NH-8 which connects Delhi to Jaipur runs through Gurgaon. The Haldiram factory with its beautiful lawns is a place at which most tourists stop for a breakfast of puri and aloo subzi on their way. In the last 2 years this has gone from being a 4 lane parking lot to a modern 8 lane highway.
On most parts of the highway anyway. In the old city of Gurgaon by the Rajeev Gandhi Chowk and the Hero Honda factory it is still a very densely populated 4 lane parking lot. Humanity teems onto the street in cars, trucks, buses, auto and cycle rickshaws, bicycles and other 2 wheelers, and on foot. Cows, dogs, sheep, goats all join them in the migratory path towards Rajasthan. As a matter of fact, the shepherds and cowherds of Rajasthan used to travel up this road to the Gurgaon region in search of green pastures. You see the herds grazing on the various open spaces outside the city.
Earlier this used to be just a very irritating road to traverse. Now it has turned deadly. The wide luxurious highway has been welcomed by the people of this region with enthusiasm and joy. People zip down this road at 100 or 120 KMPH. The most frequent cause of car fatalities then occurs as the car spins out of control as its tires burst ! The 2nd most frequent cause is when they ram at full speed into a stalled vehicle on the highway. The third is when the pedestrians bravely attempt to cross the highway. In the crowded Hero Honda chowk area it is still the old fashioned speeding truck mowing down the plucky pedestrian, or the little car that gets jammed between 2 larger slow moving vehicles. And hence the term "Killer Highway".
I was travelling along this highway earlier this week - returning from the Manesar Heritage Village - it used to be a resort literally in the middle of nowhere and gained popularity as a venue for corporate training programs. Now Manesar is turning into a full fledged technology park as people relocate there in the quest for some fresh air.
I was returning from our StepUP training program there - and for a change this was in broad daylight. As the traffic slowed in the semi-urban area of the Hero Honda chowk i started to examine the shops lining the highway. This is what in Haldwani we call the Bajaar.
First thing I saw was a Milk Dairy. Now having seen the herds along the way, and recognizing that this was a rural area - I was looking for a Goregaon style tabela replete with cows / buffaloes and fresh milk being sold out the store front. Alas - no cows - just big containers of milk. Perhaps the cows were further away.
Krishna Greens with the picture of a beautiful lawn on the signboard caught my attention next. I tried to figure out what they might be selling. As I looked down towards the counter I saw they were actually selling greens - leafy green bhajis of different kinds, cabbages, cauliflowers...... I thought my mind was playing tricks with me - how could the villagers of Gurgaon be buying greens - and the picture looked like lawns - was it grass seed ? Why would they buy it in a store. It was only when I saw the 3rd one that I realized that Krishna Greens was in the business of installing lawns. The vegetable stall owner probably made more money from the advertising revenue .
Past usual chai, mithai and samosa shops was a sign that had me catch my breath - SAIL shop. Not boat but SAIL. There are frequent sightings of camels - the ship of the desert - in this part of the world - but a SAIL shop. And they weren't stocked with any sailboats as far I could see. Across the street was another, larger SAIL shop - and that is when I realized - SAIL is the Steel Authority of India Ltd - SAIL is a "brand" of Steel - distinct from the one sold by Tata Steel.
Away from Rajeev Chowk and as one approaches the urban, modern Gurgaon you see the tribal people of Rajasthan who have set out their very colorful and beautiful pieces of hand thrown blue pottery. They set their shop up in the dirt by the side of the road. Finally, something I can relate to!!! And then before I know it I am turning into IFFCO Chowk and onto MG Road home of the big glitzy malls. Just as crowded and chaotic as the Bajaar near the Hero Honda plant - but oh so much more expensive !!
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