Date ; 28th March 2011
Day : Monday
Place : Kempegowda Bus stand
As told in my earlier entries as well, I commute using the public transport every day. For some unusual reason, Mondays and Thursdays the bus stand is always crowded. I am still wondering why!
If you also happen to travel using this BMTC terminal, you would know by now that there is a separate “Ring” allotted to the Volvo buses. I seldom risk commuting in normal bus on Monday and Thursday. So as soon as I got down at Majestic, I headed straight to this so called “Elite Ring”. There were the people, who constitute 60% of working professionals in bangalore…Software Professional et al. Though my office is close to MG road, there are very few Volvo buses which ply from Majestic. I have to depend on Marathalli buses. And Marathalli is such a place close to many software companies.
As I wait for a bus, there are many people who are also anxiously waiting for a 335E. Not that there are very few buses, but as soon as one comes, people just throng around to get in. Not even showing least bit of concern for the people who are getting down. And to tell these are the so called “Educated” class. I recently read in the news papers, that in Japan, though it was utter chaos after the Earthquake and Nuclear disaster, train services were scanty. But even in that situation, the Japanese maintained their poise and followed a Queue System. I admire the Japanese for their timing and values. But same is not the case in India. I was aghast to actually see, so many educated people fall on each other to get into the bus. And it is not as if that is the last bus available! The same thing followed with the next 5-6 buses that arrived. People just haphazardly trying to get in into the bus. I was so disgusted at this point..that I thought the normal buses might be a better option!
Total time lost : 20 mins.
And it usually takes 20 minutes from Majestic to reach my office.
I half heartedly come to the ring of the normal buses, hoping against hope , that there will be some emptier bus. As soon as I come , there is a bus…yahoo..
And the best part? Though the people in this ring are neither educated(not all), nor highly sophisticated, at least they knew how to behave. Also in these buses the entry and exit for men and women is separate. I was able to get into the bus without anybody pushing me from behind, or for that matter overtaking . ( Happens if you are catching a Volvo , to get a seat with better AC).
I was pleasantly surprised. Besides saving half the money on ticket, I also had a empty ride, as the bus was not too crowded.
Whats the purpose of education, when it cant teach you a simple queue etiquette?
