The Nano was launched.
I wasn't one of the thousands who went for the launch at the Auto Expo. I had been reading about it over the past year and was mildly curious about it. Not because I wanted to buy it. But because if the TATA's actually achieved the 1 Lakh mark it would be an achievement. Besides that, I didn't give it much thought.
There has been some criticism and a lot of people have raised doubts about issues related to safety, comfort, durability, etc., most of which was expected. However, a conversation I happened to overhear between two women truly opened my eyes to not only the impact of this launch on the whole of India but also how oblivious and self-centred we ( I am including all us educated middle class, and upper class Indians) are.
The conversation was something on these lines:
Mrs. A: That 1 lakh car has been launched.
Mrs. B: I know. My husband was telling me. Can you imagine how crowded the roads will become now. Anyway, my husband feels that all the auto-rickshaws and bicycles should be banned from the roads and now with this car every Tom, Dick and Harry will have a car.
A: It'll be a real menace. They should probably tax it more so that lesser people can afford it.
These are wives of wealthy and successful individuals who are most probably educating their kids at the best of the schools in the country.
We, those who have the luxury of personal transportation, constitute a very tiny percentage of the entire population of the country. Who are we, to deprive the common man of some luxury and comfort? Who are we, to criticise the car, more than the car, the dream of a man who actually went ahead and thought about the comfort of the common man. I read that the TATA's would be earning a meagre 4000 bucks per car. He thought not just about profits but also of a service to the common man. Mr. Ratan Tata dreamt about providing a safe and comfortable mode of transport for a family of 4-5 people. And that class of people constitute the mass of the country.
Has the government catered to the masses of the country?
Delhi now has a metro and a HCBS(High Capacity Bus Service) which was put on a fast track because of the Commonwealth Games of 2010. The past couple of years have seen several flyovers spring up all around Delhi but 80% of Delhi can't afford to use it. Has any effort been made to upgrade the existing train/tram services and metro of Mumbai and Kolkatta? What about the rest of India? Has there been any upgradaton of the cycle-rickshaws or auto-rickshaws? I know that at least in the last 23 years, there hasn't. Not even basic upgradtion such as providing gears and lights for the cycle-rickshaws which will make the ride not only faster but also less tiring for the rickshaw wallah.
I agree with Mrs. B on the congestion and pollution front but that is no reason for her and likes of her alone to enjoy the luxury and comfort of a private vehicle.
I wasn't one of the thousands who went for the launch at the Auto Expo. I had been reading about it over the past year and was mildly curious about it. Not because I wanted to buy it. But because if the TATA's actually achieved the 1 Lakh mark it would be an achievement. Besides that, I didn't give it much thought.
There has been some criticism and a lot of people have raised doubts about issues related to safety, comfort, durability, etc., most of which was expected. However, a conversation I happened to overhear between two women truly opened my eyes to not only the impact of this launch on the whole of India but also how oblivious and self-centred we ( I am including all us educated middle class, and upper class Indians) are.
The conversation was something on these lines:
Mrs. A: That 1 lakh car has been launched.
Mrs. B: I know. My husband was telling me. Can you imagine how crowded the roads will become now. Anyway, my husband feels that all the auto-rickshaws and bicycles should be banned from the roads and now with this car every Tom, Dick and Harry will have a car.
A: It'll be a real menace. They should probably tax it more so that lesser people can afford it.
These are wives of wealthy and successful individuals who are most probably educating their kids at the best of the schools in the country.
We, those who have the luxury of personal transportation, constitute a very tiny percentage of the entire population of the country. Who are we, to deprive the common man of some luxury and comfort? Who are we, to criticise the car, more than the car, the dream of a man who actually went ahead and thought about the comfort of the common man. I read that the TATA's would be earning a meagre 4000 bucks per car. He thought not just about profits but also of a service to the common man. Mr. Ratan Tata dreamt about providing a safe and comfortable mode of transport for a family of 4-5 people. And that class of people constitute the mass of the country.
Has the government catered to the masses of the country?
Delhi now has a metro and a HCBS(High Capacity Bus Service) which was put on a fast track because of the Commonwealth Games of 2010. The past couple of years have seen several flyovers spring up all around Delhi but 80% of Delhi can't afford to use it. Has any effort been made to upgrade the existing train/tram services and metro of Mumbai and Kolkatta? What about the rest of India? Has there been any upgradaton of the cycle-rickshaws or auto-rickshaws? I know that at least in the last 23 years, there hasn't. Not even basic upgradtion such as providing gears and lights for the cycle-rickshaws which will make the ride not only faster but also less tiring for the rickshaw wallah.
I agree with Mrs. B on the congestion and pollution front but that is no reason for her and likes of her alone to enjoy the luxury and comfort of a private vehicle.
Comments
Go back to the two ladies...Mr. Tata for sure has done a good job living up to a promise, however it defies principle of equilibrium and thus is likely to create problems.
First the is a question of congestion on roads, which wil result in increased traffic, slower discharge, increased jams, and increase consumption of fuel
second - an economic barrier is being broken - hence anticipate problems
1) increased monetary mortgage : witha price barrier of Rs. 100k and seen as an entry barrier, if i am about to buy a zen/esteem or swift, The shift to Nano is unlikely. Therefore it will attract people shifting from two wheels, who will need to lend more money to get one of these beauties
Kudos to Mr. Tata to showcase that India and Indians can achieve what many thought was impossible...but then, the ladies had a PoV which may have been different from yours or mine.. but bloggers we are.. we respect word...word life
What about the non metros where these problems are not that significant. Would the Nano not substantially improve the living standards of those people.
Every year a large chunk of the budget goes on the development of highways and expressways which cannot be utilised by 80% of the population.
We are already facing these problems and the government is out of ideas to solve them. Why don't we have a congestion charge in the metros like they do in London. Why doesn't the government improve the condition of the trains in Mumbai and the Metro in Kolkatta? Why is there no decent public transport in Bangalore?
The Nano would have not gotten such a warm reception had there been a good public transport system in place. Leave alone a transport system, there arn't even decent pathways, walk over bridges, subways and zebra crossings for people wanting to walk.