Jeene Do

At the very basic of thoughts, one would say why have someone bother about the way others live their lives. Very well said. Isn’t is everyone for themselves. So do not bother about me. Let me live my life. I am fine the way I am. The problems are mine. The successes are mine. I am the center and I am circumference of my world. It starts with me, it ends with me. ‘It’s my life’ said a famous singer.

Live and Let Live

Just when you were thinking that being selfish and being satisfied for oneself was the only way a person lived their life, someone comes along and says, well, it has to be a two way process. It cannot be a just that you live. You have to ensure that other’s live too. Thus one expands their thinking. It’s not only you, but also who is around you. You become sensitive to things. You see things differently and they make a whole lot of sense.

Pardesi

I am then stopped by the words Awaz Do (Blow Horn) and Dipper flashing straight at me. Yes I am in India. Its perfectly alright to blow the horn of the vehicle when you are overtaking or have a point to make. What is sad that often people honk for no reason at all. In spite of all this, India is a place that I missed so much. Something below the Dipper catches my attention. A truck in front of me was labeling me a foreigner. Or was it a mere co-incidence that I had just returned from the US after two years. Was that a long period to term me a foreigner? I wonder … I wonder.

Equality in Religion

One of the reasons I love India is the rich cultural mix that it possesses. The very fact that almost all of the world’s major religions thrive harmoniously in India is a miracle. And what surprises me the most is that when I speak to the common man, the people on the streets, the people in the small towns, have a common understanding. They all love their faith, but at the same time respect the other too. The trucks go one step further. It caught my attention that there was a religious symbol of the Muslims (the 786) and the Hindus (the Jay Ma Sherawali) on the same truck. It made me question, as to whose religious identity was the truck portraying? Was is the owner, or the order, or simply a hidden message in the text that God is one and we are all the part of the same cosmos.

Bridal Affair

The fascination for decoration never goes unnoticed. Brands lose their identities often. Logos are modified just to make a “better” appearance. Almost every truck vehicle would have a face painted on it. And the moment you have a face, the idea is to make it as beautiful as possible. And what can be more beautiful than painting it like a bride.

Dulhan hi Dahej Hai

With the thoughts of a bridal makeup still lingering in my mind, I walk around and here is a message for all of us in the society to follow. Hate to admit, but this still exists in the country widely. But if one was to understand it carefully, it makes so much sense.

Population Control

And if you thought that the truck graphics ended their messages with just the wedding, you are wrong. There is a clearly written message that could serve as a solution for India’s growing population. Families should have only two kids. Else what happens? Well, there is a population explosion and there will not be enough place for all of us on the planet. How neat!

Family Business

And if you cannot find a job elsewhere, why not take up your family business. This was a dhaba that was mostly used by truck drivers to take meals. We had stopped here for taking tea. We were surprised to see that there was three generations of the same family working in the restaurant.

Chak De Phatte

I guess the idea is in being good at what you do. Chak De Phatte, or Just Do It, as the Nike people would call it. I think that in order to know the success or a failure of any idea, one has to just experience it first hand. That is the best possible way. Being involved in setting up numerous startups presently, I see this as a valuable advise.

Parishram Ke Alawaa

And how to you succeed in them? Well you keep working hard diligently. There is no other way than the hard way. I think this is a well known fact, but often people end up trying to taking the short cut route. That is wrong. For me, I know that the harder I get, the luckier I get.

Jai Hind

I think that the most emotionally and soul satisfying experience comes from the fact that I am in India, viewing these things, that inspire me so much. It is with all pride that I flaunt my nationality, and am glad that I get to explore the things that I am passionate about!