Cause without caution

Many have done crazy things for charity or to promote a cause. And in most cases the end justifies the means. People have skydived, run, hitchhiked, cycled, walked, roller-bladed, rolled, driven, baked, sung, danced, stitched, knitted, written, raced snails (yes, you read it right!), auctioned themselves, climbed mountains, dated, shaved beards, walked dogs, eaten, kissed and swum - all for a good cause.

But when I read this morning that a man drove blindfolded from Patiala to Chandigarh to promote India-Pakistan friendship, I thought it a bit much. Is there really need for such recklessness to get a message across? The driver, 30-year-old Bhatinda resident Harpreet Pappu, had a skilled navigator to guide him through the 60-km route. But still, what he did could endanger others using the same road.

If the blindfolded driving was meant as a metaphor for the extremely complex relationship between the twin nations of India and Pakistan, I laud the man's creativity and sense of humour. But was there any need to put lives in danger to promote the cause of peace? The Indian Express quoted Pappu as saying that people flocked to his car - decorated with the Indian and Pakistani flags - through the route, but he kept the speed in check for the sake of safety. And he apparently had a very loud motorbike lead the way so he could follow its sound.

Mercifully, things went off without incident. But it could easily have gone wrong. I can understand and salute daredevilry when people risk their own lives for a good cause. But I have to draw the line at putting others in peril. That's just plain stupid and should not be encouraged.