The Supreme Court has termed the use of sirens on VIP vehicles as the legacy of the British Raj which should be removed forthwith. The practice of VIP vehicles being fitted with sirens should have been discarded long back. But as it was a delight to the occupants of the vehicle to ride in superimposed dignity and regality, the practice continues. The British rulers treated us as chattel and overawed us by assuming such antics as would make them feel they were supermen. Generally siren vehicles are used by Ministers, Generals and even by some public servants depending on how much importance they want to give themselves. The orders of the Supreme Court will come to them as bolt from blue and they will, rather unwillingly, begin to feel that they are reduced by the state to the lowly position of being one among the equals. But blowing of sirens is not the only manifestation of the pomp and show of a VIP. There are so many other lordly antics that some VIPs are used to adopt. Closing the road traffic when a siren vehicle passes, delaying the departure of railways or air flights to allow the “Sahib” to take his time leisurely etc. are the things sill in vogue. The day when our rulers and administrators will feel that they are part of the masses of people in the country is yet to dawn upon them.
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