The C-factor

I wanted to name this post "The C-men". Seems a bit more embarrassing than the content itself. So I stick to "The C-factor".

I have been traveling a lot lately. Business and personal. Mostly by air. The airport is about 50 km from my apartment. I am someone who would rather opt for public transport than a personal car or even private cabs for that matter. But circumstances of my travel often dictate my preference. I end up choosing private cabs. The title C-Factor is nothing but the "Cab" factor that I noticed - rather witnessed while being a victim of devilish rides - all through my riding experiences irrespective of the time and place of travel.

The cab drivers in general and particularly in Bangalore are overworked. At times, they work three days straight taking only naps in between assignments. As it seems they clearly work towards becoming millionaires at the earliest come what may - life or death. None of the cab companies that recruit them mind that. Why would they? They make themselves billionaires. Adding insult to injury, the cab companies indeed support drivers.

I was on a terrific ride from my apartment to the airport one fine morning in one of those reckless cabs. The driver was on his mobile phone from the moment he picked me up. After about ten minutes, I asked the driver to put the phone down and concentrate on driving. He was reluctant as he told me that he gets sleep if he doesn't talk over phone. An excuse I rejected straight away as non sense. Not for a longtime. After about 10 minutes, the cab was slowing down while moving away from the lane on a flyover in which other cars were over 100 kph. This happened twice before I noticed the terrible thing that I would have never imagined even in my wildest of dreams. The driver was falling asleep while driving. I had to keep the driver awake while looking to avoid possible collisions. My ride was a nightmare that morning. I later found that drivers talk to other fellow drivers in order to keep themselves and the other driver awake. Indeed a team work of destruction. It resembles the story of frogs that pull other frogs down from jumping out of well. I die. You die. We die.

After this incident, there is an irresistible urge in me to notice drivers on my rides. And it happened every time I travelled by cabs. No matter what, the drivers sleep while sitting behind the wheel. I travelled at all times during the day after that incident. I found drivers no different - all morons - no matter what time of the day, no matter where. All nightmares I am trying to forget. I pay them for the ride but end up being a humanoid google map that keeps them awake, aware of directions, and away from possible accidents.

I am going back to basics. Choose flights at appropriate times. Use public transportation. Keep an eye on drivers while traveling in cabs. I started asking them for three things before I hire: no mobile phones, no rash driving, and no naps during the journey. I only have control over my driver. But who is keeping an eye on other drivers who drive alongside my cab?

I would rather be a passenger in a car than a TomTom.

God's own Country

Padmanabhaswami alias P. Swami alias “one of the Gods” hit the headlines of all leading national dailies last week. For the very reason that we have been aware of. Acquisition of wealth. So far US$ 18.5 bn. This is nothing new for us. It has become an every day event. Unlike A. Raja, Kalamadi, and Kani, P. Swami did not ask for it. Very strange for an Indian god to act this way. It raises suspicions about His nationality.

History unveils the fact that someone looted wealth from people and dumped it on P. Swami. That is exactly what A. Raja was trying to say for him as well.

Earlier, when this news of wealth flashed, a revengeful Karunanidhi wanted to sue P. Swami for wealth acquisition with a misunderstanding that He is a brother of Subramanian Swamy. The infamous duo of Lokpal Bill – Anna Hazare and Baba Ramdev – are also considering agitation against P. Swami’s wealth. Anna, as usual, plans to fast and Baba is already looking for outfits at Lifestyle – women’s section. Honestly, I have trouble relating any of their deeds to Gandhi’s principles. Both are only an inch short of becoming opportunistic terrorists who threaten democratically elected government to do things in their own favor. To my understanding, fast unto awareness and not threat is Gandhian. Apparently, modern Gandhians don’t seem to understand.

Now the important question crops up. Who owns P. Swami’s wealth? Duh, P. Swami of course. Interestingly, Indian law – no wonder – recognizes Idols or so-called Gods as Juristic. An entity other than human beings to which the law, by itself, attributes a personality. It doesn’t stop there. The Supreme Court adds that Gods hold rights and duties. They can own and dispose of property, receive gifts, sue, and be sued. As if Gods have nothing else to do. What would P. Swami, the God, do with US$ 18.5 bn? Would he spend his wealth for a cause? Or would he become a mortal being finding pleasures around the corners? Or all His wealth will again be back into the vaults like that of Sai Baba’s?

I am going to keep my eyes open in airports, resorts, shopping malls, spas and liquor boutiques. I am likely to run into P. Swami any day from now.

Are there any other better ways can a man spend his newly found wealth?

The King's Speech

I have not watched but only heard of this movie. Because I am in India. We always get good things either late or never. Good things would have vanished without a trace had they been early. This is India.

A very simple plot based on a true story. A speech impeded King of Britain, with the help of an unorthodox speech therapist, overcomes stuttering and delivers the speech of the last century. The King in subject is none other than Queen Elizabeth II's father.

Although the title is misleading (at first it gave an impression that its about MLK Jr's "I have a dream") , I am happy and excited to know about this unique yet informative movie – surely one of its kind. Such is the seriousness of the plot that the story was made to wait for thirty years by the wife of the King as the events were still bitter and painful.

Being a stutterer myself – I am far better now than what I was ten years ago.. thanks to a speech therapist! – I always and always came across Indian movies that make fun of speech impediments. Sadly, this is one of the reasons I avoid watching films even at home along with others. Often I avoid meeting new people and socialize. A bad movie plot demotivates individuals and ruins confidence.

I will not be surprised if the King's Speech doesn't win Academy awards. In fact I will be happier to not see this movie alongside Slumdog Millionaire in the winner's list. I like realism over fiction even in movies. Indian filmmakers don't. The reason being Indian filmmakers "dream" of their movie plots. And that is why winning Academy awards for Indian movies is always "imaginary".

There is an irony in the King's Speech:
A speech impeded King but an eloquent story!