Among other changes in Delhi, I can see a new trend in the rage levels of the city. Consider the following cases:
1. A man after refusing to pay seventeen bucks for toll, shot the toll worker even after the boy let him go without paying.
2. A man, after refusing to pay for a glass of juice, went home, returned with a kitchen knife and stabbed the juice vendor to death.
3. When an auto wala grazed a car, the driver and his companions bashed the auto wala’s head with a brick till he was dead.
4. A father and son beat a guy to death with hockey sticks and cricket bats for asking to park his auto near their house.
There was a time when I used to relish a quarrel in Delhi. Hindi is not my mother tongue, and it was fascinating to see the innovative use of the language when tempers were flared. Among a few dialogues, that I can quote safely here are:
“Tere baap ki shadi hai kya wahan, jo ball laane me itni der kar raha hai?”
“Ye kooda tumhara daddy aa ke saaf karega?”
An entire crowd would gather and a few people would butt in, in a bid to pacify the parties. Soon, the quarrel would break up and an entire week would be dedicated to the incident in excited whispers. And for years to come, these quarrels would bring a smile or arouse laughter.
Now, people move away from a quarrel with dread written all over their faces. You never know who might snap and just kill you in sheer rage. Nosey neighbours will not pry in to pacify. The parties might turn on the friendly pacifier. What bewildering phenomenon is happening here? A rage so blinding, a passion so consuming that all past and future seems to obliterate from the person’s mind. He seems only aware of an urgency to be rid of the disturbing element. And the rage lasts for long periods of time too. Any concern for consequences seems to be absent too.
Well, whatever the phenomenon, whatever the psychology behind it, what I have learnt this time in Delhi is that we have to learn to keep quiet. Another car grazes your car, don’t react. A person barges into a line, don’t speak up. A person steps on your feet, smile. It can get more ridiculous if I continue. I know its against the spirit of Delhi, but its definitely my new mantra in this newer New Delhi.
1. A man after refusing to pay seventeen bucks for toll, shot the toll worker even after the boy let him go without paying.
2. A man, after refusing to pay for a glass of juice, went home, returned with a kitchen knife and stabbed the juice vendor to death.
3. When an auto wala grazed a car, the driver and his companions bashed the auto wala’s head with a brick till he was dead.
4. A father and son beat a guy to death with hockey sticks and cricket bats for asking to park his auto near their house.
There was a time when I used to relish a quarrel in Delhi. Hindi is not my mother tongue, and it was fascinating to see the innovative use of the language when tempers were flared. Among a few dialogues, that I can quote safely here are:
“Tere baap ki shadi hai kya wahan, jo ball laane me itni der kar raha hai?”
“Ye kooda tumhara daddy aa ke saaf karega?”
An entire crowd would gather and a few people would butt in, in a bid to pacify the parties. Soon, the quarrel would break up and an entire week would be dedicated to the incident in excited whispers. And for years to come, these quarrels would bring a smile or arouse laughter.
Now, people move away from a quarrel with dread written all over their faces. You never know who might snap and just kill you in sheer rage. Nosey neighbours will not pry in to pacify. The parties might turn on the friendly pacifier. What bewildering phenomenon is happening here? A rage so blinding, a passion so consuming that all past and future seems to obliterate from the person’s mind. He seems only aware of an urgency to be rid of the disturbing element. And the rage lasts for long periods of time too. Any concern for consequences seems to be absent too.
Well, whatever the phenomenon, whatever the psychology behind it, what I have learnt this time in Delhi is that we have to learn to keep quiet. Another car grazes your car, don’t react. A person barges into a line, don’t speak up. A person steps on your feet, smile. It can get more ridiculous if I continue. I know its against the spirit of Delhi, but its definitely my new mantra in this newer New Delhi.
This is definitely a good mantra you have taken up!!
ReplyDeletePeople there have become mad....I guess the heat is getting up to their brains..they have stopped using their think tanks....
I would shorten it n say that one has to take "gandhigiri" forcefully in order to survive the "dadagiri" of the city!
Well said, Samentha!
DeleteGood post Jo!
ReplyDeleten good comment Sam....coz even I have started feeling that one should take in everything coz otherwise you might get killed!
Newsppapers n channels have no other piece other then ppl getting killed for no reason!!
I guess it all started from Jessica Lal's murder....at that time it became a sensational news but now such incidents have started happening everyday....so I guess ppl have stopped reacting!!
Everyone's busy saving their own life!!!...I do the same thing!!
I guess saving your own life is the only thing you can do in the times that we live, Reyansh!
DeleteThis is the reality check of Delhi... apparently a very developed capital n all....we can see all the development here!!
ReplyDeleteNo one is safe...everyone carries a pistol as if its a play thing! I guess we should carry one too....atleast it'll be a form of defence!!
As long as you don't end up in jail,m Anks!
Delete