Nano - a better review

I found R Jagannathan's review of the Nano in the context of India's urban traffic issues in DNA's Opinion section interesting.

I agree with his view that the 2-wheelers occupy significant space if braking distance is considered in traffic. But this applies to traffic in Mumbai where some form of lane discipline still exists. Not so valid in others where 2-wheelers usually slot into any gap available and hence occupy less space, not that it makes for a pleasant traffic situation.

Jagannathan says that cars should be cheap but roads should be costly, charged for usage just like any other utility. So, the more one uses it by private transport, the more one pays. So, only the rich will use the road more often even if more people have cars. This point though is a valid one to control traffic congestion.

The other issue is the age old one of improving public transport, nice in theory, not so in practical implementation. It will need political will, a most risky option for any politician. This 'will' can only come to the fore if it will cost an election not to use it.

Everybody's Jammin

Caught in a traffic jam yesterday. In Pune they are common place. Some God/Leader/Saint/Prophet is dead/dying/getting born. The believers take out a loud, noisy, dusty road blocking processions with the local vagabands drinking and dancing. It is just one more way Indians show their lack of civic sense.

India has historically been a country callous towards life including human. It has been raped, plundered, looted and ruled over the centuries. This brings me to how ambitious plunderers from the past are portrayed.

Alexander came to India with the intent of loot, plunder and conquest. Hitler and Chengiz Khan has similar objectives. One is 'the Great', the others are not exactly identified as such. Purely in square miles, Chengiz Khan outdid both combined. Should'nt he be the greatest?

Hitler is bad because he killed a lot of white, christian populations along with others. So the allies have painted him as worse of the three.