It happened last week.
I was driving with my wife in Mumbai. Somewhere near Chembur (won't reveal the exact location as I don't want to defame anyone). I wanted to take a right turn and the signal was green. So I took the turn. One traffic police whistled (you are required to check if the whistle was intended for you). I saw him through my rear view mirror. It was for me. I slowed down my car. I heard the whistle again, I saw again and the police indicated me to leave. Strange. I assumed there's some misunderstanding and now eveything's fine.
Me and my assumptions!
Suddenly another traffic police whistled and stopped me then and there. I asked him the reason politely (as he is just doing his job) and he politely asked me to show my driving licence. I obliged. Politely, I may add. Politely again, he asked me directly for money! Now that was direct to the point!
I asked him, "Paise kyun?" (Why are you asking for money?)
He: "Sahab ke paas chalo, sab batayenge" (My senior will answer your query)
By the way, I must add, the politeness I was referring to earlier on, suddenly left.
He: "PUC dikhaon" (Show me the PUC receipt. PUC is the certificate you get from the authorities when your vehicle's contribution to pollution is minimal and under control)
I obliged again. Thankfully, the PUC was still valid!
He took me to his senior. His senior said there was some confusion and he can let me go. Politeness is back in this world again! And now, finally, eveything's fine.. again!
I am not publishing this incident to defame anyone. I, for one, have the utmost respect for Mumbai police (traffic police included). I feel they are the most under-appreciated group in Mumbai. Anything happens here and we expect them to solve it. And they do, sometimes a little later than we expect. But that's understandable considering how big, multi-cultural and diverse Mumbai is.
There are some though, that spoil every good deed Mumbai police do. Like the one I referred to in this post. People eager for money and will not mince words to ask. Selfish priorities. As they say, it takes just one rotten apple to spoil the whole bunch. But then there are guys, like his senior, who ensured that sanity and justice prevails.
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| Image: trafficpolicemumbai.org. Deeds that we normally tend to forget |
My overall experience - Satisfactory.
Well said Binu! A rotten apple spoils the lot. How easy for us to generalize the entire police force. But not are all that bad are they?
ReplyDeleteOn a different note, how lucky to have found a valid PUC. I always seems to carry an outdated one! And the politeness tag was funny, lol :-)
I swear I was very lucky to have a valid PUC! My calendar is now updated :D
DeleteAsk for Money? wow, this is a different world. I've only seen traffic police abroad, never seen it in Norway, but it's not too many road junction here on the summit :-) There are many people in Mumbai, probably more than in whole Norway (5 mill)?
ReplyDeleteHope you have a blessed weekend:-)
Yes, there are many people in Mumbai and many cross-roads too! And many cars too, by the way.. Hehe..
DeleteHope you had a blessed weekend Tani :)
Well said. We should not form strong opinions based on one or two experience, which I am glad that you don't seem to be doing. There are always good and bad people in every field. On some days you meet only the bad ones. I am glad that you kept your cool :-) It must have helped!!
ReplyDeleteI didnt have an option but to remain cool my friend :D
DeleteAs it is there in every field, here also it is there. Yes, the traffic polic, the bus drivers...they are the most neglect ones. They do their duty 24*7 and 365 days. We the general public, need to have that little more patience and appreciate (as you have done here) them in whatever way it is possible...:)
ReplyDeleteAnd patience is what we lack Prashanth..All the work pressures, loan pressures among others, we have to take it out on someone.. In Mumbai, Traffic is the best option to dump and Traffic Police, the unfortunate recepients..
DeleteYeah there are some rotten apples. Actually these are the deeds that overshadow the god ones. Thank God! your overall experience was satisfactory.
ReplyDeleteI personally never had any bad experiences with the authorities Saru (touch keyboard).. I would have loved to appreciate the senior that moment, but was too concerned to leave.. :)
DeleteHMMM yeah well said its there every where... here is one story !!!
ReplyDeleteMine in KA registered was in another state :D will not tell you whichone...
we were stopped by one TPolice he asked us every other documents. We showed it to him ;) Politely even after that he wanted to meet his senior so we did politely once again and then the senior rechecked all the document and said "Saar, one of the document is not original it is photocopy we cant allow photo copies while the vehicle is in different state!!! ok saar pay 300 and go, No receipt nothing go saar go" Phew I hardly knew that for 300rs the photocopy becomes original!!!! :D
Hehe.. It takes only 300/- to convert a photo-copy into an original, well said Ramya..
DeleteOne guess, since you mentioned "saar" instead of sir, the location you are not mentioning is definitely a South Indian location :D
;) ROFL
DeleteYes, One Officer and his mistakes, are enough to defame the entire policemen,
ReplyDeletethough similar incident has happened with me too.
These are very common in Mumbai these days :(
Yes Revathi, these incidents are very common in Mumbai and most of them do not end satisfactorily :D
DeleteBang on! One bad experience and the entire clan gets defamed! But things may not always be so, as this experience of yours clearly shows. Good for articles like these which serve as eye openers for all. Thanks for sharing this article, Binu :)
ReplyDeleteHey Arti, you are right, all it takes is one bad experience and our perception changes.. Unfortunately, the same remains with us for an entire lifetime..
Deletethanks for sharing...
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome Krishna :)
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