There are certain things in life, which we perform fearing punishment. Being kids we did the homework so that we escape from the scary eyes of the teacher. Being believers, we try not to harm others because we fear the punishment that may await us post-death. Being working individuals we pay taxes so that we are not threatened by the Government.
Homework snatched our play time but a little time lost was better than getting beaten we thought. Learning was our least interest being kids. More than proving ourselves kind, fear stopped us from doing wrong. Losing a high amount of self-earned money in the name of tax would be last in our choice list if no Government scrutiny.
In the chapters of our life, traffic police and dealing with traffic rules always seem like a huge tantrum to most Indians. On a scooty ride, we may sometimes forget to put on the passenger helmet, forget our DL at home, or trespass the signal too. In this case, our liberty despite the punishment/fine is two. One, looting traffic police have made us stubborn in not wearing a helmet and trespassing them. Second, paying a small amount of bribes will save us from huge punishments.
On an initiative to explore the City, I was out on a scooty. Like every Indian fear, we (I was a pillion rider) came across traffic police. As a precaution, we stopped, and checked for the DL, yes it was there. Vehicle documents, yes existed. Helmet on, yes all set. Now with two hundred per cent of confidence, we drove. All for waste. The greatest fear had stopped us and what we lacked was the helmet for a pillion rider. The officer managed to snatch Rs. 200 as a fine, blackmailing to have the owners name registered in the system which will cost nearly a thousand and the license too will be at a threat. Deciding Rs. 200 to be the best negotiation to the pockets of the officer we proceeded.
Post that day, either I avoid taking a ride or try to find a way where we know that, there are no traffic police waiting for their eagle hunt. The days like, pointing out the inspector and getting down as a pillion rider, and then re-joining the ride are common in each one of our lives. Buying a helmet would have solved all the issues in one go. But here, our hands tremble more when paying fine than riding without a helmet, which might cost our own life. If bribery or looting from the pockets of people is, on the one hand, the neglected rules are too the major reasons. Stopping traffic bribery will be successful if we follow traffic rules in a cent per cent ratio. Having conscious awareness of our life can not only make us dutiful to the traffic rules but also avoid uncalled bribery. Indirectly, we are becoming a cause for a corruption-free India making the officers abide by their professional duty.
