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HORN OK PLEASE!!!!!!!

                                    HORN OK PLEASE!!!!!!!!
This is something we all know about. Literally from Kargil to Madurai and Arunachal to Kutch and even in the Andaman and Lakshwadeep we see this on backs of trucks waddling about on Indian roads. And we more often than not are happy to oblige. It was something that I hadn’t given much thought to until a couple of guests from Europe pointed out to me that how is it that in India you actually encourage people to honk? It is considered an emergency if someone is honking abroad or if done without sufficient cause it is thought to be rude….
Aha!
And to imagine when I started driving in Pune a friend gave me this advice: Arre!” If you want to drive without incidence in Pune remember to honk!” Ha! Ha! And I have taken his advice to heart and follow it diligently. And after 14 years in the city I believe what he said to me that day was so true. All those women talking and crossing the road would have definitely been run over ages back if we drivers were not honkers too! And all those kids running wildly all over the road chasing each other and balls and cats and dogs- how would we ever avoid them or get them to notice us? And some patches in the city with cattle on them? Those regal buffaloes and those glorious cows!!!!!!!!!!!!! Alas! We honk and we honk but to no avail, they shall decide when and if they want to move.
The horn in India is also used to communicate so many messages……
For example a few years back I was driving home from work in my car and there was a young fellow driving parallel to me, honking and gesticulating wildly just as I had exited the parking lot. It had me thinking- “Whoa! Am I getting hit on? I am Sridevi! JJ” So very smartly I rolled down the window and asked the young man- “Yes? How can I help you?” Equally smartly with a sly grin he said-“No mam! The question is HOW I can help you? The thing is that your purse is on the roof of your car!” And with a final blast of his horn as a punctuating mark he sped away! An embarrassed and sheepish me stopped the car and retrieved my bag. Now what a major loss I would have suffered if the poor lad hadn’t conveyed to me with his honking that I am about to lose my bag.
There are several messages that I have often conveyed to others using the horn.Honk! Honk! Uncleji your darling’s duppatta is weeping the road…
Or Honk! Honk! Hey mister your fuel flap is open… or in some cases people have to be told that one of their car doors is open…. And the most important one which I absolutely do is tell people that look your kid is fast asleep, this to guys driving bikes bringing home tired kids from school….How could I possibly accomplish all this without my horn?
So I guess I shall stay in Honky Town for some more time….
Happy Honking!


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