,
first understand what it means.
living is a peacock tail-fan,
which fills the entire sky.
Its like an unrelenting gale,
unstoppable in its path.
living is not the entire life,
its just a moment.
its in the nest of these moments,
that life actually is growing up.
living is like a walk,
constant and always forward,
its in this journey that,
we try to find life's true purpose.
anwsers are your own,
some subjective some objective.
but unlike in school papers,
theres no right or wrong with them.
though finding answers is not easy,
its the passion to find that matters.
although there are too many questions,
you have to be friends with them.
some questions are tough,
almost seem un-resolvable.
some simple questions, somehow,
complicate even simple answers.
some questions unravel and,
themselves start another shower of questions.
those drops of questions,
make our wet soul introspect.
contemplating with these questions,
life completes a cycle,
in the evening of life itself,
its these questions that give us solace.
if evening to be happy,
is your true wish,
get out of your bed, stand in front of the mirror,
life would be beaconing ...
विचार केला आहे कधी?
उत्तर माला सांगू नका,
कारण जगणे समजा आधी.
जगणे म्हणजे मोर पिसारा,
उभ्या गगनात न मावनारा.
जगणे म्हणजे सुसाट वारा,
स्वचंदपने घोंगावनारा.
जगणे म्हणजे आयुष्य नव्हे,
तर तो एक क्षण आहे.
या क्षणांच्या घरट्या मधे,
आयुष्याचे एक पिल्लू आहे.
जगणे म्हणजे चालत राहने,
पुढे पुढे आणी निरंतर.
या वाटचाली मधे आपण,
शोधतो जगण्याचे खरे उत्तर.
उत्तर ज्याचे त्याचे असते,
काही लहान कही मोठे असते.
शाळेत ल्या पेपरा सारखे,
यात चूक बरोबर मात्र कधी नसते.
उत्तर शोधने सोपे नसले तरी,
उत्तर शोधायची जिद्द हवी.
आयुष्य म्हणजे असंख्य प्रश्न,
पण त्या प्रश्नांशी मैत्री हवी.
कही प्रश्न अवघड असतात,
कही केल्या उलगडत नाहीत.
कही सोपे प्रश्न मात्र,
सुटून सुधा सुटत नाहीत.
सुटता सुटता कही प्रश्न,
प्रश्नांचा पाऊस पाडतात.
त्या प्रश्नांच्या सरी आपल्याला,
नकळत अंतर्मुख करून जातात.
प्रश्नांशी हितगुज करता करता,
आयुष्य असेच निघून जाते.
आयुष्याच्या संध्याकाळी,
या प्रश्नान्चिच साथ मिळते.
ती संध्याकाळ गुलाबी हवी,
असे तुम्हाला हवे असेल.
आरशा मधे स्वतःला पहा,
आयुष्य तुम्हाला साद देत असेल...
Translation below...
what is living friends?
have you ever thought?
dont tell me the answer,
first understand what it means.
living is a peacock tail-fan,
which fills the entire sky.
Its like an unrelenting gale,
unstoppable in its path.
living is not the entire life,
its just a moment.
its in the nest of these moments,
that life actually is growing up.
living is like a walk,
constant and always forward,
its in this journey that,
we try to find life's true purpose.
anwsers are your own,
some subjective some objective.
but unlike in school papers,
theres no right or wrong with them.
though finding answers is not easy,
its the passion to find that matters.
although there are too many questions,
you have to be friends with them.
some questions are tough,
almost seem un-resolvable.
some simple questions, somehow,
complicate even simple answers.
some questions unravel and,
themselves start another shower of questions.
those drops of questions,
make our wet soul introspect.
contemplating with these questions,
life completes a cycle,
in the evening of life itself,
its these questions that give us solace.
if evening to be happy,
is your true wish,
get out of your bed, stand in front of the mirror,
life would be beaconing ...
Sunday, September 12, 2010
photo
One of my attempts at marathi poetry.
Translation for my non marathi friends, alongside :)
photographycha mala chaanda aahe, / I like photography,
tumhala sudha asel, bahutek. / you might also like it.
asla tar chaanach / if indeed then great,
pan nasla tari vait kay? / if not, you'r not missing a lot.
Nako ti photography anee / no need for photography,
nako te photo. / and forget those photos.
photo kadhun far tar, / clicking will only give you
aathvanincha chaukon hoto. /afterall square memories. (alluding to the square photo we save)
Tya chaukonat astat kahi kshan, / that square accommodates few moments,
kahi mavtat, kahi sandtat. / some fit into it, while some simply spill over
pan gammat mhanje, te mavlele / but the the irony is, those that fit in that square
kshan tya sandlelya kshnanmule astat. / are because of those moments which spilled over.
Kagdavar asto to fakta ek photo, /on paper we see just a photo
nistabdha, avichal. /silent, static.
pan baghnaryala anubhavta yeto, /but one can experience,
to sampoorna abhaas, sandlelya kshnansahit. / that entire emotional spectra, of course with the spilled moments.
Tya kshnana bhavana astat, /those moments have feelings,
kahi anandane utsfurta tar kahi vyakul. /some of spontaneous joy, some of sorrowful loneliness
pan tyana gyatantar naste, karan /but they have no choice, because
tyanchi vel nighun geleli aste. /they have been pushed into the past already
Ase hazaro khshan, /I have thousands of such moments,
me sathavle aahet, /which I have diligently saved.
pratyek divsaganik matra, / but as days pass,
tyanche vay vadhat aahe. / they are getting older and older.
Vay vadtha vadhta, / as they get older,
kahi kshan thaklele aahet. / some moments have become vague.
Aathvaninchya bojakhali tey / in the flood of memories,
chirdun gele aahet. / they are disappearing in absolution.
Kadhi vatte he kshan, / Sometimes, i feel these moments,
kuthe tari lapvoon thevoo. / for ever, should be saved by me .
pan Aatvanhicha ha samudra, / makes me wonder, how to take the sea
eka onjli madhe kasa gheoo. / and accommodate on my palm for eternity.
Translation for my non marathi friends, alongside :)
photographycha mala chaanda aahe, / I like photography,
tumhala sudha asel, bahutek. / you might also like it.
asla tar chaanach / if indeed then great,
pan nasla tari vait kay? / if not, you'r not missing a lot.
Nako ti photography anee / no need for photography,
nako te photo. / and forget those photos.
photo kadhun far tar, / clicking will only give you
aathvanincha chaukon hoto. /afterall square memories. (alluding to the square photo we save)
Tya chaukonat astat kahi kshan, / that square accommodates few moments,
kahi mavtat, kahi sandtat. / some fit into it, while some simply spill over
pan gammat mhanje, te mavlele / but the the irony is, those that fit in that square
kshan tya sandlelya kshnanmule astat. / are because of those moments which spilled over.
Kagdavar asto to fakta ek photo, /on paper we see just a photo
nistabdha, avichal. /silent, static.
pan baghnaryala anubhavta yeto, /but one can experience,
to sampoorna abhaas, sandlelya kshnansahit. / that entire emotional spectra, of course with the spilled moments.
Tya kshnana bhavana astat, /those moments have feelings,
kahi anandane utsfurta tar kahi vyakul. /some of spontaneous joy, some of sorrowful loneliness
pan tyana gyatantar naste, karan /but they have no choice, because
tyanchi vel nighun geleli aste. /they have been pushed into the past already
Ase hazaro khshan, /I have thousands of such moments,
me sathavle aahet, /which I have diligently saved.
pratyek divsaganik matra, / but as days pass,
tyanche vay vadhat aahe. / they are getting older and older.
Vay vadtha vadhta, / as they get older,
kahi kshan thaklele aahet. / some moments have become vague.
Aathvaninchya bojakhali tey / in the flood of memories,
chirdun gele aahet. / they are disappearing in absolution.
Kadhi vatte he kshan, / Sometimes, i feel these moments,
kuthe tari lapvoon thevoo. / for ever, should be saved by me .
pan Aatvanhicha ha samudra, / makes me wonder, how to take the sea
eka onjli madhe kasa gheoo. / and accommodate on my palm for eternity.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Bangalore to Munnar : Night out on the road
All of us (Nitin, Koel, Ranja, Gauri and myself) were in high spirits now that we were finally on our way to Munnar. That december night was unusually quite but not too cold. The tavera, we had booked, was zooming through the empty roads like the 'Santa Maria' would have sailed the open seas with Columbus on board. Only difference being there were 4 columbuses on board this one, in search of the new world called Munnar.
In no time the city lights were a silent speck behind us as if left behind in a race. The road in front of us was illuminated by the headlights of the car which had overpowered the starry sky and the only sign of habitation was a solitary petrol pump or a dhaba. But these were just distractions till we reached our destination and it seemed there was nothing to stop us.
The excitement was to be experienced than to be told as the cool winter air hit us in the face.(Interesting factoid: Gauri was not amused by this phenomenon so she made air tight arrangements for her hair by wearing a monkey cap and rolling up the windows). The tavera reached mysore in a few hours and continued on without stopping to see the Mysore palace illuminated in a million light bulbs. We were at our chatty best notwithstanding that fact that it was almost 2am in the morning. Mysore became a has been in some time and we made our way further south. Sometime around 4am we reached bandipur National Park. The road leading us there was not as smooth or wide as the one we had come from but the fact was it was nowhere as bad a road we normally see in the city sometimes. Since there was no divider, occasionally a vehicle would blind my eyes coming straight towards us in the opposite direction. Credit goes to Mr. driver who was always alert and an awesome person (more on that later).
It seemed that it would be a boring trip rest of the way. No sooner than I thought the car stopped dead in its tracks. Awaken from the 10-second-away slumber, I became wide awake and peered ahead through the windshield. Something was definitely wrong because there were vehicles parked one behind the other. None of the vehicles was moving or for that matter even trying to move. It seemed as if they had resigned to the fact that its gonna take a while before i get to move.
All vehicles had turned off their headlights and I could see just torches ahead in people's hands in the inky darkness of the forest. When I say darkness it was actually dark! If you are a city slicker don't try to imagine it just read on. For those who know what it means you are with me. In that darkness, theres no moonlight even as its blocked by the forest trees. The eerie silence of the surroundings adds to the freakiness. I couldn't imagine stepping out in that dark considering we were surrounded by tiger habitat.
As it turned out the forest had closed thoroughfare for the night and would be opening in the wee hours of the morning. With the suspense suddenly gone, the 10-second-away slumber returned and those few minutes of sleep are my most cherished as I hadn't slept even a second that day. Early morning was not without its drama. I woke up to the incessant chirping of the bandipur forest. We were surrounded by some serious wildlife. The first light of the morning sun took away my breath I suddenly found us surrounded by the tallest eucalyptus (nilgiri) trees i have seen in my life. The smell of the morning jungle made my lungs fill with life giving fresh air. The road was narrow and winding but it didn't matter much as each incline and every turn was unraveling the beauty that a forest is. Having watched a forest only on discovery or Nat geo, and read amusedly in the books by Jim Corbett, until then, it dawned upon me how beautiful a forest actually is. The never ending green is seldom monotonous and the sights and sounds keep you interested for whatever time you spend.
Most of the traveler's excitement dried once mr. driver confessed he wasn't sure of the route. Thus began a series of are-we-lost and how do we reach munnar kind of questions. Ultimately the known route was agreed to be Bandipur-Ooty-Coimbatore-Pollachi-Munnar. Glad that we knew where we were going the spirits returned to where they were earlier. The next hour was full of light hearted banter and clicks as everyone wanted a piece of the beautiful surroundings captured as a "Kodak" moment!
Thats it for this post. If the night was exciting the day was adventurous. I hope to post it sooner than later.
In no time the city lights were a silent speck behind us as if left behind in a race. The road in front of us was illuminated by the headlights of the car which had overpowered the starry sky and the only sign of habitation was a solitary petrol pump or a dhaba. But these were just distractions till we reached our destination and it seemed there was nothing to stop us.
The excitement was to be experienced than to be told as the cool winter air hit us in the face.(Interesting factoid: Gauri was not amused by this phenomenon so she made air tight arrangements for her hair by wearing a monkey cap and rolling up the windows). The tavera reached mysore in a few hours and continued on without stopping to see the Mysore palace illuminated in a million light bulbs. We were at our chatty best notwithstanding that fact that it was almost 2am in the morning. Mysore became a has been in some time and we made our way further south. Sometime around 4am we reached bandipur National Park. The road leading us there was not as smooth or wide as the one we had come from but the fact was it was nowhere as bad a road we normally see in the city sometimes. Since there was no divider, occasionally a vehicle would blind my eyes coming straight towards us in the opposite direction. Credit goes to Mr. driver who was always alert and an awesome person (more on that later).
It seemed that it would be a boring trip rest of the way. No sooner than I thought the car stopped dead in its tracks. Awaken from the 10-second-away slumber, I became wide awake and peered ahead through the windshield. Something was definitely wrong because there were vehicles parked one behind the other. None of the vehicles was moving or for that matter even trying to move. It seemed as if they had resigned to the fact that its gonna take a while before i get to move.
All vehicles had turned off their headlights and I could see just torches ahead in people's hands in the inky darkness of the forest. When I say darkness it was actually dark! If you are a city slicker don't try to imagine it just read on. For those who know what it means you are with me. In that darkness, theres no moonlight even as its blocked by the forest trees. The eerie silence of the surroundings adds to the freakiness. I couldn't imagine stepping out in that dark considering we were surrounded by tiger habitat.
As it turned out the forest had closed thoroughfare for the night and would be opening in the wee hours of the morning. With the suspense suddenly gone, the 10-second-away slumber returned and those few minutes of sleep are my most cherished as I hadn't slept even a second that day. Early morning was not without its drama. I woke up to the incessant chirping of the bandipur forest. We were surrounded by some serious wildlife. The first light of the morning sun took away my breath I suddenly found us surrounded by the tallest eucalyptus (nilgiri) trees i have seen in my life. The smell of the morning jungle made my lungs fill with life giving fresh air. The road was narrow and winding but it didn't matter much as each incline and every turn was unraveling the beauty that a forest is. Having watched a forest only on discovery or Nat geo, and read amusedly in the books by Jim Corbett, until then, it dawned upon me how beautiful a forest actually is. The never ending green is seldom monotonous and the sights and sounds keep you interested for whatever time you spend.
Most of the traveler's excitement dried once mr. driver confessed he wasn't sure of the route. Thus began a series of are-we-lost and how do we reach munnar kind of questions. Ultimately the known route was agreed to be Bandipur-Ooty-Coimbatore-Pollachi-Munnar. Glad that we knew where we were going the spirits returned to where they were earlier. The next hour was full of light hearted banter and clicks as everyone wanted a piece of the beautiful surroundings captured as a "Kodak" moment!
Thats it for this post. If the night was exciting the day was adventurous. I hope to post it sooner than later.
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