People in major urban cities like Bengaluru are on the
edge over parking wars. Residents with bikes and cars – which most do find it
an excruciating experience driving around neighborhoods looking for parking. Most
gated communities and apartments have limited real-estate and deny parking for
visitors.
Walking around a side-street in Malleshwaram, a nice old subdivision
in Bangalore, I came across the following warning posted ominously on a house’ garage
door.
I was both amused and perplexed by the warning message. Parking,
especially illegal parking is certainly a nuisance in many neighborhoods, and
at times I have had to ‘request’ offenders not to park in front of the gate of
our house. However, I wonder if people really willing to take up law into their
own hands and be uncivil and rude to their neighbors?
Citizens are perhaps taking cues from their elected leaders
and representatives who are both goading and leading with poor examples. Just a
couple of cases that made headlines recently
First, there was the news of Shiv Sena Member of Parliment, Ravindra Gaikwad beatingan Air India staffer with slippers. The intelligence and middle-class were left
wondering about Mr Gaikwad’s audacity in refusing to apologize and “demanding”
his right to continue to fly Air India. We were also left to wonder about the
impotence of fellow parliamentarians and elected representatives who barely
uttered a pip against their esteemed colleague.
Just today there was an interesting news (link) of another Minister
from Madhya Pradesh gifting bats to 700 brides “to fix drunk hubbie”
After
reading the article, I was left scratching my head over the message to the impressionable
brides: expect your hubby to turn out to be a drunkard. So, what happens to the
dreams and aspirations with which youngsters tie the knot; or for that matter
the silly notion of love when an esteemed minister passes on this message?
Speak of starting a new life on a wrong footing.
With such messages coming from representatives, it is not
surprising to see the public including denizens
of Bangalore taking up arms. Many are showing willingness to be "violent" to protect the land around
their property against neighbors and fellow residents who dare to park their
vehicles.
My earlier blogs on #return2India
- Life lessons on relocating to India: Six lessons from a six year old
- Return to India Musings: when a home becomes a golden egg
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