Blindfold Follow-up

Before anything else, check out this link:
http://foto.pap.pl/preview.php?WGSESSID=67d707462bbd649ef5570561dd53b75a&TABPREV=IPTC&SECTION=SEARCHRESULT&IMGID=00000003279039

It has one of the best snaps of me JUST out the Fire after my Escape from it.

Now about my Blindfold Ride which happened on 2nd April, 2007. Well, the Blindfolded ride went rather well, one of the most comfortable I had in a long time. It lasted one and a half hour! But I was so lost in it that I realised it only when it was about to get over. Anyways, it started in a funny manner where all the Guests who were to be garlanded, decided to garland me instead with my garlands only. I find this system odd and funny because I never feel myself fit to be garlanded. I am a shy person when it comes to acknowledging my feats. Of course, I have to get interviewed by papers and channels, but i don't really feel anything special when i see my face in papers or TV. I just feel it is one of my duties to interact with these people who let people know what's happening and why. They are very nice people but most Indians are crazy about appearing on any media. Somehow, I lack that craze in me. But like I mentioned in my profile, I DIG live performances. It could even be a decent singer singing a song for me. It gives me goosebumps to witness such artistic talents right in front of my eyes. Maybe that's one reason i don't watch much TV or movies. I find them not-so-real. They have options of editing and using all kind of technology. But live performances are so real! Nothing is made-up about them. Same for this blindfold ride.

The media support we got for the ride was beyond my expectations. to be precise, 16 satellite channels covered it, three-fourths of them from North India. All newspapers in Hyderabad covered it, as did others in Karnataka and West Bengal too. Reuters, UNI and PTI were there, and many papers chose to select this news from them. Impressive coverage it was, even more than what we got in Chennai.

Before the ride, a band of Medical Adhesive Tape was stuck to my eyes, then a block of cardboard, cotton pad, thick layer of wheat flour cake, then a roll of cloth band which went around my head for four times, then a satin-lined hood which covered my full head, then a Black band on top of it, mentioning JADUGAR ANAND on it. The bike was a Hero-Honda Karizma( a very stable bike,I feel). Two ambulances followed me everywhere I went. Ahead of me, four vehicles full of Media people and their cameras were wrestling to get the best shots. So I often snaked my way amongst them to let each of them have good views. I also often shot ahead of everyone in the coterie so that they KNOW that I am not dependent on any signals from them for my feat. People get really creative when trying to guess a magic-trick. When three-fourths of the ride was over, one the guys came from somewhere and put a helmet on top of my face. Just read the list of things already on my eyes and face again. On top of that, He just thrusted a helmet! He said some channels had called up to tell that Traffic police is planning to fine me on the next junction for not using a helmet. I can't begin to tell how it felt with that helmet stuck so tightly to my head! But I felt as if my talents were being challenged( a situation I love to meet!), so I decided to play it their way. I drove the rest of the way with that helmet. This helmet incidence was more stranger than the Chennai one(a channel reporter was courageous enough to decide to sit on the pillion while my ride was on). That Chennai girl was brave and she really enjoyed the ride. Most people would pay me NOT to sit behind me during this ride. But she was a logical and firm girl. But this helmet story was crazy!

Most strange things happen while I ask permission to do this feat(from the police). In Goa, the concerned officer didn't even let me enter his office and started to throw me out till I insisted that he let me speak my part of the story. then I showed him the TV clips and written permissions from Police Commissioners of Chennai and other major cities. I also explained to him that I am not suicidal. I am a magician who knows what he's doing! After all this, he decided to help me out. In Bangalore, police permitted us one day before the event, but cancelled it at the last minute! It's a different matter that their cancellation was covered so extensively in Media that even the Ride itself wouldn't have got. Chennai police was so worried about it that they waited and watched. Only when my 60 kms ride got safely done, did they give a written permission ( after two days!!!:-) )!

I would want to point out one difference between others and people of Hyderabad(even the whole of Andhra Pradesh). The difference is that people here are EXTREMELY courteous and polite. They really helped me out on the roads during the ride. They cleared as much of the roads for me as they possibly could when they saw me coming. Some have been so concerned about me that they were screaming on every turn - "Akashji, left turn now!" or "Akashji, right turn now!" Maybe that's the reason I have so many friends in Andhra Pradesh and Telegu is the only South Indian language I know so much about. Vishakhapatnam is certainly one of my favourite places. People here are truly wonderful. I remember many instances when I have asked my way to some part of Hyderabad and people have left their own tasks and piloted me all the way to my destination, just for politeness sake. I don't think any other place in India(or elsewhere) can claim such outstanding hospitality.

Hyderabad is awfully hot these days. When I finally arrived the end of the ride, I was soaked in sweat, but submerged in appreciation for these wonderful people of Hyderabad. They welcomed me majestically on my arrival back. Some coverages of the same:

I guess after seeing these newspaper coverages, some of you must be wondering why police hinders this guy's performance when his motive is to create traffic awareness. Well..........join the club!! I wonder too!!! In every of my interviews,I stress heavily on Road safety and Traffic Rules. Indian Road conditions are as good as many Third World countries in my view. I just want to help the police department educate people. I talk of importance of Traffic Rules, Seat Belts, Helmets, not using mobiles on roads, not smoking on the roads, concentrating while driving, not assuming helmet as total protection, and so on. I wonder why I am not seen as an ally to this monsterous problem of Traffic in India. I hope someone will see the point soon!