July 02, 2009

Speedbreaker, backstabbing and Einstein

A few more thoughts about the now-famous Bandra-Worli Sealink.

Several reports today (July 2) speak of the traffic jams on the bridge as soon as it was thrown open, and at the Worli end in particular. (One of those reports). Of course, some of this is due to people out to see the bridge on a joyride, not least because using it is free for another five days. Some of it was due to "a speed breaker at the Worli exit point", later removed.

Yet consider: What traffic planning went into the design of this Sealink if it cannot cope with people out for a joyride?

Besides, DCP (Traffic) Shahaji Solunkhe offered this: "We are hopeful that within a few days the volume of traffic would reduce."

What kind of planning for a major traffic route "hopes" for a reduction in traffic on its first day in operation?

And why was that speed breaker there anyway?

***

Of course there's now the political controversy about naming the bridge, complete with all the attendant foolishness.

To start, I couldn't agree more with the Shiv Sena's Subhash Desai, who asked: "Is it a rule that everything in this country has to be named after the Gandhi-Nehru family?"

Indeed.

Think of the conniptions people have to go through in this naming game. Sharad Pawar proposes that it be named after Rajiv Gandhi, of course that has nothing to do with the fact that he was sitting next to RG's widow at the time. Right.

But the same Pawar makes sure to mention that RG is a bhoomiputra, a son-of-the-soil (though you might ask what soil he means since the bridge snakes over the sea), given that he was born in Bombay and spent many years here. He does that in an entirely cynical move to take the wind out of the sails of the self-styled champions of the son-of-the-soil argument, Desai's own party.

Still, they did want it named after Veer Savarkar. Why is that a more suitable proposal for a name for this bridge? That's not clear, but Desai's party boss, Uddhav Thackeray, says (Hindustan Times, July 2) that by naming it after RG, "the government has backstabbed Maharashtra".

Makes you wonder. What is the greater benefit to Maharashtra? The Sealink? Or the name on the Sealink?

But of course, questions like that are meaningless to folks focused on naming things.

***

And yet, about names ... you also have to wonder.

Why not call it the Srinivasa Ramanujan Sealink, after the brilliant Indian mathematician who died too young?

Or the Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi Sealink, after an uncommonly brave woman?

Or the Subramanyam Chandrashekhar Sealink, after the great astrophysicist who has a major astronomical phenomenon named for him?

Or the Albert Einstein Sealink, after a man whose genius and achievement transcended country and soil, indeed elevating all humanity?

Or the Emperor Ashoka Sealink, to honour one of the greatest monarchs in history?

Or the Bandra-Worli Sealink, because that's just what it is?

12 comments:

Samir said...

This faux outrage over speed-breakers etc. sounds a bit... nitpicky. You *know* how things are done in India, you *know* that important stuff always get forgotten, and the planners-that-be work under all sorts of crazy constraints.

Suresh said...

Ah, the naming issue brings to mind one of my pet peeves. I have long been disgusted that the "fragrant" Buckingham canal in Chennai still bears the name of one of our hated colonial masters. I would suggest that at least the Chennai stretch of it - arguably, the most "fragrant" - be renamed:

(i) Rajiv Gandhi canal,
(ii) Indira Gandhi canal,
(iii) Jawaharlal Nehru canal,
(iv) Dr. Kalaignar K. Karunanidhi kaalvaay,
(v) Puratchi thalaivi Dr. J. Jayalalitha kaalvaay.

Or to be totally fair, we could name it Rajiv-Indira-Jawaharlal-Karunanidhi-Jayalalitha canal/kaalvaay. It's disappointing to see that none of our beloved leaders is willing to take the initiative in this regard.

[On a sidenote, does anyone know of any other country where an honorary doctorate is taken for the real thing?]

Boskoe said...

We should call it something unique - say '2', in honour of the smallest prime integer that is also an even number.

Dilip D'Souza said...

You *know* how things are done in India ...

Which is really an argument not to do anything of any consequence.

Why build better roads, for one example? After all, I *know* how roads have always been built in India -- potholed and crumbling. Why ask for better phone service? After all, I *know* how the phone service always worked in India -- took ten years to get one, and then it barely connected to anywhere usably.

Etc.

Yes, I *know* how things are done in India. You do too. That's why you should nitpick.

Baby Vaijayanti and Puppy Manohar said...

Dear Dcubed

How about calling it Raju. Not "Raju Bridge", that should be punishable by law. Just Raju. Or Meenal. Or Babloo.

regards
Baby V.
Educated Aunty: "Rickshaw....Raju Bridge jayega"
Rixawalla: "Nahi madam. voh kahan hai?"
Educated Aunty: "arre Bandra Worli Sealink"
Rixawalla: "Toh phir Raju bolo na..Raju Bridge kya hai"
Educated Aunty: "These bhaiyyas they come from outside and show arrogance"
(loud music plays)

Baby Vaijayanti and Puppy Manohar said...

Dear Dcubed

How about calling it Raju. Not "Raju Bridge", that should be punishable by law. Just Raju. Or Meenal. Or Babloo.

regards
Baby V.
Educated Aunty: "Rickshaw....Raju Bridge jayega"
Rixawalla: "Nahi madam. voh kahan hai?"
Educated Aunty: "arre Bandra Worli Sealink"
Rixawalla: "Toh phir Raju bolo na..Raju Bridge kya hai"
Educated Aunty: "These bhaiyyas they come from outside and show arrogance"
(loud music plays)

Bevakoof said...

I think it should be called the Karl Marx bridge, as it has been paved with good intentions. Actually, even the D'Souza link would be ok in my book.

Dilip D'Souza said...

Baby V, the one snag I see in your otherwise commendable scheme is if the educated aunty just happens to have a good pal by name Raju. Then she will be extremely reluctant to ask a rixawalla "Raju jayega?", because Raju may not appreciate countless visits from the educated aunty at all times of the day.

I speak from personal experience: This is why I discourage my educated aunties from visiting.

No, there is one more snag. What if the rixawalla happens to refer affectionately to his rixa as "Raju"?

Educated aunty: "Raju jayega?"

Rixawalla: "Haan, jayega. Magar kahan?"

EA: "Arre, Raju!"

Rixawalla: "Haan, haan, Raju! Jayega, jayega, daudega bhi! Magar kahan?"

EA: "These bhaiyyas they come from outside and show arrogance."
(loud music plays).

Samir said...

I don't think knowing how India works is an excuse for not doing anything. What I'm saying is that a lot of different people are working very hard and nitpicking does not really help. What *would* help is for folks like you or me to get elected on the City Council, or be part of citizens' councils or business councils or something more hands-on like that...

Raj said...

Why have a name at all? Why not call it the Sealink?

Anonymous said...

The Mughals won't have it

nikhil said...

It does not matter.. for those who use it and for people from across the country, it shall always be the Bandra-Worli sealink..no matter what the politicians say