Meet Delhi’s Traffic Baba
Clad in a white gown and cap, microphone in hand, Mukul Chandra Joshi is a familiar sight on major traffic crossings in Noida, Uttar Pradesh. Every evening, without fail, this 80 year-old insurance agent, heads for a major traffic junction and gently tells people to make way for pedestrians , or not to jump a red signal, or not to drive without a helmet.
This has been Mr. Joshi’s mission since 2003 after a close friend lost his son in a road accident. Shaken, he started thinking of ways to prevent such senseless deaths. He decided that educating people about traffic rules and regulations in a kind, calm manner could prove effective.
Mr. Joshi has refused to take any financial support and bears whatever costs are incurred in printing pamphlets. Initially people would not accept his pamphlets, but now he has become a familiar and respected figure on the streets. The biggest reward, he says, are the numerous calls and visits from strangers thanking him for saving their loved one’s lives.