A Cab Ride in Chennai: Eye-Opening Conversations on Oil Prices, Jobs, and Our Future

I got into my cab, which was parked close to my apartment, and the driver was not in the best of moods that day with oil prices soaring and the struggle for diesel in the gas station.

The couple of days in Chennai have led to a nightmarish situation for everyone, especially the drivers, who had to wait long hours in the queue, unsure if they would get a chance or not.

We started our journey to the office, and the travel usually takes 30-40 mins. The driver was honking continuously and trying to overtake everyone on the road.

The conversation started with oil prices and the lack of diesel supply to the petrol bunks in Chennai. The story took a curve to international oil prices, then to international trade, cultural relationships, the N-Deal, America, terrorism, and finally how we Indians are being brain-drained, led away by technology and terrorism, etc.

I was awestruck to see the national fervor in that guy who had an abundance of knowledge and some good ideas too. I hoped if this guy is given a chance, he will surely change things....

After long talks, he summed up his talk with questions to me. He said, "Sir, What happens if the jobs are taken away by another country? Sir, What happens tomorrow when we don't get food to eat as we are drying up all the agricultural fields for big buildings in the name of IT parks?"

He said, "Sir, We need to think of the next generations, else in the wake of making money, we'll kill them, making them eat the currency and not food."

All day, and even now, I'm thinking as an individual, what I can do to change things...

Regards

I would like to add one more thing that our beloved Earth is also refusing to give us the products it has in it. We used to have two crops in a year before the invention of Ueria as a supplement to the crops. If we think that we can work 08 hours daily and can live up to 60 years of age, what would be the age if we work for 16 hours a day? What would be the result on Earth if we take 04 crops in a year (each after three months which was formerly taken as twice a year)? What if Mother Earth refuses to provide crops for human beings? What would be the food for human, animal, and other living species on Earth?

Do think about the questions I have asked. Think of tomorrow and the day after tomorrow.

There is no awareness, just we live for today. We are not bothered about our future generations. At least from this HR site, we will try to bring some awareness to people (at least among us).

Regards, Ramya

I was also thinking about this when I read a report on how India is using its agricultural land for IT and SEZ. Then we complain that the prices of commodities are going up. We should act sensibly now, or else we will end up with money and not food.

There is an article in Kumudam (Tamil magazine) this week. It talks about a shipload of garbage, including medical waste, that is now in containers on a ship berthed near Tuticorin. These are from the USA and imported by a well-known Indian company to be dumped in Coimbatore district inside unused agricultural wells. Third-world countries do not know how to handle the waste generated by their population. In addition, they are the dumping ground for developed nations!

A true story depicting the sorry state of affairs in India. If the so-called intelligentsia, including all of us, think about how an ordinary cab driver thinks, things would change.

As individuals, we can pool our thoughts and resources to at least bring awareness about the happenings today. Let us start this with your thought-provoking story.

I fervently appeal to all contributors of this site to think about this and start contributing, which includes me as well.

Regards,
Daleep (doctor57)

We all talk, and no one comes forward to bell the cat (including myself). When we think of the next generation, it really hurts. The next generation may not have the chance to see hills, forests, and agricultural fields as these are slowly being converted to buildings, SEZ, etc. We are going to kill them by making them eat currency instead of food. Some revolution must come. When?

Dear Mr. Jayaraman M.B,

I totally agree with you. I can't imagine a generation without food. Anyway, I need some help from you. If some people have problems with behavioral attitudes, what do they need to do to rectify that? It's me who gets very rude at times and has trouble cooperating with a large group. I joined an organization after a 2-year gap, and I find myself unable to behave like them. Sometimes I get too moody, rude, happy, smiling, and ordering, etc.

Please suggest ways for me to rectify this; otherwise, I am going to spoil my career due to my mistakes.

Thank you in advance.

Hello Jayaraman

Wonderful posting, it makes the person who is reading this to think for a moment what way I can contribute to change this situation. As he truly said “work can be diverted any day, because that's business” and “we cannot eat money, which is true” SO WE ALL NEED TO THINK VERY OPENLY TOWARDS THIS PROBLEM

Yes, whatever was said is 100% correct. However, simply expressing our concerns for Mother Earth in writing will not solve the issue. All of us should take the initiative to spread environmental awareness to everyone around us and in our society. Otherwise, it will be our children who suffer the most.

Well, it's a point to be debated. Are we looking at infrastructural development by compromising on our agriculture, or are we looking at self-growth and development monetarily? The solution only lies in reducing the population and nothing else. Because with more population, there are more houses, more jobs, more area required for them, and more infrastructural pressures on land. As Darwin's theory states, it's ultimately survival of the fittest.

Now, everyone wants to enjoy better jobs, luxuries, everything. Life is all about give and take, and that applies to the law of nature as well. Human beings are taking everything but giving nothing in return. That is why we are seeing global warming, etc. As already mentioned, the Himalayan belt is shifting upwards, resulting in making the entire area dangerous and prone to strong earthquakes.

The choice is ultimately ours, and the solution is only one: a strong reduction in the population percentage along the lines of China.

The story which you narrated is interesting, but as someone who can change the pattern of the old society that has been prevailing for several years. People say that we are going beyond our means in the global arena, but we are forgetting the agricultural background of our country, where agricultural fields are being neglected. I hope that we should strive for more greenery in our country.

Kalyan

Hi, people,

Just thinking is not enough; we have to do it. I can see similar things in the metropolitan cities. Think if one person is coming in a car, how many liters of petrol are wasted? Please use public transport. If public transport is not comfortable with your time, it's better to get a two-wheeler. Please don't waste natural resources in the name of luxury. Two more generations can live well if you don't waste natural resources unnecessarily. First, we will emphasize the usage of natural resources, then we can focus on agriculture. India is still rich in natural resources, so don't worry; our next generation will live happily.

Thanks,
Vasanth

Yes, this story is really an eye-opener. People are running like paranoid these days after money and development but keep forgetting that the motherland and resources are limited. What will we be leaving behind for our next generation? I truly agree with Iqbal.

Regards,
J

That was a perfect discussion which the cab driver initiated, but today's system only teaches and fails to educate. Therefore, awareness is zero, and development shows no signs at all.

Dear All,

If we all join together, we can do something about this. Let us think over and come up with ideas. To start with, I have already planted two trees in my street.

Regards, Mahalakshmi

Yes, even you made me think. I'm in Mumbai, and I hardly see anything being produced here physically. Service industries are ruling Mumbai.

Not only for Mumbai, if we take the total economy together, they are rich because of selling which is not a basic need.