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The way we are
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It’s time to usher in the new and bid goodbye to the old. But some traits may never change. What will Hyderabad be without its laidback attitude, traffic snarls and quest for freebies, asks SANGEETHA DEVI DUNDOO
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PHOTO: P.V. Sivakumar
Rushhour blues Hope the New Year will ease traffic congestion on city roads
World over, time zones are defined with reference to the Greenwich Mean Time. We, in India, follow the Indian Standard Time, or at least expected to. On the contrary, an enterprising Hyderabadi will have nothing to do with IST. He gleefully follows w
hat he thinks is the Hyderabad Standard Time. Nowhere else will you be required to print that an event will commence at 7 p.m. ‘sharp’. After bending over backwards and pulling a few strings to get the coveted pass for a fashion show/musical evening, you will still be in good company if you arrive late. You can unabashedly gloat, “Nothing starts on time anyway.” Obviously, the organisers wouldn’t want to begin with half-empty halls. Change is constant and welcome, but some things may never change in 2008.
You do tire of stating the obvious, but traffic congestions top the list of woes. Expect more foot over bridges, road widening, MMTS trains, and even the Metro. But hassle-free movement of traffic will be wishful thinking. Sit back and fasten your seat belts. We will come to a grinding halt on flyovers and squabble with the two wheelers who weave in and out of the lanes. “Despite the helmet rule, I find more helmets on the tank of two wheelers than worn by the drivers themselves,” says advertiser Naeem Khan. Actor Sumanth admits he prefers to be driven around than be on the driver’s seat. “I’ve lost my interest to drive. I’d rather watch a movie or listen to music in the car and tune out from the surroundings than get worked up,” he says.
The yellow brigade is queuing up for a new identity and we are not talking about a political party. The roads flanking the Gymkhana Grounds have become second homes to autos awaiting their turn to get the digital meters fixed. These new meters, they say, is tamper proof. “You can change the digital meters but not the autowallahs. You never know. They might come up with a new way to fleece commuters,” laughs Naeem.
We love to know what’s happening around us. An unfortunate accident or a one-off procession along an arterial road, we have to watch. The next time you are on a flyover and you see a procession along the road, pull up aside and glance down for a few moments.
Soon, you will be joined by eager commuters who will gather criss-cross, gape down or simply ask, “What is happening, actually?” No one knows anyway.
And finally, can shopping thrive without the mandatory bargaining? Perhaps at the malls. But a visit to the arts and crafts mela at Shilparamam or the Numaish is no fun without haggling over prices. Even high-end designer boutiques bear the brunt.
We are changing too!
Entrepreneur Vivek Khurana, talking about the Nawabi lifestyle that permeates through the city, says, “The nonchalant attitude is a way of life here. I remember meeting an old pal at the tennis court after a long time. I casually asked him what he’s been up to and he simply stated: nothing much, I am just growing my hair.”
This complacency, theatre artiste Mohammed Ali Baig believes, is camouflaged as the laidback attitude. He says, “Despite all this, I love Hyderabad love for its mix of old world charm and modernism. Very few cities, like Istanbul, Jerusalem, Prague and Delhi, can boast of having a mix of the old and the new. Hyderabadis are also known for their hospitality and lingo. And I take it as a compliment if people flood me with requests for free passes. It means they find the event important enough to devote time. Having said that, the scenario is changing. We’ve had good response for ticketed shows as well and people are making an effort to turn up in time.”
Cuisine isn’t far behind. Decades down, the city will continue to be mentioned for its famed biryani and chai. “I doubt if that will ever change and it needn’t change too,” sums up Naeem.
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