Delhi not suited for ‘road ragas’

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Caught in a maddening traffic jam, as you lose patience, all you are left to do is honk, curse and crib. It’s a situation you certainly hate, yet can’t escape. Interestingly, the West Bengal government has come up with a one-of-its-kind cure for stress due to traffic jams. They have decided to play Rabindra Sangeet on loudspeakers at traffic signals across Kolkata.

Delhi is notorious for its traffic snarls and jams, would music therapy work as a cure for traffic-related stress here?
Reaching his Gurgaon office is an everyday battle for 23-year-old Sajid Qadri. For this Kalkaji resident, the journey is not only time taking, but also has been taking a toll on his nerves. How would such a dose of music work for Sajid? “I am surprised at such an idea. I wonder whose brainwave it is,” he says.
“Imagine you are running late for work and stuck in the middle of nowhere, and the loudspeaker forces music on you. How is one going to take it?” wonders Sajid, admitting that traffic blues have turned him from a soft-spoken person to an “edgy foul-mouth”.
Musician Nitin Malik of Parikrama explains why he thinks this idea will further agitate the already irritated drivers. “This should definitely not be confused with music therapy. A therapy is when you voluntarily allow yourself to absorb the music. But here, a stranded driver won’t have a choice. Also, today who doesn’t have a music system in the car? Any music coming from outside will only act as noise. So, the driver will roll up his windows to airproof his car, and blast his music system. If annoyed further, he may come out and vent his fury,” says Nitin.
Ashima Sejpal questions the options Delhi has when it comes to music. “Bollywood songs are all they can have on the menu if they happen to think of going ahead with this concept in the capital,” she says. “A few may just feel like getting off the car to shake a leg on bhangra beats,” she laughs.
Nitin agrees that there is completely no scope for a soul-soothing sojourn in Delhi. “Goli maar bheje mein is a Delhi type song,” he says.
“Having Ghulam Ali or Pankaj Udhas croon at places like bus stops may however lend itself to a feel-good factor,” adds Nitin.