Horn Ok Please/ Woman Empowerment

matt67 · Mar 14th, 2007, 17:19

What are the origins of this ubiquitious signage considered compulsory on all buses and trucks all over India. What does it actually mean??

On a similar note my boys just love the 'Woman Empowerment' signs on all autorickshaws in Mumbai. where did this come from and what implications does it have for us male folk??

steven_ber · Mar 14th, 2007, 17:26

Combining these 2 signs in the thread title may have many wondering what this thread is all about.

Prashant.M · Mar 14th, 2007, 17:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by matt67

What are the origins of this ubiquitious signage considered compulsory on all buses and trucks all over India. What does it actually mean??

On a similar note my boys just love the 'Woman Empowerment' signs on all autorickshaws in Mumbai. where did this come from and what implications does it have for us male folk??

As I am from Bangalore I am not sure but just guessing about the 'Woman Empowerment' signs. I think it is something the RTO (Regional Transport Office) has made the autowallahs put up. Here in Bangalore you will see a lot of signage about air pollution on public transport. This was mandated by the RTO. Some autowallahs get creative and those are quite fun to read

Nick-H · Mar 14th, 2007, 17:56

I never saw this one either.

...And did wonder what the thread was about!

karnail · Apr 7th, 2007, 19:03

Horn..... Horn Please, OK (wait for side)
Wome........ We are working towards betterment of the women but care a damn about the impacts of this on the society.
Check this LINK on one more method of woman empowerment

Anilk222 · Apr 7th, 2007, 21:58

Some point of time it was mandatory to have " Mera Bhaarat Mahaan "

But isnt " The Pappu Tikku di Gaddi " more interesting ?

dmontgom22 · Apr 27th, 2007, 01:19

When i was in Bangalore a couple of weeks ago, i asked a local about this. He told me that the "Sound Horn" means the obvious, but the "OK" is a throwback to the British meaning "On Kerosene".

I dunno... sounds plausible to me

d.

Nick-H · Apr 27th, 2007, 08:34

Stop

But why?

Why does it say "stop" on the back of vehicles? There's no reason to stop unless they have....

That one puzzles me.

No... I can't see the connection between horn and kerosene.

machadinha · Apr 27th, 2007, 08:42

I think the origins of OK are still shrouded in mystery anyway. http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-oka1.htm

While puzzled by the sentence structure, I guess the idea is clear once you've been on one of India's roads. As for the Women Empowerment, it seems to me to have already been explained: Some campaign to that effect going on.

What's Mera Bhaarat Mahaan mean btw?

(As for stop Nick: Maybe that's what you're supposed to do when you forgot about the horning bit?

)

capt_mahajan · Apr 27th, 2007, 08:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by machadinha

What's Mera Bhaarat Mahaan mean btw?

"My India is Great"

machadinha · Apr 27th, 2007, 08:49

Thanks, I'd figured something along those lines.

matt67 · Apr 27th, 2007, 13:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick-H

Stop

But why?

Why does it say "stop" on the back of vehicles? There's no reason to stop unless they have....

That one puzzles me.

I think the stop sign on the back usually denotes the brakelights. So if the driver behind does not understand why the red light is coming on then the sign reminds him that i am stopping/braking. In lorries the stop lettering is usually below or above the brake lights.

thats what i think.

sirensongs · Apr 27th, 2007, 13:45

For some reason, the actual, often considerable, noise made by the vehicle itself is not deemed sufficient warning that the vehicle is coming. Therefore, the encouragement to "sound horn." Believe it or not, it is considered polite ("look out, I am about to mow you down so please get out of the way").

When each and every vehicle honks continuously, it would seem to defeat the purpose.

The social-do-gooding message is one of a series mandated by some transport authority; previously we had "Family Planning - We 2, ours Three" and so on. Why these signs are invariably printed *only* in English, never the local language, is beyond me (yes, I can read the local language. I've never seen it reproduced that way).

cyberhippie · Apr 27th, 2007, 13:48

I had a taxi driver who continued to honk as we were being filled with petrol, it was hilarious!

matt67 · Apr 27th, 2007, 13:53

Strangely i have heard/read that no one honks on the Mumbai Pune expressway and that most traffic rules are obeyed. If this is true how come the bad habits disappear on this strectch??

Mar 14th, 2007, 17:19	#1
matt67 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Bath Posts: 163	Horn Ok Please/ Woman Empowerment What are the origins of this ubiquitious signage considered compulsory on all buses and trucks all over India. What does it actually mean?? On a similar note my boys just love the 'Woman Empowerment' signs on all autorickshaws in Mumbai. where did this come from and what implications does it have for us male folk??

Mar 14th, 2007, 17:26	#2
steven_ber Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: London, England. Posts: 9,204	Combining these 2 signs in the thread title may have many wondering what this thread is all about. __________________ . How to get helpful replies to your transport/Itinerary questions. Train information.

Mar 14th, 2007, 17:56	#4
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 26,870	I never saw this one either. ...And did wonder what the thread was about! __________________ . Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

Apr 27th, 2007, 01:19	#7
dmontgom22 Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Wakefield, MA, USA Posts: 5	Sound OK Horn When i was in Bangalore a couple of weeks ago, i asked a local about this. He told me that the "Sound Horn" means the obvious, but the "OK" is a throwback to the British meaning "On Kerosene". I dunno... sounds plausible to me d.

Apr 27th, 2007, 08:42	#9
machadinha Not Your Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: yörp Posts: 10,571	I think the origins of OK are still shrouded in mystery anyway. http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-oka1.htm While puzzled by the sentence structure, I guess the idea is clear once you've been on one of India's roads. As for the Women Empowerment, it seems to me to have already been explained: Some campaign to that effect going on. What's Mera Bhaarat Mahaan mean btw? (As for stop Nick: Maybe that's what you're supposed to do when you forgot about the horning bit? ) __________________ Reading tips, all picked up at IndiaMike : INDAX's A Comprehensive Guide To India / Dinoj Surendran's Desi Humor / ITHVC on Culture Shock & Travel Health / JetLag Travel Guides For the Undiscerning Traveller / India Travel Links

Apr 7th, 2007, 19:03	#5
karnail Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Delhi Posts: 156	Horn..... Horn Please, OK (wait for side) Wome........ We are working towards betterment of the women but care a damn about the impacts of this on the society. Check this LINK on one more method of woman empowerment

Apr 7th, 2007, 21:58	#6
Anilk222 Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 79	Some point of time it was mandatory to have " Mera Bhaarat Mahaan " But isnt " The Pappu Tikku di Gaddi " more interesting ?

Apr 27th, 2007, 08:34	#8
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 26,870	Stop But why? Why does it say "stop" on the back of vehicles? There's no reason to stop unless they have.... That one puzzles me. No... I can't see the connection between horn and kerosene.

Apr 27th, 2007, 08:49	#11
machadinha Not Your Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: yörp Posts: 10,571	Thanks, I'd figured something along those lines.

Apr 27th, 2007, 13:45	#13
sirensongs Eeny meeny mango Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: All India Permit (somewhere between Delhi & Dharamsala) Posts: 1,213	For some reason, the actual, often considerable, noise made by the vehicle itself is not deemed sufficient warning that the vehicle is coming. Therefore, the encouragement to "sound horn." Believe it or not, it is considered polite ("look out, I am about to mow you down so please get out of the way"). When each and every vehicle honks continuously, it would seem to defeat the purpose. The social-do-gooding message is one of a series mandated by some transport authority; previously we had "Family Planning - We 2, ours Three" and so on. Why these signs are invariably printed only in English, never the local language, is beyond me (yes, I can read the local language. I've never seen it reproduced that way). __________________ *"Why do people go to India to find themselves? India is where you go to lose* yourself."** Feringhee: The India Diaries

Apr 27th, 2007, 13:48	#14
cyberhippie Account Closed by User's Request Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: the Netherlands Posts: 6,012	I had a taxi driver who continued to honk as we were being filled with petrol, it was hilarious!

Apr 27th, 2007, 13:53	#15
matt67 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Bath Posts: 163	Strangely i have heard/read that no one honks on the Mumbai Pune expressway and that most traffic rules are obeyed. If this is true how come the bad habits disappear on this strectch??

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