Navigating Chaos: The Trials of Driving on Indian Roads!!

Driving on Indian roads can be an incredibly stressful experience, especially for those who dislike it. The cacophony of honking horns, the chaotic flow of traffic, and the sheer unpredictability of other drivers can turn a simple journey into a nerve-wracking ordeal. For many, the act of driving becomes less about reaching a destination and more about navigating a minefield of potential hazards. This constant state of alertness makes it nearly impossible to enjoy the scenic views that often characterize the Indian landscape. Instead of admiring the vibrant street life or the beauty of the countryside, drivers are fixated on avoiding potholes, errant pedestrians, and reckless motorcyclists.

Driving in such conditions is undeniably tiring. The mental fatigue accumulates quickly, leading to a sense of weariness that can linger long after the journey is over. Passengers may find themselves on the receiving end of the driver’s rants about the reckless behaviors they witness—why are these other drivers tailgating? Why are they weaving in and out of lanes without signaling? This frustration is compounded by the fact that, in many cases, the passenger is left with no choice but to listen and offer some semblance of support. After all, the driver is grappling with a reality that demands focus and patience, while the passenger, comfortably seated, enjoys a front-row seat to the chaos.

Adding to the irritation is the hypocrisy often displayed in discussions about driving norms. Many who criticize Indian roads frequently compare them to the more organized systems in the Western world, forgetting that these comparisons rarely hold water when we consider local driving habits. The irony is palpable when we see individuals who lament the lack of organization in India while simultaneously ignoring basic safety measures like seat belts or helmets. Excuses abound: “It hurts to wear a seatbelt,” or “The police won't catch us today; it’s a Sunday!” Others confidently assert that the police won’t be present in alleyways, or that it’s just a short ride, making safety precautions seem unnecessary.

And then there are those who profess to enjoy driving in this chaos—because apparently, who wouldn’t want their heart racing and adrenaline pumping while navigating a game of automotive dodgeball? These self-proclaimed road warriors seem to find joy in what many of us consider an exercise in endurance.

These attitudes reflect a larger issue: a pervasive culture of complacency regarding road safety. Such justifications not only put individuals at risk but also exacerbate the chaotic environment drivers like myself must navigate. The combination of stress, the inability to enjoy the journey, and the presence of irrational attitudes makes driving in India an exercise in endurance rather than pleasure. For those of us who dislike driving, every trip becomes a testament to the complexities of Indian road culture—one that leaves us yearning for a more organized, safer, and ultimately enjoyable experience.

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Vennir

The Covid19 crises has bought out the hidden culinary skills of the family members, especially the women. Old and forgotten dishes have made the lockdown enjoyable. I thought I must contribute to this endeavour of my family by making something that is not only crucial, but one can say an essential ingredient in our cooking viz. Vennir. Vennir is used in a lot of dishes like noodles, sambhar, rasam, soups etc. It can also be used for therapeutic purposes like steam inhalation and othadam.

Making Vennir is an art not perfected by many despite many years spent in cooking. The right temperature can make or break a drink or a dish. To cite an example, soaking a green tea bag in vennir at a temperature of 70-75 degree Celsius for about 40 seconds can make a refreshing elixir. At the same time infusing the same tea bag in vennir at a temperature of 90-100 degree Celsius for more than a minute can make a bitter concoction that has to be thrown in the sink!

Vennir can be made in different ways, we can use the ordinary stove or the induction stove to make it. I prefer making it in the induction stove as the vessel does not get heated up while making vennir, though my mom prefers to use the gas stove. Old-timers prefer to use the wood-based chulha or veragu adupu to make vennir as it gives a distinctive wooden smell.

I have a few pictures of the vennir that I made earlier today.

Vennir in Induction stove

Vennir in Gas Stove

I Hope you all enjoy making your own vennir. By the way, vennir is known as Hot Water in the English language.

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Eco Friendly Products

Eco-Friendly Cups and Plates

Recently we purchased a few disposable cups made of sugarcane pulp and disposable plates made of acacia leaf; these were surprisingly sturdy and comfortable to hold. Most importantly, we had this pleasant feeling of not harming the environment.

The prices of the Eco-friendly cups made of sugarcane pulp are comparable to the paper cups sold. These were a bit costly than plastic cups. I think widespread usage of Eco-friendly cups should bring down the price.

I wish more people use these Eco-friendly cutlery and plates in functions like marriages, parties and puja pandals. Usage of such cutlery would help in creating a sustainable environmental condition. 

Eco-friendly cutlery will also bring down the usage of single-use plastic cutlery, which is hardly recycled.

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My Surface Pro 6

My Surface Pro 6

The first computer that I’ve owned was a P4 based desktop that was gifted to me by my grandmother. It had a ‘huge’ 40GB disk space and 128mb of RAM; we had to buy a separate computer table and allocate a corner in the house for the computer.  Over the years, I have been using several laptops provided by my company. Though the laptops were convenient, the bulkiness factor was always there. It was necessary to separately carry a brick (the charger), a mouse, plus a notebook for taking notes. I could not avoid all of this in the office as personal devices were not allowed. But when I joined the ePGP program, it was irritating to lug everything around.

The solution came to me in the form of the Surface Pro, 2-in-1 from the Microsoft stable. I have been a fan of the Surface since the time it was released in 2012. I used to watch reviews and unboxing videos of every edition since then. It was a special moment for me when I got to unbox my own Surface.

My cousin, who works in Microsoft got me my Surface when he returned from the US from an official trip. The version that I got is Surface Pro 6, and it has the following specifications

·       Intel 8^th Generation i5 Processor

·       8GB RAM

·       Microsoft Surface Type cover

·       Surface Pen

·       128 GB Disk Space with an extra 128 GB through the SD Card

I got all of these for 70,000/- rupees which is a pretty good deal (almost 25% cheaper than Indian e-commerce sites and electronics stores)

Surface On my cluttered Desk!!

I have been using the Surface for the past five months, and my experiences are listed below

Pros

·       It is very light in weight around 1kg including the type cover and the pen

·       One doesn’t fell the requirement of a laptop after using a Surface

·       You don’t need to use a separate mouse unless you are working on specific applications

·       The surface pen has eliminated my requirement of a notebook.

·       The charging adapter has a USB port, through which I can charge my phone too.

·       The kickstand is lovely as it accommodates reading, writing and typing in many angles

·       I could read and highlight documents anywhere

·       It is a good conversation starter!!

·       Kids love colouring with the pen.

Cons

·       The touch sometimes misbehaves if touched with grubby fingers

·       Thought the pen attaches itself magnetically with the surface, I always have the fear that it will fall off, this is especially true at airport security checks.

·       I keep reaching out to the screen on my office laptop ☹ (If it can be considered a con!!)

Overall it is an excellent investment for someone who needs a lightweight device and does not compromise on quality and performance. Microsoft has recently released Surface pro 7 with 10th generation Intel processors and the USB C port, However i feel Surface pro 6 is still value for money as of now. You can check it on Amazon India using the following link.

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Being Vegetarian

Being Vegetarian

I have been a Lacto-vegetarian for most part of my life as we are Tamil Brahmins who by practice do not include egg or meat in their diet. The only instants when I became a lacto-ova Vegetarian was when for a brief period I was advised egg by doctors for extra nutrition or when I unintentionally had a cake or a pastry made with eggs. Folks in my family get queasy when they smell non-vegetarian food or are sitting next to someone who is eating one. Over the years, I have got accustomed to the sights and smells of non-vegetarian food being eaten next to me.

What irks me is the attitude of some people who discover that I am a vegetarian. They invariably come up with a cockeyed story of a Brahmin friend of theirs who gulps non-vegetarian food as if he/she was a crocodile in their last birth!! Whether all of them make up the story or they really have a friend like that is a big mystery. I really wonder whether these people say this just because they are too dumb to come with a conversation starter or are biased towards vegetarians. I have also come across total jerks that derive a sadistic pleasure in trying to trick me into having non-vegetarian fare. There are even others who think we are cows that eat only leaves and grass!!! They find it difficult to comprehend that there are many tasty and innovative dishes that are available.

On the other hand, I have come across very good friends, colleagues and strangers who go to great lengths in trying to accommodate my vegetarian palette.

I am curious to know if it’s only me or there are others who also have had similar experiences. I would love hear your experiences about being a vegetarian. Do write to me in the comments section below.

My journey at IIM A starts

ePGP at IIM Ahmedabad

It is a dream of every aspiring MBA student to get admissions into the mecca of management education in India, IIM Ahmedabad. So when I got the email from IIM-A that I have been offered a seat in ePGP, I was in seventh heaven.

ePGP is a hybrid program, which is offered through a satellite technology-enabled interactive class room located in major cities of India. Hughes is the technology partner. Campus modules in the IIMA Campus are also included in the programme design. The selection procedure now is through CAT/GMAT exams and interviews by faculty.

The first campus module was conducted in last week of September.  It was good to come back to formal studies after a gap of almost 15 years. The atmosphere in the campus was very conducive for studies. Everyone I met had an aura of achievement and self-confidence around them. The professors were the best in their respective fields. It was good to see batch mates from diverse fields. Our batch has entrepreneurs, people from public sectors, private companies and Multinational companies with a collective work experience of about 600 years!! 

The rigour of IIM-A slowly but surely dawned upon us. We had case studies, readings, group discussions and assignments. The course structure is beautifully designed to suit working executives.

The stay in the campus was very good with comfortable rooms and sumptuous food. Most of all the serene surroundings would make even the dullest person start to study. The campus module was very well organized with evenly spaced events.

The online module started in the month of October; the first class online dispelled any doubts that one would have in mind about the effectiveness of this mode of education. It was a bit difficult juggling a day job, family life and studies. But after a month I can confidently say that the camaraderie of my batch-mates, advice of seniors and the wonderful teachings of professors has definitely helped me adjust to the new normal in my life.

This course is must do for people who missed out on management studies after their graduation. Come join the IIMA way of life!!.

A few pictures:

Just received my books

Class Room

My Study Group

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Anubhuti Class in shatabdi

Anubhuti Class in shatabdi

I recently had an opportunity to travel in the Anubhuti class in the Chennai – Bangaluru Shatabdi. It was a wonderful experience. As advertised the coach had aircraft like feeling. Some of the features of the coach are as follows:

• Air conditioned 2+2 seat configuration
• Cushioned leg rests
• Personalized reading lights
• Attendant calling ‘bell’ button
• USB and mobile charging points in the space between two seats
• A fold-able snack table under the arm rest of the seat
• Modular toilets with features like touch free tap and soap dispenser and hand dryer.
• Toilet occupancy indicators.
• Information display boards
• Braille integrated seat stickers
• Window screens
• Anti-graffiti vinyl wrapping inside the coach
• LCD entertainment screens in the front row seats.

Apart from the above we were provided with sumptuous food, newspaper and water bottles. The attendants were very courteous and friendly. The coach was also cleaned two times in the 5 hour journey.

The fair is reasonable costing around Rs. 1700/- for a one way ticket. The Indian railways have really put in a great effort to attract passengers to its trains. Hope the good work continues.