Meaningful message

I recently read an article in a community newspaper titled "Message from Dr A. P. J. Kalam – A must read for every Indian.” Whatever the former President of India has written is true. It is high time people woke up to the realities and took appropriate action when necessary. There is no point in saying that we want Bombay to be like Singapore or Shanghai unless we take proper steps toward this end.

Will we ever see changes in India such as those described in the article about Australia and New Zealand? Will our authorities act like the ones there? Over here people merely blame the Bombay Municipal Corporation and other departments like the police, but do nothing to change the situation. The former President has mentioned misuse of the long distance telephone service and other services by government personnel. He has specially pointed out how a person in authority behaves with the traffic police when caught for a petty offence, saying: "Jaanta hai main kaun hoon? (Do you know who I am?) I am so-and-so’s son. Take your two bucks and get lost.”

Indians need to be better educated to come on par with the standard of living of people residing abroad. In my career in the Police department from which I retired as Assistant Commissioner of Police after serving for 36 years and four months, especially when I was with the traffic department, I noticed that whenever youngsters were apprehended for rash driving, jumping signals and other such offences, they did not fear the police because they knew they could pay the fine and be released.

On one occasion, when I was making out cases on Bandra’s Carter Road, my constable stopped a young boy who was speeding. The boy began to argue while my man was making out a challan. Finally, when he was told to pay the fine, the boy took out a thick wallet, extracted two notes of Rs 500 each and flung them at the policeman. I was standing nearby and witnessed the entire incident. In a harsh tone I ordered the boy to step out of his car, pick up the government currency he had thrown down or I would arrest him and take him to the Bandra Police Station for further action. The boy became nervous, picked up the notes and apologized to both of us.

I asked the boy what he was doing and he replied that he was a second year BCom student. I asked him about his parents and he said that they were working in Kuwait. How much pocket money did he receive? I was shocked to learn that it was Rs 2,000. I told the boy that it was "Baap ki kamai (money earned by his father)” and not "Khud ki kamai (his own earnings).”

While giving a lecture at the Indian Merchants’ Chambers, I told the audience that some people have become rich overnight. They own and drive fancy cars, but they have not yet learnt road manners or discipline. Unfortunately this remains unchanged as the recent case of Alistair Pereira has shown. It is high time legislation is amended and punishment under Sections 279, 338 and 304 of the Indian Penal Code is enhanced up to seven years’ rigorous imprisonment. Only then will offenders fear the law and innocent lives be spared.

SAM DARABSHAH PATEL