Since we made last minute plans to arrive in Jodhpur early, we had no hotel reservation. We arranged to have a representative from our tour company meet us to show us various options. His name is PREM SINGH.
As we drove around a traffic circle in Jodhpur, our van hit a motorcycle. We heard the sound of crumpling metal and a loud thud. A man was driving the motorcycle and with a child sitting behind him. We were circling around while the motorcycle came up from the inside and tried to cut in front of us. I think the motorcyclist made a risky move and lost, but nevertheless he and the child were hit by our van and then skidded across a busy road and ended up lying on the pavement, shaken and a bit stunned. We had no idea what injuries the man might have sustained (I did see the child get up, thank goodness).
I was horrified when Prem Singh instructed our driver, Vijay, to go on. I frantically insisted we stop to check on the man but Singh said that “everything was fine, the man was fine (how did he know?), there’s no need to stop”. I simply could not let the van leave this man. I repeatedly insisted we turn the van around and go back to the scene of the accident. Our driver also wanted to go back, but Mr. Singh said “there was no need” and told him to drive on.
Eventually, as we continued away from the scene, he agreed to send a colleague from his office to check on the man. Even though I spoke to the man on the phone to verify that he had gone to the scene, I will never know if he did or what really happened. I had the distinct impression that I was being told what I wanted to hear.
I couldn’t believe what I was experiencing – what appeared to be total indifference to one’s own personal responsibility and to the needs of another human. What if the man needed medical attention? And even if he didn’t, don’t we as decent human beings owe a responsibility to others to check on their wellbeing, especially if we are involved in a direct collision, regardless of whose fault it is?
I reported the incident to Barbara Sansone and others at our outfitter, Spirit of India, but since it is Sunday I haven’t heard anything back. I hope to hear tomorrow how Mr. Singh will be swiftly dealt with. I will certainly report back tomorrow on what I’ve learned.
As you can imagine, this put a considerable pall on our day. It also caused us to think about the basic values that all humans share (or do they?), about religion as a mechanism for teaching values and what in particular Hinduism instills. Is it that, because of the caste system, a belief in reincarnation, karma, etc., that people feel they owe little to others while here on earth?
If so, for me, all the beautiful flowers and temples and colors of India will fade to gray.
Ubud - till we meet again
15 years ago
