Nagpurian Traffic Culture Nagpur with 300 years of cultural heritage has developed a distinct traffic culture as well. It has evolved further by the explosive increase in the number of vehicles on road and Integrated Road Development Project (IRDP). The culturally enriched driving habits of Nagpurians ( enriched enough to drive a non-Nagpurian crazy ) have attained status of traffic rules. Some of these traffic rules, which Nagpurians follow so religiously, are given below. 1. Jump Signals - In these modern days of bungee jumping, only dumb drivers follow signals at crossroads; particularly when a traffic cop is not around. 2. In between a signal change, cross a square diagonally on your motorbike - or else you might miss the muhurat of your favourite ( numberee ) kharra at the other corner of the square. 3. Drive bumper-to-bumper, irrespective of speed and need - That is how one can avoid the pain of insult by a more intelligent (?) driver, who might creep in front of your vehicle. 4. Enter a main road from small lane at break neck speed only - as it is your pious duty to awaken kundalini of the drowsy main road driver. 5. Overtake every vehicle ahead; at any cost and speed - Remember, in this jet age "Time is Money". 6. Overtake a stubborn vehicle, from its left side - Result of this circus will definitely prove the Darwinian doctrine of - `Struggle for existence and Survival of the fittest.` 7. While driving, continuously play a signature tune with your vehicle`s horn - One must always drive with a unique `Heard identity`, which is the proof of one`s creative nature. 8. Use the `Barking dog` horn to ward off the cyclists and to scare girls on the scooterettes - In the process when they fall down, they learn to respect and love canines. Really ( and literally as well ) a `down to earth`way of helping the brigade fighting against cruelty to animals. 9. Always take right or left turn without any indication - In due course of time survivors behind you will be automatically be trained in telepathy and start reading minds of drivers ahead of them. 10. Stop instantly in smooth traffic flow, when you hear your friend calling ( yelling at ) you - Again survivors behind you and road users nearby will start recognising your friends and also respect the strength of the bond of friendship between you and your friend-circle. 11. Drive without a working headlight at night - We Nagpurians are supposed to have the capacity to see `fast moving un-illuminated dark objects`at night. In Nagpur one has to have full faith in this god-given capacity. 12. Use only upper headlights at night, ( if at all they are working ) - Oncoming traffic should experience and understand properly the plight of a night-blind person. 13. Drive on the right side of the IRDP road to make a short cut - As the saying goes in Sanskrut - `Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam` - think global. Without any bias, drive the American way. ( That is :- on the right side of the road ) This will help the nation reduce its ever burgeoning `oil import bill.` Tracing a long way from left side of road and then taking a U-turn towards the direction of your destination involves wastage of precious fuel. 14. If on bicycle, ignore ALL signals and traffic rules - Traffic rules are meant only for the blessed few automobile drivers. ( If at all rules are to be obeyed ). 15. Paint the number plate of your vehicle as you wish - Apart from reflecting your creative art loving nature, this has the following distinct advantages :- a) Different fonts and colours add to the festive mahoul of the city. b) People start knowing you from your favourite sign. (e.g. Heart pierced by an arrow or by your pet name like `MONU` ) c) In a hit-and-run accident, your vehicle`s identity is concealed, as no one can read its number plate, thereby you from hassels of court - kachahari and may be saving your life. d) This has sanction from traffic police as well, since many of them themselves are writing POLICE bigger than numbers, on the number plate of their personal vehicle. 16. Cover your head-Neck-Face ( boy or girl ) completely with a dupatta - An excellent way of protecting yourself from scorching sunlight and dust. Again it has the following advantages :- a) Identity of the love-birds is concealed. b) One learns the technique of BATS , in whom movements are governed by reflected sound rather than light. c) Magicians fooling Nagpurians by this silly trick of driving a two wheeler `blindfolded` in traffic are discouraged from having their road shows here. d) City looks terrorist infested and this deters real terrorists from venturing in Nagpur. A true Nagpurian is supposed to be proud of these innovative traffic rules and follow them in letter and ( Hicc ! ) high spirit. (This original article is reproduced from a magazine, without any modification) Reference : Dr. Vivek Agwan.
Posted on: Sat, 27 Jul 2013 09:13:05 +0000