Paritosh Sen

artist

nI don?t own a car as I hardly ever go out. And when I do, I usually travel by taxis. Even the few occasions I do venture out, I?m appalled at the condition of the streets and traffic. Taxi drivers are a breed unto themselves as most of them are guilty of rash driving. Repeated requests to them brings about no change. If anything, the driving becomes rasher and I can?t help but get angry. Another grouse is that even though I ask them to avoid potholes (I have a bad back), the taxi almost always ends up in one. Most drivers just don?t care about their passengers.

I also bemoan Calcutta?s traffic congestion, a fact made worse by the many processions that hold up traffic for ages. Then again, there are the hawkers! I?ve lived in New York, Paris and London and pedestrians there can always use pavements as these are free of hawkers. Will that ever be the case here?