The Hindu : New Delhi News : Inside delhi

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Tuesday, Nov 06, 2007
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New Delhi

New Delhi

Inside delhi

Jungle raj

There is a reason why a vehicle with a red beacon is a coveted thing in the Capital. Apart from signifying that someone of consequence is passing by, it also gives a licence to the driver to break the traffic rules with impunity.

Or so it seemed with one particular white Ambassador car fitted with a red beacon on Monday afternoon.

The traffic light for vehicles at the Ferozeshah Road-Kasturba Gandhi Marg intersection had just turned red from green and vehicles from both directions had come to a halt.

Even as vehicles on Kasturba Gandhi Marg began moving towards India Gate, the white Ambassador came speeding in from the Ashok Road roundabout and jumped the red light.

The siren was suddenly switched on even as vehicles that were about to accelerate braked suddenly.

Unmindful of the risk he had put the other road users to, the driver of the white car sped away.

Since the red beacon was not flashing and the siren too was silent before the car jumped the light, it could be safely assumed that there was no emergency for the “occupants” of the car. It was used only to muscle its way across the red light. The car did not have tinted glasses, but with the windows properly curtained it was not possible to see the occupants.

- Prashant Pandey

A new forum

At long last there is a forum for those who have undergone joint replacement surgery.

Indraprastha Apollo Hospital in the Capital has launched a unique initiative called “Joint Patient Forum” for patients who have undergone joint replacement. The launch this past week commemorated completion of 1,000 joint replacement operations at the hospital and is aimed at creating social awareness about arthritis management.

Says Dr. Rajeev K. Sharma, senior consultant orthopaedic and joint replacement surgeon at the hospital: ``Through this forum we are trying to broaden our vision and tell people that they need to take arthritis seriously. When discomfort starts in walking or climbing stairs, when one become overweight or when pain shuffles from one knee to other, one should consider surgery. Also, when arthritis is moderate to severe and when wear of the joints is visible on X-rays, surgery should be considered an option.”

The message of the forum, which is a common platform for people who have undergone joint replacement, is simple: “Arthritis is a manageable challenge and a planned and judicious treatment is important. Also, an early initiation is the key to success.”

- Bindu Shajan Perappadan

Left out in the cold

NDMC has been doing yeoman’s service to the world of music by organising music concerts at Nehru Park in Chanakyapuri in collaboration with organisations like SPIC MACAY, but much is left to be desired in the arrangements made for the concerts.

A friend who had gone with his wife for the latest in the series featuring flautist Hariprasad Chaurasia and vocalist Ashwini Bhide found to his dismay that the pandaal was far too small and that almost all the chairs put up for the spectators were reserved for NDMC staff.

As a result, he along with scores of other music lovers who had no connection with NDMC had to make do with sitting on the bare ground outside the pandaal.

This meant that they could not have a close glimpse of their favourite musicians, even if they had arrived at the park well in advance. And with the evening progressively getting cooler, it became increasingly difficult to enjoy the music.

To make matters worse, there was no arrangement for refreshments.

They were no doubt some enterprising “chana” and “pakora” sellers doing brisk business outside the park, but in an unauthorised manner. Given the cool clime, one hankered for a cup of hot tea. It was just not available.

To be sure, NDMC has done well to organise these programmes and its staff may be offered some special privileges.

But to reserve almost all the seats for them seems unjustified considering that NDMC is a public agency and the park a public property.

In fact, the number of chairs could be cut down and they could be reserved for the aged or the infirm. Others could be asked to sit on the ground.

Genuine music lovers won’t mind it. It is just that there should be something over their head and something to sit on. There is a need for a bigger pandaal and carpets on the ground over a larger area. Also, more people can enjoy such concerts if they are organised on a Sunday.

- P. Sunderarajan

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