The year 2001 witnessed the bursting of the dotcom bubble and showed up looming signs of the recession villain.Retrenchment, downturn, downsizing, layoffs - these were the common terms heard across in every nook and corner. 9/11 attack further deteriorated the situation and the economy stumbled and plummeted. The downturn villain took its toll on job recruitments by freezing it and desiccating the campus placement cells which were once the hopes of budding engineers like me.Unfortunately to me the B.Tech passing out coincided with this horrifying 2k1.
Pinning hopes high on its cardinal, I set off to chennai in an effort to plot my career co-ordinates.Chennai Central seemed pretty big compared to my Thrissur railway station. Is this my destiny ? I recollected the saying: “It might just be your destiny, dont define it, just let it happen.” Reaching the Chennai central out gate, the auto-waalaas approached like swarming bees and I was delighted to see their hospitality. But the happiness didn't last long when I got myself into the heated exchange on deciding the autofare and coming to a consensus. It was exorbitant in comparison with Kerala auto rates and the heavily crowded buses left me no other choice to commute. Haggling with the three wheelers everytime for 40-50 rupees forced me to get my Samu (Suzuki Samurai Bike) from the streets of GOD's own country to the highways of HEAT's own country.
Everything happened lightning fast and within a week Samurai landed at Chennai Central - as a hero to relieve his master from the clutches of the autowaalaas and age old MTC buses. But to have a count of 31 traffic police-captures to my credit in the days & months to come – that was never ever dreamt of !
Chennai Central Railway Station...
Alleppey express arrived on time and myself and Samu arrived safely. Its wee hours and the city is slowly waking up. Tank was emptied before transporting and hence Samu's thirst had to be taken care and the near by bunk quenched it. It was Sunday early morning and so the notorious city traffic snarls were missing. The ride was straightdrive on the Poonamallee road and all the signals at approaching junctions were green. A welcome feeling to Samu -it seemed perfect and good omen. Samu picked up the speed and the momentum and the joyful morning ride continued till the Egmore junction where Newton's IInd Law appeared in the form of a red signal and decelerated us to zero.
Oblivious of the red signal junction I was humming an old Tamil song until I was intervened by a shrieking voice from behind - 'Kerala Payyannnnn - dai kerala payyan". A dark pot bellied policeman sporting a sinister smile was standing behind.
As a reciprocation, I smiled back at him.All of a sudden jumped onto me, took off the bike key and started walking away yelling out 'oaaramaa park pannu, NOC yaedu'(park on the side and come with NOC).
To bring my Samu onto chennai streets sooner, I didn’t bother much to get the official formalities done from native. The no-objection papers are missing - as simple as that. Traffic Police (TP) ordered: No NoC? come to mobile court and case would be filed!
All my years in Kerala, I haven't had any encounter with TPs fortunately. How to handle them in this new place? I was caught unawares. I muttered 'hmm enna pannano' (what to do)
TP replied instantly: 300 Rs kodungae
Samu seemed confiding on me - Samu was sure that his master would never take chances to take him to the police station premises. I gave 150 only but he seemed much happy and returned the key with the typical colgate smile we usually receive at tollgates.
Poonamallee road stretches long and countless junctions ahead. I asked him genuinely in half-tamil:Yaaraavathu next junctionil pudichaa enna pannano
(If some other TP catches me in next junction, what shall I do)
Came in the spontaneous reply from TP: Intha junctionil koduthaachu nu sollidungae
(Tell them that you have paid at this junction !!)
It took some time for me to digest this ‘shared-network’ concept but later over the years and with more TP interactions I realized the grim fact - they maintain a common account and would be in massive collecting spree once the month end approaches - or else they are answerable to their superiors !
My ammamman (mother's brother) had been in a pretty high position as the IAS officer and unfortunately left us while he was in service. Though he was no more, everyone knew by his name.With the consent of ammayi (his wife), I decided to release this trump card incase if I get caught later and only if all my other excuses fail. By this time I had my NOC papers also ready but validity was there for 6 months only.
New to the language - so byhearted and recited the necessary and sufficient dialogues to deal with the chennai cops to release the trump card - ' Ennudae thaai maaama vanthu IAS officer" (My mother's brother is an IAS officer) Any further interrogation by TP would be answered in English - the modus operandi was all set to execute.
Seeing Samu with KL-8 registration, the TPs face brightens- non possession/expired NOC yields them the BIG fish. First dialogue goes like this "Kerala payyan oaramaa park pannungae....papers kaamingae....NOC kaamingae"
Kerala payyan would show the license papers, insurance papers & still if the TP doesn't concede, Samu's Master's voice would recite the 1 liner poem 'ennude thaaimaama vanthu...'. I knew well that I would then be let scot free but I always ensured that I wouldn't use it if caught for any traffic negligence on my part.
Over the months, I learnt the art of skilful evasion - at red signal junctions stop Samu behind some heavy vehicles, never go to the extreme left of the roads, when you spot the TP, never ever look towards him, wearing helmets and formal shirts & trousers also creates a high escape-quotient of such police checks.
The B.Tech guy landed in the city to get rid of the 'fresher' tag and setting up his career co-ordinates but the recession villain girding up his loins seemed ever stronger and lady luck seemed always eluding. Days went by....job was not clicking....no interview calls....lay offs & downsizing rampant and experienced people as well bore the brunt of the marketfall.
Job hunting process went smoother with Samu but to make matters worse, whenever I get an opportunity once in a bluemoon to attend an interview or a written exam, these TPs would pop up. I encountered TPs almost everywhere - the same story continued - the trump card would set me free in the end. TPs became my best friends to improve my communication skills in Tamil as well as English. Anna Nagar traffic police, vadapalani police, parrys corner police, rv nagar police, adayar police all became familiar faces.
Jobless frustration went up… much much faster than the soaring mercury levels of Chennai heat and had its own psychological repercussions. Studied in good college, good marks – but no job! Sometimes it drove me crazy.
Once when the TP at Madhya Kailash Adayar spotted the approaching KL-8 bike, he showed hand signals to stop for checking NOC & other papers. Somehow to cross the signal, I sped past the cop and after travelling half a mile had an enlightenment. Risk aversion kills innovation - so let me face it and see the results. Immediately took a U-turn and and stopped Samu near the traffic junction. The hefty cop with the big moustache got really surprised. I explained: Sorry saar sariyaaa pakkalae, athaa miss pannittaen...chollungo enna vishayo....ethukkaaka stop panna sonnaen.. ( Sorry Sir, I didn't notice you, tell me why you wanted me to stop) He remained spell bound and after a few seconds silence he told: Illay nothing saar...pongae. (Nothing Sir, you may go)I was rather expecting some conversations with him and improving my Tamil vocabulary as well as to kill the boredom which was predominant those days with nothing to do other than eat & sleep.
The most embarassing incident was with the TP at Anna Nagar roundtana. I was stopped on the "free-left" while I was coming from Ayyappan Temple on a Sunday morning. Since I had to reach ammayi's house soon, before TP asking anything I blabbered
"ennude thaaimaama vanthu IAS officer". Unlike other TPs he was a very old chap and retorted respectfully in pure tamil : Aengae, naaan ungatta onnumae kaekkaliyae saar, pakkatha bus stop il konjam drop pannamudiyumaa, urgentaaa ponoum ( Sir,I
didnt ask you anything, if you dont mind can you pls drop me at the nearest bus stop, its urgent)
I felt so awkward. I recollected the word 'discombobulation' which I learnt during my B.Tech days - a befitting word for this situation. He got into the pillion seat and on that short ride to the next bus stop I was given more of a parental advice about what all papers I need to carry including pollution check certificate, about cautious driving and primarily about their plight, their grievances, the numerous pockets to be filled to get the posting and so on and so forth. He was taking me into their world - I felt the pain walking in their shoes and realized that my earlier perception was wrong. Every month end they have to generate the committed collection to be handed over to their superiors failing which their posting may change/position may be at stake. That was the 19th TP encounter and I felt bad that none of the 18 TPs got benefitted out of me except the first.
There were kind TPs as well. Once when going to T.Nagar for attending a recruitment exam for a software company, Samu was caught. As time was running short, I tried to convince him that I am on the way for a job interview by showing my CV, marksheets and the worn formal shirts and pants as proof. He understood my situation and immediately let me go.
NOC validity period had lapsed by that time and myself was adjusting with the xerox of the xerox and changing the date and xeroxing it again. I need to be blamed for not shelling out 4000 bucks for re –registration. I was a job hunter and no guarantee to be permanent in Chennai – that fuelled myself to back out from the corrective action.
Well my ammayi likes ice creams a lot and so on my 25th traffic police encounter, I was so happy and that day I bought for her a family pack icecream since she had given me her consent to use the trump card though I hardly used it.Since I was keeping the count of encounters, 25th was special to me and the R.V.Nagar TP was surprised to see me so happy when I was caught. He went puzzled when I told him 'Thank You Sir' once he returned the papers after checking.
Eventually the Chennai TPs became nice companions to me.Once I even taught and guided the TPs at SDM stop (on the way to Greams Road) when they caught me and asked for NOC papers for Samu's KL8 registration. After showing up the NOC papers, one of the TP said: We know that the Non-TN registration vehicles must be asked for NOC but we dont know how to verify it, konjam solli kodukkireenglaaa.
I was happy to help them: NOC means No Objection Certificate and I explained them showing my NOC forms. Infact you are supposed to change your registration to TN or pay the road tax here - those details I hushed up. Anyway it was a knowledge sharing and all were happy.
There were annoying TPs as well particularly those I encountered at Nelson Manickyam Junction and the one at Vadapalani signal. These furtive policemen usually lurk in the corners and would literally pounce upon you, take off your keys and vanish. You have to go behind them with all the bike papers and apparently the 'Thaaaimaama factor' is of no use! Some TPs would never accept that the photo seen in license paper is mine. One TP even commented that the photo has to be changed as it looks young! I told I can change the xerox but not the photo and then he started arguing. Heated exchanges often turns productive and effective as I learn a lot many Tamil slang usages. Certain TPs would not let you go even if you have all the papers intact. The idea is to make you feel irritated and you decide to come out paying a few bucks to them. During the jobless days, I never concede to this as I had LAVISH time with me. Once I got into the job, I preferred paying 20Rs and flee the scene.
There have been encounters in which I ended up paying money – red signal crossing, lane violation in Mount road and few times for shading Samu under the non-parking zone.
If at all I have improved my Tamil communication, all credits go to the city traffic cops here. With meagre income, standing all thru the day sweating in the scorching chennai heat and regulating the traffic is not an easy job. The only extra bucks they earn is by catching the 'unlicensed' fellows off the record and then a big share of it again would go to their superiors.Lot many TP faces were familiar to me those days and our friendship at various traffic junctions as well grew stonger.
Atlast…..it happened. Myself by God's grace got into a pretty decent job in an MNC and confined myself within the airconditioned walls of the cubicles and TPs rarely got into my way.
Years went by…The encounters came down…. Maybe the transformation from the "COUNTRY LOOK" with black spex, hawai chappals and 35Rs. ‘foot path brand’ cap to the “PROFESSIONAL LOOK” with formal shirts trousers shoes helmets & id card did the trick. NOC papers are still the same old ones I had with the dates-changed with ink and xeroxed. The total count stands 31 as of now and out of these just 4 counts only in the last 4 years.. Over the years, I could notice that the once familiar faces at different junctions have been missing - may be they are new TP recruits or the older ones could not meet their collection targets and failed in their commitments.The once energetic and vibrant Samu has become old and 'chokes’ everytime. Samu's NOC papers got obsolete and neither of us want to renew it nor change the registration.Having gone thru so many encounters with the Chennai traffic police, myself and Samu can grasp and realize the finer nuances of the TP's behavioural patterns and over the course of time we both developed the maturity, the wisdom and the agility to move forward with perfect reflexes to avoid any encounters - The journey must go on and the life must move on....
Sasneham
Sanbalas
Pinning hopes high on its cardinal, I set off to chennai in an effort to plot my career co-ordinates.Chennai Central seemed pretty big compared to my Thrissur railway station. Is this my destiny ? I recollected the saying: “It might just be your destiny, dont define it, just let it happen.” Reaching the Chennai central out gate, the auto-waalaas approached like swarming bees and I was delighted to see their hospitality. But the happiness didn't last long when I got myself into the heated exchange on deciding the autofare and coming to a consensus. It was exorbitant in comparison with Kerala auto rates and the heavily crowded buses left me no other choice to commute. Haggling with the three wheelers everytime for 40-50 rupees forced me to get my Samu (Suzuki Samurai Bike) from the streets of GOD's own country to the highways of HEAT's own country.
Everything happened lightning fast and within a week Samurai landed at Chennai Central - as a hero to relieve his master from the clutches of the autowaalaas and age old MTC buses. But to have a count of 31 traffic police-captures to my credit in the days & months to come – that was never ever dreamt of !
Chennai Central Railway Station...
Alleppey express arrived on time and myself and Samu arrived safely. Its wee hours and the city is slowly waking up. Tank was emptied before transporting and hence Samu's thirst had to be taken care and the near by bunk quenched it. It was Sunday early morning and so the notorious city traffic snarls were missing. The ride was straightdrive on the Poonamallee road and all the signals at approaching junctions were green. A welcome feeling to Samu -it seemed perfect and good omen. Samu picked up the speed and the momentum and the joyful morning ride continued till the Egmore junction where Newton's IInd Law appeared in the form of a red signal and decelerated us to zero.
Oblivious of the red signal junction I was humming an old Tamil song until I was intervened by a shrieking voice from behind - 'Kerala Payyannnnn - dai kerala payyan". A dark pot bellied policeman sporting a sinister smile was standing behind.
As a reciprocation, I smiled back at him.All of a sudden jumped onto me, took off the bike key and started walking away yelling out 'oaaramaa park pannu, NOC yaedu'(park on the side and come with NOC).
To bring my Samu onto chennai streets sooner, I didn’t bother much to get the official formalities done from native. The no-objection papers are missing - as simple as that. Traffic Police (TP) ordered: No NoC? come to mobile court and case would be filed!
All my years in Kerala, I haven't had any encounter with TPs fortunately. How to handle them in this new place? I was caught unawares. I muttered 'hmm enna pannano' (what to do)
TP replied instantly: 300 Rs kodungae
Samu seemed confiding on me - Samu was sure that his master would never take chances to take him to the police station premises. I gave 150 only but he seemed much happy and returned the key with the typical colgate smile we usually receive at tollgates.
Poonamallee road stretches long and countless junctions ahead. I asked him genuinely in half-tamil:Yaaraavathu next junctionil pudichaa enna pannano
(If some other TP catches me in next junction, what shall I do)
Came in the spontaneous reply from TP: Intha junctionil koduthaachu nu sollidungae
(Tell them that you have paid at this junction !!)
It took some time for me to digest this ‘shared-network’ concept but later over the years and with more TP interactions I realized the grim fact - they maintain a common account and would be in massive collecting spree once the month end approaches - or else they are answerable to their superiors !
My ammamman (mother's brother) had been in a pretty high position as the IAS officer and unfortunately left us while he was in service. Though he was no more, everyone knew by his name.With the consent of ammayi (his wife), I decided to release this trump card incase if I get caught later and only if all my other excuses fail. By this time I had my NOC papers also ready but validity was there for 6 months only.
New to the language - so byhearted and recited the necessary and sufficient dialogues to deal with the chennai cops to release the trump card - ' Ennudae thaai maaama vanthu IAS officer" (My mother's brother is an IAS officer) Any further interrogation by TP would be answered in English - the modus operandi was all set to execute.
Seeing Samu with KL-8 registration, the TPs face brightens- non possession/expired NOC yields them the BIG fish. First dialogue goes like this "Kerala payyan oaramaa park pannungae....papers kaamingae....NOC kaamingae"
Kerala payyan would show the license papers, insurance papers & still if the TP doesn't concede, Samu's Master's voice would recite the 1 liner poem 'ennude thaaimaama vanthu...'. I knew well that I would then be let scot free but I always ensured that I wouldn't use it if caught for any traffic negligence on my part.
Over the months, I learnt the art of skilful evasion - at red signal junctions stop Samu behind some heavy vehicles, never go to the extreme left of the roads, when you spot the TP, never ever look towards him, wearing helmets and formal shirts & trousers also creates a high escape-quotient of such police checks.
The B.Tech guy landed in the city to get rid of the 'fresher' tag and setting up his career co-ordinates but the recession villain girding up his loins seemed ever stronger and lady luck seemed always eluding. Days went by....job was not clicking....no interview calls....lay offs & downsizing rampant and experienced people as well bore the brunt of the marketfall.
Job hunting process went smoother with Samu but to make matters worse, whenever I get an opportunity once in a bluemoon to attend an interview or a written exam, these TPs would pop up. I encountered TPs almost everywhere - the same story continued - the trump card would set me free in the end. TPs became my best friends to improve my communication skills in Tamil as well as English. Anna Nagar traffic police, vadapalani police, parrys corner police, rv nagar police, adayar police all became familiar faces.
Jobless frustration went up… much much faster than the soaring mercury levels of Chennai heat and had its own psychological repercussions. Studied in good college, good marks – but no job! Sometimes it drove me crazy.
Once when the TP at Madhya Kailash Adayar spotted the approaching KL-8 bike, he showed hand signals to stop for checking NOC & other papers. Somehow to cross the signal, I sped past the cop and after travelling half a mile had an enlightenment. Risk aversion kills innovation - so let me face it and see the results. Immediately took a U-turn and and stopped Samu near the traffic junction. The hefty cop with the big moustache got really surprised. I explained: Sorry saar sariyaaa pakkalae, athaa miss pannittaen...chollungo enna vishayo....ethukkaaka stop panna sonnaen.. ( Sorry Sir, I didn't notice you, tell me why you wanted me to stop) He remained spell bound and after a few seconds silence he told: Illay nothing saar...pongae. (Nothing Sir, you may go)I was rather expecting some conversations with him and improving my Tamil vocabulary as well as to kill the boredom which was predominant those days with nothing to do other than eat & sleep.
The most embarassing incident was with the TP at Anna Nagar roundtana. I was stopped on the "free-left" while I was coming from Ayyappan Temple on a Sunday morning. Since I had to reach ammayi's house soon, before TP asking anything I blabbered
"ennude thaaimaama vanthu IAS officer". Unlike other TPs he was a very old chap and retorted respectfully in pure tamil : Aengae, naaan ungatta onnumae kaekkaliyae saar, pakkatha bus stop il konjam drop pannamudiyumaa, urgentaaa ponoum ( Sir,I
didnt ask you anything, if you dont mind can you pls drop me at the nearest bus stop, its urgent)
I felt so awkward. I recollected the word 'discombobulation' which I learnt during my B.Tech days - a befitting word for this situation. He got into the pillion seat and on that short ride to the next bus stop I was given more of a parental advice about what all papers I need to carry including pollution check certificate, about cautious driving and primarily about their plight, their grievances, the numerous pockets to be filled to get the posting and so on and so forth. He was taking me into their world - I felt the pain walking in their shoes and realized that my earlier perception was wrong. Every month end they have to generate the committed collection to be handed over to their superiors failing which their posting may change/position may be at stake. That was the 19th TP encounter and I felt bad that none of the 18 TPs got benefitted out of me except the first.
There were kind TPs as well. Once when going to T.Nagar for attending a recruitment exam for a software company, Samu was caught. As time was running short, I tried to convince him that I am on the way for a job interview by showing my CV, marksheets and the worn formal shirts and pants as proof. He understood my situation and immediately let me go.
NOC validity period had lapsed by that time and myself was adjusting with the xerox of the xerox and changing the date and xeroxing it again. I need to be blamed for not shelling out 4000 bucks for re –registration. I was a job hunter and no guarantee to be permanent in Chennai – that fuelled myself to back out from the corrective action.
Well my ammayi likes ice creams a lot and so on my 25th traffic police encounter, I was so happy and that day I bought for her a family pack icecream since she had given me her consent to use the trump card though I hardly used it.Since I was keeping the count of encounters, 25th was special to me and the R.V.Nagar TP was surprised to see me so happy when I was caught. He went puzzled when I told him 'Thank You Sir' once he returned the papers after checking.
Eventually the Chennai TPs became nice companions to me.Once I even taught and guided the TPs at SDM stop (on the way to Greams Road) when they caught me and asked for NOC papers for Samu's KL8 registration. After showing up the NOC papers, one of the TP said: We know that the Non-TN registration vehicles must be asked for NOC but we dont know how to verify it, konjam solli kodukkireenglaaa.
I was happy to help them: NOC means No Objection Certificate and I explained them showing my NOC forms. Infact you are supposed to change your registration to TN or pay the road tax here - those details I hushed up. Anyway it was a knowledge sharing and all were happy.
There were annoying TPs as well particularly those I encountered at Nelson Manickyam Junction and the one at Vadapalani signal. These furtive policemen usually lurk in the corners and would literally pounce upon you, take off your keys and vanish. You have to go behind them with all the bike papers and apparently the 'Thaaaimaama factor' is of no use! Some TPs would never accept that the photo seen in license paper is mine. One TP even commented that the photo has to be changed as it looks young! I told I can change the xerox but not the photo and then he started arguing. Heated exchanges often turns productive and effective as I learn a lot many Tamil slang usages. Certain TPs would not let you go even if you have all the papers intact. The idea is to make you feel irritated and you decide to come out paying a few bucks to them. During the jobless days, I never concede to this as I had LAVISH time with me. Once I got into the job, I preferred paying 20Rs and flee the scene.
There have been encounters in which I ended up paying money – red signal crossing, lane violation in Mount road and few times for shading Samu under the non-parking zone.
If at all I have improved my Tamil communication, all credits go to the city traffic cops here. With meagre income, standing all thru the day sweating in the scorching chennai heat and regulating the traffic is not an easy job. The only extra bucks they earn is by catching the 'unlicensed' fellows off the record and then a big share of it again would go to their superiors.Lot many TP faces were familiar to me those days and our friendship at various traffic junctions as well grew stonger.
Atlast…..it happened. Myself by God's grace got into a pretty decent job in an MNC and confined myself within the airconditioned walls of the cubicles and TPs rarely got into my way.
Years went by…The encounters came down…. Maybe the transformation from the "COUNTRY LOOK" with black spex, hawai chappals and 35Rs. ‘foot path brand’ cap to the “PROFESSIONAL LOOK” with formal shirts trousers shoes helmets & id card did the trick. NOC papers are still the same old ones I had with the dates-changed with ink and xeroxed. The total count stands 31 as of now and out of these just 4 counts only in the last 4 years.. Over the years, I could notice that the once familiar faces at different junctions have been missing - may be they are new TP recruits or the older ones could not meet their collection targets and failed in their commitments.The once energetic and vibrant Samu has become old and 'chokes’ everytime. Samu's NOC papers got obsolete and neither of us want to renew it nor change the registration.Having gone thru so many encounters with the Chennai traffic police, myself and Samu can grasp and realize the finer nuances of the TP's behavioural patterns and over the course of time we both developed the maturity, the wisdom and the agility to move forward with perfect reflexes to avoid any encounters - The journey must go on and the life must move on....
Sasneham
Sanbalas
