throttle therapy

Have bumpy roads make Indians... better?

- By Christopher Chaves

If there's one thing that truly unites India, more than cricket, pani puri, or complaining about fuel prices, it's the common fear of falling into a crater disguised as a road. Let's face it: half of our monsoon-season roads look like NASA's early moon landing attempts, and the other half... well, they're just waiting to really qualify. Ride any scooter, bike, or even a rugged SUV across Indian streets long enough, and you'll find yourself asking at least one of these questions: Is this a road or leftover landscape from some war themed movie? Did the contractor forget to come back after lunch? Are these potholes or government-approved acupuncture points for vehicles? It's through these questions, often shouted over the sound of a suspension crying for mercy, that something interesting happened: India rediscovered its appetite for accountability.