How did the character in a Chetan Bhagat book know that the person he was speaking to was in India and not somewhere abroad as was being pretended? Because of the honking in the background of course! Indian road users are unique in how much, how loudly and how frequently we use the horn. We use the horn for any or all of these reasons:
The horn is just sitting there, waiting to be used. It’s a question of why not use it rather than why use it.
We will honk madly to tell someone to stop, that their dupatta is likely to get caught up in the scooter wheel, to tell them their door is not shut properly… it could be anything! We are a helpful lot so we will honk.
Most of us have our hand poised over the horn when waiting at traffic signals. The nano-second it turns green, a mayhem of honking ensues telling that guy in the front to get a ****ing move on!
We say hello, we swear at other motorists, say "Me First" or "Get out of my way" or any number of things by honking.
We want to give others a piece of our mind, but the A/c feels really nice and the voice will not carry beyond the rolled up windows. So we’ll do it in Morse code instead…using the horn!
Honking is our birthright! No cop in India is going to fine you for honking. Have horn, will honk!
Let’s face it: for us Indians road signs are mere colourful décor. They are not rules to be followed. At best they are polite requests /suggestions. So this sign actually translates as: “would you consider not honking please if you are so inclined and in a really good mood today?” Most of the time we are not inclined to oblige; hospital, school or funeral procession; we will continue to honk our merry way away.
We’re always late, have a million things to do and the nice old gent in front insists on dawdling! What is there to do but unleash a flurry of honking!
…You know because we’re bored and tooting the horn to the beat of the music seems like a good idea. So what if it drives other motorists crazy and adds to the general chaos and mayhem that are our roads!
The government of Maharashtra had the laughable idea of banning the ubiquitous “Horn OK Please” sign behind trucks. Because they thought that people simply following instructions by honking. By virtue of the ban on Horn OK Please and the defacing the existing letters, people would stop honking; was the somewhat witless assumption.
Do you have something interesting you would like to share? Write to us at [email protected]
