Our Malleshwaram Eighth Cross

CROSSING PROBLEM
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Our Malleshwaram eighth cross abounds in everything-from coriander leaves to diamonds, , nursing homes,etc etc,; Also, pantheons at every corner, but the hereculean pedestrian--crossing is akin to Everest-climbing! Time was when I could keep the cooker on stove and bring the vegetables from the eighth cross before the whistle could sound, but now…..
it takes almost half a day ! You raise your eyebrows? Ask any Malleshwarian, or take a stroll around the eighth cross mentioned, I bet you will sigh with relief on reaching home with all bones intact.
Speaking about myself, I have to manoeuvre two traffic roads before reaching the aforesaid destination. Our requests for police—supervising falling upon deaf ears, many an elderly person takes it upon himself
to fill that post by pointing his walking stick threateningly towards the speeding vehicles, and monitering the tense groups. Yes, we always cross in groups, sometimes the old ladies squeezing between husband and wife! Our footpaths are always being beautified, with the result- stones, debris all around, deep trenches before every shop challenging the elderly customers wedged between
the devil and the deep sea. “ What can we do? A few months back bunch of workers descended without warning, dug all the area briskly, and vanished before we could question! Now, many of our workers also find themselves in the pit at nightfall when electricity goes off…….(Let alone pedestrians). To whom are we to complain?”----The shop-keepers, many of them senior citizens themselves, groan, and add,--“Each time the plastic-surgery of our footpaths are atlast done with,
we find it a step higher, forcing the old to beg for a helping hand!
All talk of ‘consideration for the senior citizens’ is mere humbug!”

I could not help agreeing, being a victim like many oldtimers of our
once- convenient Malleshwaram. The situation is even worse as one goes down,
where all Gods and goddesses reside amidst competitive-cries of fruits,vegetable- vendors,
hawkers, hoot of cars crawling along the narrow lane, and whiz of auto in a spree of hit and run! Sudden arrival of an elephant with mahout on top creates various sorts of commotions; Devotees of Ganesha prostrate before it, buying plantains, etc and offer with prayers while those with greens in hand scamper immediately.
As I stood watching all this with nothing in hand(except a writer’s mind),I felt a
soft touch; Turning around, beheld a frail lady in her eighties, beseeching my help in crossing. I who usually take the help of youngsters (being in seventies)
did feel flattered, and taking hold of her trusting hand, crossed her slowly, gently, while the tottering, yet smart lady stopped all the rushing vehicles with her raised hand!
Perhaps her old form helped me also? After depositing her in an auto, I felt
strangely rejuvenated ; Now, come to think of it, was God testing me?
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Nuggehalli Pankaja

Address:
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N.Pankaja,

Apartment no-102, First floor, 19/1, ‘SHRI LALITA’, 4<SUP>th</SUP> Main road, MALLESHWARAM, BANGALORE-3.
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T.Phone no-41535377(This article was published in METRO of Deccan Herald
on 5th January, and naturally liked by Malleshwerians. Now, with 'flyover' programme,situation has worsened!)

 

Dear Vidya,Vidyasarada,Sudha,Vimur,Kamala,

I was thrilled to notice that there were so many knowing our Malleshwaram well! Each of your epistle made interesting reading! For all I know, you may be in other parts of the world at present, but our once placid-now noisy Malleshwaram with its famous eighth cross binds us. People who have left Malleshwaram in disgust are yearning to come back,but find it difficult to procure a house even for rent! Many who had to shift far, make it a point to come all the way just to purchase some items from the same shop they were used to-here! What is the secret of M's charm?-I wonder. Speaking for myself, I have given such lectures to the policemen now posted in the Margosa-circle, they dash to my service and reverently escort me to the courier opposite! Incidentally, a humerous piece of mine titled-'Flyover satyagraha' is appearing in 'Mangala', a popular Kannada weekly, next
friday(It will be dated 14.2.2007,I think)The editor liked it very much, it must be good;Inspiration? The present traffic-mess atr Margosa-circle due to Flyover programme. If any of you know Kannada, and can get it, can you convey your opinion?
Nuggehalli Pankaja