I was not impressed with film Traffic Signal by Madhur Bhandarkar,which received acclamations & won him National Film Award as Best Director.
But Last few days as I went abt 4 corporate sessions,I had 2 travel up & down the busy traffic junctions of Hyderabad.These trips brought back memories of film.
Red Signal.I hate waiting 4 a long time @ the Traffic Signals not that I would like 2 break the signal but because of the nonsensical value @ the signals & monotony of watching the traffic,others in their R on their vehicles.Oh,I have seen quite interesting episodes of one line serials.Of Course My Own Trivial with my better half R the one with whom I travel.With weary eyes I looked through the tinted window 2 the mela outside,a clone of several traffic signals dotting the metro cities.
With season changes I was oblivious 2 the changes in dress code as I was of the endless infuriating changing caravan of Cars,Buses,Autos,2 Wheelers running outside on the ever congested hectic Hyderabadi roads.I remember the days when I used 2 watch traffic from my father's Official Jeeps,then our own car while going 2 School.When I had my own 2 wheeler,while in College,I knew a few things of what I could do while waiting @ the signals other than browsing books.My Favorite was 2 remove the helmet & adjust my hair.LoL I am not yet bald because of wearing Helmet.
Once upon a time Traffic signals were places 4 most beggars 2 beg from the vehicular users other than places of worship.I used 2 fish out the changing lying around the vehicle gave it 2 them feeling a bit more philanthropic & thinking Charity will bless me with abundance in return R wishing 2 washing away my guilt & sins.Few of the Traffic Signals R the Unofficial Bus Stops.Auto Drivers & Many literates Chewing Pan & spewing it on the road 2 make them RED.Well there were few who would start their little chimneys & Smoke away 2 glory,as a huge banner says "Smoking is injurious 2 Health".Then I do notice Hero Hiralal Auto drivers adjusting mirrors 2 watch the chokaris in backseat R play colourful meaning less bollywood Songs.Well Why Just Auto Drivers,I did notice some few spoiled brats playing loud jazzy Songs.
With advent of technology,we had the mobile users 2,who kill time @ traffic signals either talking R listening.God Know What there is 2 talk so much even @ the signal.I often wonder do they carry it 2 loos 2.Not 2 forget those Neon lighted & digitalized advertisement boards begging 4 attention.Young couples either on motor bikes R in their cars.Gone R the scooters,we have Activas,Scootys,Pulsars,Kawasakis.Gone R the Ambys & 800s.The tri-cycle rickshaws have totally disappeared.
These ruthless halts @ traffic signals ease the pain in my legs from the dance they perform on ABCs of Driving-Accelerator/Brake/Clutch.Yep as time went by I move on 2 cars 2 occupy more personal space.But Now A Days the Scene @ traffic signals have become more colorful & bright with various products being trust in UR face R on UR windshield with pleads 2 buy them.These hawkers do teach a lesson R two 2 the MBA guys on persuasive marketing tactics & may lecture them on Entrepreneurship.They hawk flowers,balloons(remember DCH),Newspapers,Caps,Ear muffs,footballs,Funky Led light lamps, Head massagers,Socks,Ties,Indian Flag,Diwali Diyas,candles,masks,Cleaning cloth, Windshield screens,Shampoo 2.The variety & the tactics used by these hawkers will give the malls a run 4 their money.Recently Devils Red Horns glowing with red eerie color being hawked 2.Flow of traffic is often disrupted due 2 the presence of such a big working crowd shuttling between vehicles.
I was numb watching the hawking amidst the vehicles honking & polluting.I saw world in a micro economy booming.A world which was not in search of anything,happy in whatever was coming their way either from left R right,up R down.The hawkers R mainly men,women & their kids from the displaced rurals selling dream wares.They were not cribbing,complaining abt the pollution,the noise R anything which I always do from the close windows of my car.As they R busy in hard realities of life,shelter & food. Tired,tattered & sun toned but happier because they found reasons 2 be,unlike the more affluent ones who find reasons & logics 4 happiness.It was a state 4 them but 4 me it is a thing 2 make sense of.
Suddenly the endless honking of traffic from behind brought me back from my philosophical thoughts.GREEN Signal.Soon my Car left the space,picking up speed with my dancing legs,leaving behind the Signal world as an iota tingling in the backyard of memory chasing other vehicles occupied with dreamers,till I could find another place,another time & another “Traffic Signal”,which is never very far in Hyderabad.
While I try 2 teach my students all abt life,these hawkers teach me what life is all abt.
