Times of India | 11 hours ago | 08-08-2022 | 09:56 am
MARGAO: Even as the Goa police has emphasised on zero tolerance towards drunk-driving following a surge in accidents owing to driving under the influence of alcohol, a social media campaign by the state’s police department over the issue has been making silent waves across the state. A poignant poem in Konkani, by Ramesh Saju Ghadi, urging people against taking the wheel after a drinking binge, has been adapted in a clip used in the campaign. Actor Rajesh Pednekar has lent his voice to the poem. Sharing the clip from his official twitter handle, state director general of police (DGP) Jaspal Singh said he hopes motorists will follow the message in the video. Further, he has urged citizens to “widely circulate the message.” #goapolice thanks renowned Artists Rajesh Pednekar & Ramesh Sajhu Ghadi for writing a poem on Traffic Safety and ad… https://t.co/L7eQ0w0H4B— DGP Goa Sh. Jaspal Singh IPS (@DGP_Goa) 1659531672000The poem titled “Sovoi soddun di re paddi” (Break the nasty habit) uses slang words to convey the message of road safety and the poet feels that’s precisely the strength of his verses. “Nobody wants to be advised, but a poem can deliver the same message with the desired impact,” Ghadi told TOI. The poem begins with a note of caution with the poet drawing the attention of the reader to the dangers of drunk-driving. Sovoi soddun di re paddi, piyevn naka chollounk gaddi / Lorry, boshi, truck-a mhoreant monsham mhollear foska-kaddi (Give up now that nasty habit, never have one for the road / For lorries, buses and trucks that speed away, people on streets matter the least) He then attempts to tug the heartstrings of the readers in the subsequent verses so as to appeal to their senses. Denvteo, chodd’tteo, volt-ancher naka re korunk overtake/Ekteacho sutt’tta tabo, dusrealo brake fail (Overtake not on bends, slopes and inclines / While one loses control, other’s brakes fail) Ishta mojea ugodd dolle GMC-it vochun polle/bhendda dhompram moddun koshe, polloi beddar poddlea gulle (Open your eyes, my friend, and see the plight of those in GMC / Bones broken, they now lie on beds, motionless) Motor-bike-a speed tuji, matshi baba unni kor/ husko avoi kaddtta ghora, ghott sodinch motint dhor (Lower the speed of your bike a little/ Your anxious mom awaits you at the door, always remember) The narration in Pednekar’s baritone voice is accompanied by visuals that injects pathos to the delivery and adds a touch of empathy to the message. The concluding verses convey messages to “always wear your helmet,” “don’t use mobiles while riding/driving” and to dial 108 in case of accidents. Police hope that Ghadi’s poem will contribute to their anti drunk-driving campaign. “There’s been a considerable rise in fatalities occurring from road accidents,” Dharmesh Angle, Dy SP traffic (South Goa), said. “The Goa police have decided not to take a lenient view in such cases anymore. We have started coming down heavily on cases of drunk-driving and overspeeding, whether during the day or night.” Angle said that in cases of violation of traffic rules by minors, parents of such children will be prosecuted. “The vehicle belongs to you, and you are responsible for the behavior of your child on the road. Irresponsible driving can lead to loss of others’ lives; we will not tolerate it,” Angle said.
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