Relying on the Gods - exercise in futility

[Eos of the Eons]

Ever wonder why India has an apalling safety record?

India's railways minister has come up with a novel excuse for the appalling safety record of the world's largest railways network--he blames it on Vishwakarma, the Hindu god of machines. "Indian railways are the responsibility of Lord Vishwakarma," said Laloo Prasad Yadav. "So is the safety of passengers. It is his duty to ensure safety, not mine." Read more about it (http://www.humaniststudies.org/enews/index.html?id=145&lid=942#n5)

Argh!!!

Yep, don't have to take responsibility for carelessness!

[garys_2k]

Hey, must make for some easy excuses at work. "No, I didn't f it up, the god-of-what-I-do did. Blame him."

[Jeff Corey]

I really want know when this god Vishwankerwanker , whatever, first appeared. When the first machine was invented?
The wedge?
The pointed stick?
A large rock on the head of your prey?
Or, perhaps, the comfy chair.

[Zep]

Eos, this already has a thread running...

However I'll repeat what I asked in that thread: What is the Hindu god to pray to when you are being strung up to the nearest pole by an angry mob of bereaved relatives?

[steenkh]

The attitude of the Indian railway minister is alien to most western observers, but you can find it many places, not just in India.

At the last hidja in Mekka, a lot of people were trampled to death because of the bad crowd control of the Saudian authorities. The responsible minister countered in a similar fashion: "it was preordained by God that they die".

[princhester]

If the Indian railways minister's actions (never mind his words) show that he takes no credit at all for any achievement in his portfolio because it is all attributable to Gods, not his efforts, then I'll be a whole lot less sceptical.