One DAM a million DAMNED!!!

The morning of 24/11/2006, dawned cold and grey with little or no hope for a million passengers stranded on the national highway 47, connecting the neighbouring states of Kerala and Tamilnadu. Pilgrims, Truck/bus Drivers, shared a common ground with the well heeled and families on some errand or the other across the border for over a day and a half. A problem, that arose of inadequacy, of water supply between the two neighbouring states.

The stage for such a wide scale blockade shifts to the state of Kerala, to a serene town of Vandiperiyar wherein a dam called Mullaperiyar lies, built nearly a century ago by the British during their occupancy of the country. This dam though in the state of Kerala is the major irrigation water supply for another city situated in Tamilnadu called Madurai and its surroundings. Earlier this year as the story goes the Tamilnadu Govt., took permission of the Supreme Court to raise the existing level of 138 to 142 which was immediately followed by a bill passed by the Kerala Govt. halting the increase Blah blah blah blah…..

Looks like the local political bodies were lying low awaiting a chance to stir the hornets nest, but anyways there was a disruption in service between both the states and a loss too that accompanied such an action. Being there at the scene was kinda like an awakening witnessing a traffic jam several kilometers long on a stretch of road that used to be covered in less than 40 minutes, watching people live on so little stranded helpless and watch the sun streak across the sky in a blazing chariot scorching the tar and making people seek shelter in the unlikeliest of places… under a bus/truck! What a sight!

The wastage of food oh a different story altogether. Come to think of it, it was food that brought me to this scene. Transporting fresh fish from my native place to home was my relatives who were stuck in this mother of all traffic jams the two states had witnessed in the past. I was brought in to transport the fish from their stranded vehicle to my home by means of a two wheeler as they were the only means of transport that passed by freely without hindrance.

Every passing two wheeler was awarded by a scowl and furtive glance probably cursing the rider of his freedom… the really funny thing was that a one particular point there were a group of pilgrims who on a mission of peace and devotion were hurling expletives and shouting at another group, but who can blame them taking into consideration the background of every one stranded…

Truly November 26, 2006, sure dawned a cold and grey morning for every one stranded on the highway for no reason of theirs but for the whims and fancies of a few politicians with their electoral promises to fulfill.

A wet bribe

Monsoons... a time city dwellers curse and farmers thank. the skies open up with full splendor letting out a cascade of shimmering drops, drops that clatter like the hoofs of a million horses, like the sound of a well orchestrated symphony consisting of just one instrument...

Just my luck to get caught in the middle of one such shower drenched to the bone riding puddle to puddle braving the showers sprayed by each passing vehicle. The feeling of being in the middle of such a situation takes one back to the time when as a little kid you wait for the rains for a couple of reasons though.... bunk classes.... make excuses... exciting games... playing... and well use your imagination!!!

riding with all this thought through the fine screen flashes the flouroscent green cross of a traffic cop... thinking to myself isn't he a dedicated one... well a thought shattered a second later when he pull a fellow motorist aside. A move that has me checking or rather scanning my memory to check if i have everthing my bike and satisfied with the thought in the affirmative.

Since i did have everything in order it boosted my ability to put up a brave front and wait at the traffic light taking in the proceedings... Imagine my shock when the cop whoo only second ago won my dedication was slyily slipping into his weather proof jacket a dry gandhi worth Rs.100. hmmmmm cops sure know when to pounce on the unsuspecting motorist and in the process make a wet bargain...