Krishna at a traffic signal

 

 

 

THE traffic was flowing in a usual unchecked unruly manner. Suddenly, a scooter screeched to a halt to avoid bumping over a poorly executed ramp sliding down a cement road. The disruption made a few two-wheelers and four-wheelers flirt with each other. A mix of blaring horns and expletives added spice to the bubble-life commotion. Amid all this, an auto-rickshaw driver and a food delivery boy negotiated their way out extremely smoothly. The scooter-rider, frightened, managed to stop by the roadside to breathe in the reality. An auto-rickshaw driver standing nearby said to him prophetically, “Don’t get anxious. Just let yourself flow in traffic. You will get accustomed like thousands of others on Nagpur roads. Following the rules will make you like Arjuna -- confused and agitated.” The scooter-rider only looked at the Nagpurian avatar of Lord Krishna in amazement.

 

The new riders/drivers on city roads are like Arjuna initially, but evolve gradually to become a composed Krishna. Nagpur traffic, especially at the signals and poorly aligned cement road ramps, can certainly help any vehicle rider/driver develop a philosophical bent of mind. It can teach mindfulness. For, one has to be ‘mindful’ of haphazard movement of other vehicles on the road. One learns the ‘Bhagavad Geeta’ message of letting it go when one sees vehicles not following lanes, jumping signals, driving wrong-side, talking over cellphones while riding, not wearing helmets... In short, chaos of Nagpur traffic can impart one with message of the ‘Geeta’ without even reading it. Many even apply the theory of relativity in their daily life. Seeing other vehicles jumping the traffic signal, they instantly relate to it and follow. Some enlightened souls are not bound by directional reality, and they drive wrong-side easily. Some have mastered the skills to wriggle through the narrowest available space between two vehicles. Situation has improved to such an extent that non-functional signals ensure better traffic management. Besides, many Nagpurians are so jaunty that they wink at CCTV cameras while violating traffic rules.

 

The authorities, too, are trying hard to maintain this happiness in the city by taking action only on ‘need to act’ basis. But, many vehicles not blinking the indicators while taking a turn makes one suspect if the vehicle manufacturers have sent the faulty pieces to Nagpur. The piercing white lights of vehicles coming from opposite direction may make one do on-vehicle meditation at night. Since these are all minor things for leaders of all ilk, ultimately, the common people are grooming themselves to find order in chaos by getting liberated of all grievances, anger, fear, sorrows, attachment, impatience, and also sense of pride about being Nagpurians. Had Lord Krishna been in this era, He would have told ‘Bhagavad Geeta’ to Arjuna on the ‘Kurukshetra’ of city traffic. Today, sadly, He may not find any Arjuna to listen to Him. For, all the agitated and confused Arjunas are busy riding/driving their own chariots of burden while conversing with divine multiverse through portals of cellphones. So, the law-abiding citizens have only one option -- Jest in Peace!n