Indian Traffic

Near death experiences. God realization. White light. What if I told you that all of these experiences that brought you closer to God and the divine were possible? At a moment’s notice. I know, you’d probably not believe me. I’d not believe me either if I did not step into the Indian traffic scene.

India – God bless the country. The traffic system however seems to be inspired by something out of a horror flick or a very violent video game. Every day millions of Indians risk their lives when they get behind the wheel. Traffic signs, Traffic signals, Mirrors, Signaling, even ROAD SIGNS are completely non-existent in the Indian driving vocabulary.

Their mantra, to the foreigner like me, seems like: “I am just going to drive DAMMIT, and even if a truck gets in my way, who cares? I will ALWAYS make it to my destination (even if it is the final destination”. But with all jokes aside, everyone seems to have the right of way (at the same time)! Go figure. EXCEPT pedestrian right of way – what’s that? I was so close to become road kill yesterday and that was just crossing a stretch of 6 feet of road! I believe I did see God yesterday.

Honking – that is another subject in itself. It took me a couple of days to realize that drivers in India honked not only when someone made a mistake – but honking is a socially accepted phenomenon (kinda like saying ‘Hello’ when you picked up the phone) to tell the other motorists “I’m here – watch out for me”. In fact, the backs of ALL trucks and auto rickshaws are plastered with hand-painted, friendly signs saying “Please Honk Please”. So imagine everyone honking at the same time, on single lane traffic, swerving, over-taking and avoiding cows, stray dogs, beggars, pedestrians, and oncoming traffic.

Do Indians have 9 lives? Coz they certainly drive as if they do.

And if I wish to attain God realization in this lifetime, the fastest way to do it is to walk to the neighborhood supermarket everyday. What was that Kanye West song? “Jesus walks with me, talks to me…” Yea a lot of that will be happening.