Swords that have already been drawn are yet to be sheathed. Ever since the wearing of helmet was made compulsory effective 1st July this year, as usual, there were many opinions and comments, supporting or criticizing the move. This issue is turning out to be a 'pushkaram' or a 'mahamakam' or any ritual that is regularly observed once in, say, a couple of years. The last time, say some four or five years ago, when it was made compulsory in Chennai and with the impending D-day on which the arm of the law was to catch the offenders, there was a great frenzy to buy helmets and serpentine queues till late night were a common sight – only to realize after the D-day that only buying a helmet was compulsory but not wearing it, much to the chagrin of the reluctant buyers.
For, it was later reported that the police were advised by the then government to keep a low profile as the ‘public opinion’ was not in favour of the ‘helmet rule’. Too late. By that time, every Tom, Dick and Harry who turned into a helmet seller and needless to say, the helmet manufacturers, had made a killing.
History repeats itself, or repeated itself this time around. The good old story. Someone, perhaps with an impish sense of humour, remarked that the ‘ervamatin’ blokes were anticipating a brisk sale shortly.
Okay. Let us not trivialize the seriousness of the issue and get back to the theme.
The immediate objection that crops up against wearing a helmet is that it results in hair-loss. True? Far from it, you will concur if you are accustomed to wearing it for a long time. In fact, once you get used to it, it gives a lot of confidence, some sort of a secure feeling, like the one you get when you fasten a seat belt. Of course, again, only if you have that practice and experienced it.
And, even assuming without admitting that a person would go bald with the constant use of a helmet, so be it. Your man will definitely look better as a Jason Statham or a Bruce Willis, while compared to that of a Ghajini, with numerous sutures and lacerations crisscrossing his head, if at all he survives the head injury.
I can personally vouch for the great tragedy that befalls an unsuspecting family, when its family member falls a victim to the ghastly head injury, better known as DAI (diffuse axonal injury), which is one of the most common and devastating types of traumatic brain injury. My own brother-in-law ( my wife’s only sibling) suffered such an injury in an accident, not exactly arising out of a two-wheeler but of a different type. But the point is that the nature of injuries sustained in traumatic cases are the same. He lost his wife, and his two daughters were severely hurt. This happened three years ago and he is comatose ever since. He was a software engineer in a premier company with a promising career. God only knows how his poor aged parents manage him, with limited resources but with all melancholy and mounting medical bills, while we raise his kids along with ours. Naturally, however best you shower them with love, the filial affection can hardly be replaced or restored. I happened to be by his side in the trauma ward of the neurology department of the AIIMS, New Delhi, where I could see heart-rending scenes all over. All were traumatic brain injury patients, heads and faces totally disfigured. As they fought for their lives, the families of the victims were wailing in the verandah and were wishful of a divine intervention. Many souls departed, shattering the hopes of their dear ones, which I watched in despair.
So don’t be the next victim or don’t allow anyone else to be. Think of your dear ones. And my dear sisters, let the rule of wearing a helmet be enforced by you on your beloved husband, father or brother – who may dare to disobey the law, but not YOU. (I have a notion that the women-folk do not readily break rules. Atleast not the traffic rules). Mind you, every law cannot be enforced without the active cooperation and support of the general public.
Come, it is time to stand for a cause. Together we swear - we will wear a helmet and will insist our dear ones wearing one, not for the fear of breaking law but for the sake of love.
