Phase of life
I often happened to recall about an article, I went through that, probably in the year of 1993. At that time, I was in that phase of my life, when one wishes and plans for his amelioration. But on the ground, outcome ever remains zero. A totally stagnant life I had. There, I was a denizen of a conventional, small sized city. At that time, newly brand’s named cars, too, had been introduced in the market. Though, they were with in the reach of hands of “well off” gentry only.
That was the time, when, ‘man of substance’ in my city, hardly could afford for a small segment car only. And ‘ Maruti-800’ car was the most preferred car, and, had a predominance over the market, in the small car segment. The ‘Ambassador motor car’ still registered its presence vigorously, in the Indian car market. The reason was, It was one of the first ever Indian made, family cars and time tested one. Whilst, the another one, “Fiat car”, once most liked family car, was breathing last in the market. Shortly after that, this ‘Fiat car’ got vanished from the Indian car market.
People, like me had a destiny to own used one, old knackered scooter only. Although, I had had the right to dream about owning a car. A man, like me, was given to dream of that, but it was hard rather impossible, to afford a car and maintain it. In total, I was living a life in envy. I could not afford to buy a car and was prone to feel jealous, looking at people who owned the car. In that long lasting frustration fraught situation, I happened to went through an article. This article was published, in an esteemed National News Paper. It contained in detail, the data and facts about the expected availability of petroleum products in near future. The source of information, as per the author, were derived from an article, got published in another esteemed News Paper in USA.
The soothing data of the article
The gist of article might sound ghastly to many subscribers, who were going to be effected by that, but not to me. Rather it soothed me from to the core of my heart. As per the contents of the article, the total estimated petroleum product reserves, under the earth, was to be finished by the year of 2020. And after that, cars on the road were destined to be turned up into sheer scraps. The article gave me a feeling of great pleasure. I was in euphoriant mood.
In Vista
Being the owner of a knackered scooter, I belonged to a ‘deprived class’. Who was destined to buy a car in his dreams only, though unable to become a master of the car in reality. In the spree of my that felicitous mental status, I began to imagine some fancy images with my eyes open. I found myself riding fast on my bicycle, in the year 2020. So many other people, whom I knew as car owners, they too were mounted on bicycle, riding on the same road. Although, they were paddling the bicycle not so vigorously as I. It was toilsome to them, since their being accustomed to the habit of cozy car driving.
Again, I found before my eyes the scenario of bygone era, when people used to ride on the back of horses and ponies. For public convenience, horse driven Tonga-cart( a two wheeled cart used in the Oriental countries), was again in vogue. Affluent class, again began to maintain their personal family “horse- Tonga cart”. Some less “well- off,” instead preferred, a tricycle man pulled Rikhshaw, for which they hired the services of some laborer on permanent basis. Such sort of ‘half complete’ fancies I had had. As a matter of fact, this was the frustration of a man, and I was that man.
What came up in future
With the lapse of the time, luck too favored me, and, I bought a small car. Often I happened to give a thought about the perilous availability of the fuel in near future. In fact, the ghoulish contents of the past article, ever visited me. One day, one fact struck into my mind. The numbers of cars on the road, mentioned in that article, had the details of Western countries only. No where, the article mentioned about the numbers of cars at that time, on road in China. Now, I began to search about the numbers of cars in China, around the year of 1993. The facts astonished me.
Till that time, the car market of China had swelled largely, with big numbers of cars running on the road. This made me calculate the data of the article, with amendments. By this calculation, the entire fuel reserves under the earth, should have been consumed by the year of 2005. I personally, had bought the car in the year 2006. The supply of the fuel, even in the Indian market was copious and at reasonable prize.
Summing up
Today, I am living in the year of 2023, and, still petroleum fuel is in abundance under the earth and easily available. Still, it is estimated that its supply will remain uninterrupted for may decades to come. It now confuses me, how come that article was based upon what research ? Whether that article was published on purpose, sponsored by Western World car industry lobby. It seems to me, Western World car industry, never wished that India should step ahead in the field of Car manufacturing sector.
They intended us to remain depend upon the imported cars only. The sheer purpose was to raise an alarm in the mind of public. Along with, effectively discourage the new Indian entrepreneurs, who, at that time ‘making the mind’ to enter in that sector. But, some how, local entrepreneurs were not effected so badly. This kind of propaganda war, we observe in every field, where, high interests are on stake. Paradigms of tobacco and alcohol industries are wide afloat. Leave apart the pharmaceutical companies. They in this advertising drive, try to convince people in the name of patent drugs, to consume the trash which claim to cure so many ailments. Penned by — Vinay Pharasi …..
