Relgion and its impact on humanity

 

Why is religion still so widespread and pervasive in todays world?

I am not a scholar in religion or anything for that matter. Just an average ordinary man who earned by coding and now with enough time to relax and contemplate on the bigger questions of the Universe. So, whatever I say, opinionate or argue below are just from my experience and readings. Take it as you wish.

One of the biggest questions or enigma rather, maybe after the: What is the meaning of life?, is Religion. My science and fact based logical rational thought process can see why it started 10s of 1000s of years ago probably as soon as Humans evolved enough to think and try to understand the world around them. Obviously then and even now, many are difficult to understand and many we have no idea how or what. Yet. That probably resulted in creating religion in its various forms. An easy way out. After all, once you conjure up or imagine an super being who sees all, can do all, and knows all.... then everything can be explained, no? Of course. In my opinion, this is true for ALL religions. No exceptions. 

But... over the last few thousand or so years, Humans have progressed significantly. We know many things now. How they work. How we can modify them to help us. What they are. We theorize. Design experiments. Prove them. And can clearly explain it all. With logical reasoning. But in spite of this progress, there has been no proof in the existence of any super being that oversees us all. That still remains the faith realm. With no proof whatsoever. 

I feel... many proponents of religions... truly believe in it and are true. But there are many who are well aware its not true... but use it to their advantage and gains. Power and Greed. On the same note... there are many who follow because they truly believe. And there are many who follow because they are insecure scared or under peer pressure in their community.

To answer the question I posed above... why?

Using Bangalore Public transport, a personal experience.

I am of the strong opinion that the solution to Bangalore or Bengaluru's traffic problem is public transport which is primarily Metro rail and BMTC buses. Whenever I can, I try to follow through with that for my travel. Usually, it has been mostly on Metro when the point-to-point connection is perfect. But, on 25th May 2022, for an evening tryst at Bangalore club, I did the Metro + Bus which is the ideal last-mile connectivity instaed of an Auto if you keep cost also in mind. This blog is my experience from that trip and later my observations and comments. Bear wth me as its a bit long but I thought detailing it would help someone somewhere sometime to improve this critical means of transportation for our beloved city.

At 7pm on a weekday, Google was estimating a drive as well as public transport (mix of metro + bus, metro + walk, or metro + auto) to be about an hour give or take a few mins. Since I was alone, the public transport cost was very much in my favor as by car meant I would use about 2.5 liters of petrol for the 30 km total distance which would cost approximately 250 rs.

6.30pm: Outward journey, Home to Bangalore Club:

6.30 - 5mins - Walk 500 meters to Silk Institute metro station.

6.45 - 20mins - Metro to RV Road station  (25 rs)

7.10 -  1min   - Walk 50 meters  to Jayanagar 38th cross Bus stop

7.15 - 30mins - BMTC bus to Bishop Cottons stop on Residency road. (20 rs)

7.45 - 5 mins  - Walk 150 meters to Bangalore club

7.50pm Reached. Total time: 1hr 20mins. Cost 45 rs. Total Walk: 700 meters

10.30pm: Homeward journey, Bangalore club to Home:

10.30 - 15mins - Walk 1km to Townhall Bus stop (because of missing Bus stop, details below)

10.45 - 10mins - BMTC Bus ride to KR market after waiting 5 mins (5 rs)

10.55 - 5mins   - Walk 500 meters to KR Market Metro station

11.10 - 25mins - Metro to Silk Institute (35rs)

11.35 - 5mins   - Walk 500 meters home

11.40pm reached. Total time: 1hr 5 mins. Cost 40 Rs. Total Walk: 2kms

Total cost: Rs. 85.  Total travel time: 2hr 25 mins. Total distance walked 2.7kms

Now my comments. The outward journey was perfect and very pleasant. It was a short walk to the Bus Stop from Jayanagar Metro station. The place was clean and I could sit comfortably for a few mins until the half-empty bus #13 came. Interestingly this bus is not listed by Google and I had to confirm with the conductor before boarding. The bus filled up at Shantinagar TTMC but did not become over crowded. All in all, a perfect commute.

The Homeward journey was not as smooth. For starters, no busses back to Jayanagar appeared on

Google options. Because start was after 10pm? The best option was a bus to Majestic and then Metro. However, the location shown as the Bus stop at Richmond circle had no stop sign or structure! One bus going towards Majestic did not stop there even as I waved. I asked someone at a small shop who waved his hand casually to indicate there was a stop further toward Kanteerva. I walked about 500 meters to it, only to find the stop in the dark and cars parked in front of it! Clearly not functional at that time. 

Knowing the area a bit, I made a spot decision and walked further quickly to the Corporation Circle Bus stop hoping to catch a bus to KR Market. After 5 mins or so one came by which I got on. It stopped near Kalasipalya. The area around was quite scary but I made it to the metro station after a brisk walk with another commuter who knew a shortcut but with non existant lighting and worse conditions than the longer main road. I hurried in as I didn't want to miss the train if it was arriving shortly because a wait would be 20mins. Checking the sign for the track towards Silk Institute was confusing due to poor graphic design, as explained below. Thankfully more signs and the guard helped to ensure I took the right one. Rest of the trip was smooth.

I do feel, METRO + BMTC or just BMTC is a winning combination for any commute if everything goes well with time, location, quality and rush of the bus. 

Things that can be improved:

1) Bus timings and options. I relied on Google for this. Clearly it was not perfect.

2) Bus stops. All bus stops need sign and structure for seating. Buses need to stop properly there. NO PARKING of vehicles should be allowed in front of it at ALL times.

3) Pathways/roads from closest bus stops to Metro station and viceversa should be clearly marked and lighted.

4) Proper and secure bicycle stands at the suburban stations, ex Silk Institute, would help commuters especially now with schools starting, to bike up also.

On my trip, if I had family with me or seniors, the homeward journey was not possible or would have been extremely unpleasant. I either had to take an auto or cab to a nearby Metro station or all the way home.

I took a photo of the Metro sign  above the escalator (later) as I was hurrying down to the side where the train to Silk Institute would arrive. I made a mistake. Check and decide for yourself if others in a hurry like me would make the same mistake and even board a train if it has just arrived without checking further?

I think so. I feel a better more clearer sign is needed or just split it to 2 for either side of the escalator so that NO ONE can be confused.

Final points. My pet peeves on the current goverment policies regarding public transportation. No amount of widening the roads, underpasses, flyovers, smart signals, etc will alleviate the congestion. They are all bandaid fixes which within few weeks or months will become bottlenecks. Need of the hour is lesser vehicles on the road and MUCH MUCH MORE investment and use of PUBLIC TRANSPORT. It should become so good, that I can take my family, even toddlers, and seniors without a second thought!

Modi phenomenon

 WORK IN PROGRESS

Need to pen something on why so many of my good friends seem to be under the spell of Modi and his divisive agenda. Am I wrong and they are right that he is a strong leader and good for India? or Am I right and they are under some cult like spell which is going to lead India into darker paths ahead?

Hard physical work vs intellectual superiority

WORK IN PROGRESS

Lately, I have become philosophical with absolutely no academic background in it. Usually these thoughts occur as I run or drive or just laze around watching umpteen tv shows in these lockdown times. Much of these just dissipates within hours or days and I can hardly recall what it was that I was thinking so deeply about.

Today, I decided to put down one such weird thoughts before it too fades out of my memory.

I was blessed with strong stable parents and above average intellect. That combination gave me good education, opportunity to go abroad and excel in a limited way and get a good paying job. Luck played out with good perks and options at the company allowing me to semi retire after just 15 yrs of working. This after we realized that we had enough assets to take care of our parental responsibitlies (education/wedding) and enough left over for indulgences and retirement. Of course, this also meant no more ambitions to aspire for societal higher standard of living and luxuries, which was perfectly fine with me.

Which brings me to the question I pose here. Is it fair that I should be rewarded in life so much more just because of god-given superior intellect over a similar person born at the same time, all other things same, and only able to leverage their body and worked multi times harder than myself but not rewarded anywhere close to myself. Why is intellectual superiority rewarded so much more than physical hard work?