Don’t die like a fool on the road...

Manjeet Singh Trehan

Manjeet  Singh Trehan

WHILE  I was a senior resident doctor at the PGI Chandigarh, a world health day was observed on the WHO theme on prevention of accidents. Prof BNS Walia, the then PGI Director, while delivering his lecture, said: ‘Our society does not want our ladies to wear helmet. The reasons could only be two: Ladies do not have a head (brain); or they do have a head (brain), but who needs it?’ It is over 30 years, but I still remember his words. 

During classes of ‘preventive and social medicine’, we were taught as undergraduate students how data from developed societies showed that seatbelts and helmets saved so many lives and could prevent many devastating injuries. Subsequently, during my postgraduation, it was common to see people occupying trolleys in the emergency OPD and wards after sustaining injuries in road accidents. That story continues to date. 

It is painful to learn that last year 1.60 lakh people lost their lives to road accidents in the country. Data also shows that 43 women were killed in accidents in Chandigarh since 2013.

In the early nineties, when I could only afford a two-wheeler, I ensured my wife never drove it without a helmet. She did meet with a few accidents due to an animal on the road or an animal-like human driving recklessly, but due to the helmet her face and head were saved every time. When my daughter aged 16 needed an independent conveyance, the same rule was applicable to her. Even today, if I need to go out on a two-wheeler, I tie a thathi (a cloth covering the beard and turban). In case of an accident, the first thing to go off the body is the turban, exposing the bare head to trauma. 

Being a medical professional, I understand that the skull and brain of all humans are equally hard and equally vulnerable in an accident, irrespective of their religion, caste, creed, VIP status or nationality. 

All those who want Sikh women to be exempted from helmets could never be their well-wishers. All those who have lost a dear one to accident should launch a massive campaign to share their agony. I am sure those advocating exemption have not lost a family member on the road, else they would not have made such irresponsible statements. 

Society is facing an onslaught of casual, careless and fully preventable deaths in an epidemic form. It is a wakeup call to save your own life. Anybody who loves his family should not let any family member (men or women) venture out without a helmet. The risk could mean death or permanent disability. 

Most people copy one another. Many people do not use helmets because others are not wearing it. It is the duty of the whole society in general and law enforcing agencies in particular to implement traffic rules strictly. 

Human life is precious. Those dying helmetless on roads are mostly in their youth and productive years and losing them is an irreparable loss to them, their families and society at large. Let better sense prevail. 

Coming back to Sikh women, I myself am a baptised Sikh. Our religion was meant to fight atrocities against human race. Dying like warriors is our motto whenever our society, nation or human race needs us. We are not made to die like fools on roads, getting ourselves crushed under the tyres of a vehicle.