When the City Beautiful handed me life’s first-ever challan

Thirty years back, Chandigarh wasn’t as noisy, its veins not yet clogged with vehicles. Traffic moved smoothly through the length and the breadth of the City Beautiful. Navigating the city on a two-wheeler in those days, an LML Vespa to be precise, used to be a joy ride. My father had driven the mint-green scooter all the way from my hometown Patiala to Chandigarh to facilitate my moving around the city, especially the PU campus. The sprawling campus necessitated long walks from my hostel to my department which would leave me exhausted. Besides, driving a scooter was a like a badge of honour among my peers.

Once on an errand, I stopped at a traffic signal on the Madhya Marg, but suddenly decided to take a U-turn. Whether it was the traffic rush, blaring horns or multidirectional blinking signals, I got nervous and took a wrong turn. And lo and behold, I was immediately stopped by a traffic policeman. The burly cop ticked me off in chaste Haryanvi: “Madamji, pehle tham khade raho, jib rukna thaa tab bhaaj lo (Madam, you kept waiting when it was your turn to go, and started off when the signal turned red).” I apologised, begged, promised not to repeat the mistake, used every excuse that had worked in my home town. But the heartless fellow didn’t budge and issued me a challan.

I was supposed to go to Patiala the same day. With a heavy heart I boarded the bus and reached home. Tears welled up when I shared the incident with my brother. But smilingly he replied, “I am proud of you. You are the first girl in the family who has been challaned.” I laughed between the tears. That experience has stayed with me. When I look back, I feel proud that the city never compromised on traffic rules and this strictness still makes outsiders  extra cautious on a visit to the city.

Navdeep Kahol, Chandigarh

Chandigarh