Ambiguity

Something has been keeping me smiling these days. While driving or working or just talking.

We, Indians, have a weird tendency to be indecisive. We are indecisive (or procrastinate) in almost everything we do. Ambigious in our actions. Its neither a yes nor a no. Neither this side nor that side. I call this tendency 'neither here nor there'. A few examples.

Indian Roads- Every rider from a bus or a rickshaw or a motorcycle to a bullcart, everyone tries to ride at the dead center of the road; irrespective of speed. Lanes, what lanes? If you want to go really fast, you rather drive on the edges of the road risking the lives of pedestrian and yourself (hoping not to get roughed up). Now I know why we Indians have a tendency to blow our horn so often. Think we love making irritating noices.

Here is a poem named "Indian Roads"

Have you ever driven a vehicle on a Indian road?

From fastest to the slowest, everyone aims for the center road.

Neither here, nor there; I exclaim

As I make my claim for the center road.

Author - Yours truly

Another example, The Indian head shake.

Ask us a question that requires an answer in Yes or No. You will get a weird headshake which conveys yes and no. Confused and dazed you restate the question, hoping to get a verbal answer. This I have noticed especially amoungst South Indians. Except for the trained eyes, this would always look like "Neither yes nor no". More Ambiguity

A perfect example (probably not a good one) is the recent Ayodhya Verdict. The Babri/Ram Janmabhomi land is to be divided into three parts; one each for Muslims, Hindus and Nirmohi Akhada. An exceptional example of "neither here, nor there".

Maybe it is the Indian way of life. Why decide when you can wait. Funny as it maybe, it is interesting to note. Man we are so indecisive and so flexible. I love India. :)