Why are drivers on Indian roads so undisciplined?

Indian Traffic(Photo Courtesy flickr | Alex Graves)

For a long time, I believed that the chaos on Indian roads can be explained with Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Most drivers on Indian roads are yet struggling to address basic physiological needs. How then can we expect them to even think of a greater good of disciplined traffic?

I am now convinced of my wrong belief that Maslow could explain this.

On my return from a recent Sri Lankan vacation, I found myself telling people that SL was quite a bit like coastal India with a few differences. The biggest being that traffic is a lot more peaceful on SL roads. I observed that a lot more people follow rules, there is visible empathy to fellow road users, there are fewer incidents of road rage & pedestrians have the right of way! While my visit was short & limited to just one province, my observations were validated & reinforced by many others who have experienced SL roads. I have heard similarly impressive stories about many African nations (though I haven’t experienced it first hand).

So, why are drivers on Indian roads like the way they are?

Update: Check on the next post on this topic Drivers on Indian roads are so undisciplined because …

Roadblocks To Achieving Goals

Obstacle(Photo Courtesy flickr|thomas.hahusseau)

There are six roadblocks to achieving goals. Knowing them will help you set & achieve goals betters – for yourself & for others you are trying to help.

1. Ownership: Only YOU can make YOU better. In goal-setting, you need to ensure that you own your change objectives – because they are yours. You are responsible for your behaviour.

2. Underestimating Time Involved: Positive change in perception does not occur overnight. Habits that take 30 years to develop won’t go away in a week. And as they change your behaviour, others may not recognize it for months. Ultimately, changed behaviour will lead to changed perceptions and more effective relationships.

3. Underestimating Difficulty: The optimism bias of goal-setters applies to difficulty. Your challenge in achieving goals  is not understanding what is to be done, but in actually doing! Real change requires real work.

4. Assuming Lack Of Distractions: Assume that there will be unexpected distractions and competing goals. By planning for distractions, you are less likely to give up on the change when problems or opportunities appear.

5. Expectation of Rewards: While you do the “what’s in it for me” analysis, realize that the fruits might take a long time in coming. Its important to see personal change as a process that will help you become more effective over time. Short-term price is to be paid long-term gain.

6. Maintenance Effort: Personal kaizen is a perennial “getting there” process as compared to an “arrived” state. Changes & goals also need to be maintained with the “sharpening of the saw”. Especially when relationships are involved – people change, relationships change – and maintaining any positive relationship requires ongoing effort over time.

This post is inspired by Achieving Goals by Marshall Goldsmith. 

Ric Elias – Lessons From A Plane Crash

Ric Elias had a front-row seat on Flight 1549, the plane that crash-landed in the Hudson River in New York in January 2009. Through this TED talk, he shares what went through his mind as the doomed plane went down & the invaluable lessons he learnt from the experience.

Lesson #1: It all changes in an instant. I no longer want to postpone anything in my life.

Lesson #2: Decided to eliminate negative energy from my life. I no longer try to be right, I choose to be happy.

Lesson #3: I was given another gift, to be able to see into the future and come back & live life differently. How would you change to be the man you want to be? What would you change today to live the life you want to live? What would you get done today that you are waiting to get done because you believe you will be here forever?

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Pictures From Lunuganga

While checking the Things-To-Do listings for Bentota on a recent vacation, Lunuganga grabbed my attention. The Lunuganga Estate was the country home of the renowned Sri Lankan architect Geoffrey Bawa – considered one of the most influential Asian architects of the century. The estate offers a guided walk of the estate & its garden. The steep entry fee didn’t deter us from enthusiastically including it into our itinerary.

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SL_Apr2011_IMG_5744Bawa has recycled quite a bit of woodwork from older buildings in the area. Some of them left dilapidated as it were, and the rest refurbished to fit into the decor.  This one is in the Yellow Courtyard.

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SL_Apr2011_IMG_5745A concrete slab table set in an open sit out.

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SL_Apr2011_IMG_5797_picnikThe Glass Room is one of the living rooms that is now rented for tourists. Bringing the outside in using glass is a common theme across many of the rooms at Lunuganga.

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A sit out in the main living area was my absolutely favourite spot in the estate. It opens up to the Western Terrace & offers some fantastic views (next 5 pictures below).

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Almost every sitting area has a view of a water body.

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Apparently this tree “structure” too was designed by Bawa. Two saplings were brought together & their branches shaped with gentle weights during the course of their growing years to give this shape. The shape has visual appeal & also served as peacock sitting areas.

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A lot many of these Ming vases dot the estate.

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Many interesting artefacts even within the living area makes every nook & corner an interesting place.

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Water & green are maximized in almost every view within the estate – makes for a very serene & peaceful setting.  

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A lot many of these statuettes scattered across the estate lend that quirkiness to the place.
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The Gate House at the foot of a hillock offers an impressive sight & also houses a residential suite.

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A view of the main living quarters overlooking a man made valley.

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There are spots around the estate where Bawa used to sit to soak in the environs. Each of these sitting spots has a bell that produces a unique sound. These bells were used by Bawa to summon his staff to where he was located in the estate.

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Apparently an Italian garden was Bawa’s inspiration to create Lunuganga Estate. The various statuettes & structures are reminiscent of this source of inspiration.

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Frangipanis are wonderfully spread across the estate.

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Check http://www.lunuganga.com/ for more information on the Lunuganga Estate.

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