Accidents have a way of snatching lives, later reminding us that all lives are precious and noble. A few years ago when an entire family in Goa lost their lives in an accident, I mentioned that it is only when politicians loose one of their own that perhaps one may hope to see some change. After I had sent it out, I hoped that this would not happen; for a moment, I had forgotten my belief in the preciousness and sanctity of life.
Another relationship has been shattered. This should not happen to anyone, and particularly these days when its simply a matter of implementing with rigor rules and regulations. In fact, this program should have been taken on by Doordharshan decades ago, almost like one of those reeducation programs if you will. Things like teaching people safety, civil behavior, driving etiquette, courtesy, etc., other than the obvious Hum Do Hamare Do (We Two, Our Two), or something on the lines of Hunda Deuu Naye Geuu Naye (Give Not Give Dowry, Nor Receive It. A lot of social education was left undone and unfinished. Perhaps we do not take to self-education too kindly. A related segway: In 2005-06, I was in Japan for three months, of which seven weeks were spent in Awajishima, Hyogo Prefecture. Nagasawa in Awajishima has a school with about ten students and I think four or five teachers. The facilities were simply excellent. The students would often walk home from school on an undulating road on which trucks carrying soil would come from somewhere in the hills at pretty high speed. But no matter what, the minute a driver saw the children --- walking single file, and usually by the edge of the road --- the truck immediately slowed down and kept slowing down till it would gently passed the students, mind you these were tough arsed characters as most Japanese in construction, trucking and a few other industries are. it was a joy to see the subtle choreography -- the juxtaposition of the truck and the children walking. There was no honking, no startling the children in anyway including sudden braking, yelling, leering, just, I presume a certain dignity towards them. That image has stayed with me. Some day I hope people are taught to look across classes and social positions -- taking into consideration their circumstances. So if a truck is coming out of a mining village, no matter what, the driver as well as the principles of the business and the police must see to it that the truck being driven on village roads or even in proximity to a village, even if the highway runs through a village must have certain responsibilities to its environment, and that the people matter. Of course the contexts are different from driving on a regular highway, and those distinctions have to be made in a country like India, otherwise we can talk about India Shining till we are constipated. I would think these are issues that the Governments Secretaries should be looking at. This is not rocket science we are talking about, and that too is pretty simple as shown by our earlier President. People matter dammit. This business of taking, taking, taking -- has to end someplace. My condolences to the family of Mr Eurico Santana Silva. May Thelma Pinto e Silva rest in peace. Venantius J Pinto > From: godfrey gonsalves <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subject: [Goanet] GOA State Police Authority - Chairman involved in > accident > > In a tragic accident last night at 2220 hrs the official car No: > GA-03-G-8008 in which? Justice (Retd) Bombay High Court ,? Mr Eurico Santana > Silva currently the Chairman, of the State Police Authority,? Altinho, > Panaji , r/o Borda, Margao and his spouse Ms Thelma Pinto e Silva n/o > Candolim Bardez , were travelling on their return journey from Panaji after > attending a private function, collided with? an oncoming water tanker > GA-01-T-7272 just beyond the Titan junction on the NH 17? towards the > Cortalim? Margao road? as confirmed?to??this writer telephonically with the > Verna Police Station today.? The accident took place at a spot where there > is no? road divider according the police official . >