Brotherhood of drivers

A few days ago,Prashant Nanda,24,returned to his car at Defence Colony market just in time to see a biker hit the door,leaving a deep dent. Nanda rushed at the offender.

Run by the aunt-nephew duo of Bharti Chadha and Vipin Suri,Road Pe Raahi Bhai Bhai,a campaign to curb road rage,catches on

A few days ago,Prashant Nanda,24,returned to his car at Defence Colony market just in time to see a biker hit the door,leaving a deep dent. Nanda rushed at the offender. As a crowd gathered around,his eyes fell on a yellow sticker pasted on his car. Road Pe Raahi Bhai Bhai, announced the red letters. Immediately,I felt my temper disappear. I decided to give the biker another chance, he says. The biker was taken aback,the crowd stunned,but not more than Nanda was at his own reaction. At any other time,I would have beaten up the guy, he says. The message on the sticker stopped me.

At their Gurgaon office,Bharti Chadha and Vipin Suri,the aunt-nephew duo who started a quiet revolution called Road Pe Raahi Bhai Bhai six months ago,are not surprised. Every day brings stories like Nandas. In 2008,7,500 lives were lost due to rash driving and road rage in the NCR,and 17,000 others were seriously injured. So,this might take a little imaginationwhat if everybody driving on the road were brothers? Would we honk quite so much,or try to overtake or even come to blows with a driver if he were our brother? asks Chadha,50. The sticker is placed on the rear-view mirror,constantly reminding the driver to take it easy.

We always wait for somebody else to take a stand on matters of our concern. This time,I decided to tackle road menace by doing something about it myself, says Chadha. The moment the phrase Road Pe Raahi Bhai Bhai hit me,I knew this was it. She began with an impromptu and unrehearsed session at the Delhi Airport taxi stand,and the response from the cabbies was encouraging. Soon,Suri,a businessman,and she were addressing gatherings at colleges and schools,BPOs and call centres,corporate offices and even temples. Almost everybody wanted a sticker, says Suri. Among the converts was Amit Agarwal,CEO of Amdel Technology,who says,The sticker on my car has definitely kept me from getting into fights.

The movement took off through word of mouth and online forums and blogs. As one blogger writers,I dont know if the sticker on my car influences others,but it definitely reminds me before I fall into the trap of honking and hurling abuses. I am still not 100 per cent sure that I will never react,but it is still under control. Suri,a reformed road rage culprit who has even comes to blows with other drivers in Mauritius,says,The message is to value the life of the other driver or pedestrian,to think of him as your own family member and to tackle provocation calmly and with compassion.

The movement has got support from all walks of life,from Delhi University students who are enrolling in large numbers as volunteers to spread the message,to corporate bodies who are pitching in financially to people from Mumbai,Pune and even Italy who want stickers. Companies like Tricolite have mass ordered stickers for all their employees and office cars,but the most heartening stories are about the common man. Ishwar Bindal,a 50-year-old,was driving when he rammed into a biker. The boy strode towards me,helmet in hand and fire in his eyes. Before he could hit me,I showed him the sticker. Road Pe Raahi Bhai Bhai, he read aloud and began laughing. He said,he couldnt hit me because I was his brother, says Bindal.

To get a sticker,SMS Bhai to 59994 or log on to http://www.roadperaahibhaibhai.com

Dipanita Nath

Dipanita Nath is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. She is a versatile journalist with a deep interest in the intersection of culture, sustainability, and urban life. Professional Background Experience: Before joining The Indian Express, she worked with other major news organizations including Hindustan Times, The Times of India, and Mint. Core Specializations: She is widely recognized for her coverage of the climate crisis, theatre and performing arts, heritage conservation, and the startup ecosystem (often through her "Pune Inc" series). Storytelling Focus: Her work often unearths "hidden stories" of Pune—focusing on historical institutes, local traditions, and the personal journeys of social innovators. Recent Notable Articles (December 2025) Her recent reporting highlights Pune’s cultural pulse and the environmental challenges facing the city during the winter season: 1. Climate & Environment "Pune shivers on coldest morning of the season; minimum temperature plunges to 6.9°C" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on the record-breaking cold wave in Pune and the IMD's forecast for the week. "How a heritage tree-mapping event at Ganeshkhind Garden highlights rising interest in Pune’s green legacy" (Dec 20, 2025): Covering a citizen-led initiative where Gen Z and millennials gathered to document and protect ancient trees at a Biodiversity Heritage Site. "Right to breathe: Landmark NGT order directs PMC to frame norms for pollution from construction sites" (Dec 8, 2025): Reporting on a significant legal victory for residents fighting dust and air pollution in urban neighborhoods like Baner. 2. "Hidden Stories" & Heritage "Inside Pune library that’s nourished minds of entrepreneurs for 17 years" (Dec 21, 2025): A feature on the Venture Center Library, detailing how a collection of 3,500 specialized books helps tech startups navigate the product life cycle. "Before he died, Ram Sutar gave Pune a lasting gift" (Dec 18, 2025): A tribute to the legendary sculptor Ram Sutar (creator of the Statue of Unity), focusing on his local works like the Chhatrapati Shivaji statue at Pune airport. "The Pune institute where MA Jinnah was once chief guest" (Dec 6, 2025): An archival exploration of the College of Agriculture, established in 1907, and its historical role in India's freedom struggle. 3. Arts, Theatre & "Pune Inc" "Satyajit Ray, Ritwik Ghatak were not rivals but close friends, says veteran filmmaker" (Dec 17, 2025): A deep-dive interview ahead of the Pune International Film Festival (PIFF) exploring the camaraderie between legends of Indian cinema. "Meet the Pune entrepreneur helping women build and scale businesses" (Dec 16, 2025): Part of her "Pune Inc" series, profiling Nikita Vora’s efforts to empower female-led startups. "How women drone pilots in rural Maharashtra are cultivating a green habit" (Dec 12, 2025): Exploring how technology is being used by women in agriculture to reduce chemical use and labor. Signature Style Dipanita Nath is known for intellectual curiosity and a narrative-driven approach. Whether she is writing about a 110-year-old eatery or the intricacies of the climate crisis, she focuses on the human element and the historical context. Her columns are often a blend of reportage and cultural commentary, making them a staple for readers interested in the "soul" of Pune. X (Twitter): @dipanitanath ... Read More

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