Now by getting my license i don’t mean i got married or something, I just got back my driving license which i had lost a few days back. Finally i feel like a complete and legal citizen. The incomplete and illegal feeling started the day i realized i had lost my wallet, one of the only two things i was personally responsible for not loosing along with my mobile phone. I had lost my mobile phone on earlier occasions but this feeling was different. I was deeply traumatized from deep within.
The deep harrowing feeling was because of the thought of going to the transport office to get a duplicate issued made me loose a lot of sleep and stool. On second thought diarrhea was the chicken sandwich’s fault but still it was enhanced by the state of bathrooms in public offices. I felt handicapped because i will have to drive illegaly untill i get my license.
My previous experience with the transport office was a year ago when i had to get my driving license renewed. It took almost a month to do what involved only 3 days of actual working. I approached the much hyped “Suwidha Center” and in a few minutes only I understood it was more of a “Asuwidha Center”. The receptionist told me to go to the window no. 24, where after waiting i a long line the clerk told me I had to go to the DTO office window no. 8.
The coveted window no. 8 had a big line in front of it and almost no information above, below, beside anywhere. After loitering around a bit i was told by a good Samaritan to get a form from the canteen and get it filled along with a medical and deposit it before 1:30 pm here. Itwas 1:15 pm already. So I brought the form and went home . Next I went to a doctor who worked in a government hospital to my medical done. But he refused it when he read it had to be filled by a registered practitioner approved by the civil surgeon. So I had to go to the DTO office again to know who was the authorized. Ofcourse no one knew and no one had time or cared enough to tell me there. So i went to the canteen and told the canteen wala over a cup of tea my tale.
Under the banyan tree pay Rs. 20 to Gupta and he will do what you need without even looking at you. No urine, stool or memory samples. Gupta was a no hassles man. My medical was done in seconds. I was back at window 8 where after a long snuggle struggle i finally deposited my form and headed to window 6 for fee deposit. Another huge line beckoned me but a unique phenomena here caught my eye. Every now and then a guy would come with a bundle of forms, knock on the window, say a code name and his forms were taken in out of line. It was almost divine.
After the divine intervention I got my receipt on which was a date to come back to this office after 3 days for my photograph. Ready with freshly ironed clothes and a spank turban that took almost an hour to put on i was in line outside Room No. 111 waiting for my turn coupon no. 342. Two and half hours of waiting in a summer afternoon and a few bouts of shouting and barking from clerks at the job of capturing me in film I got another reciept to stand in line at window 10 on a date 15 days later than this day.
Cut to the present day and I thought there is no way I am going through all that again. I went to the DTO office but this time straight to an agent sitting beside Gupta under the great ol banyan. All he needed from me was photocopy of the license, two photographs and a residence proof. He explained the whole process patiently and detailed the Rs. 800 I was going to spend bribing away and circumventing the system. He told me to come after 2 days and true to his promise I have my license in my newly bought wallent.
AT last freedom from system through corruption and commission. :):)
conimpressions 