You are Indian if, you try to reuse gift wrappers, stand next to two of the largest suitcases at the airport, name your kids in rhymes (Sita, Gita etc), load your family car with as many people as possible, use plastic covers to cover anything new from TV remote to car, your kitchen shelves are full of jars you got free for some items, you make long distance calls only after 11 pm, you call an older person whom you have never met before uncle and you will still continue revving your engine in a traffic signal disregarding rising oil prices.

With capricious international oil prices constricting the country, energy-hungry India is put under tremendous pressure. India is 73 per cent import dependant to meet its oil needs. Never before has the need for innovative thinking to address the situation arising out of high oil prices been so high. More efficient use of liquefied natural gas (LNG), hydrocarbons and improving oil recovery from fields is the need of the hour.

The common man has now started looking for other modes of conveyance. Bogged down by the ever-increasing petrol/ diesel prices, the vehicle-users are actually thinking of leaving their vehicles in the garage more often. The non-fuel consuming cycle is a smart alternative, but in a city enamored with snob value, how many people would actually want to be spotted on a bicycle? Some car owners are thinking of using their two wheelers more often or forming a car pool, which will save fuel to a little extent. In order to save the high expenditure on petrol, resorting to fuel-efficient vehicles is therefore one option many people are thinking about. But in a country whose sole purpose of subsidies is to increase the vote bank and not really in the national interest, electric/ solar cars are still out of reach. Will commuters finally think of boarding a bus? That is a vehement no.

I recollect a tête-à-tête about the perks of the petroleum ministry and oil companies and was told that the fattest salaries and perks are enjoyed by them and apparently it is the only government department/ PSU where you are paid much more than the private counterpart. I wonder if that is true? So when I see the profligate bombardment of 'MAC does it' and "liquid engineering' ads, thousands of crores of rupees spent on advertising revenue burning a larger hole in the consumers pocket and useless sponsorships, I wonder if that is really necessary. Such expenses can be better utilized and can reduce the cost of petrol at delivery point to its customer.

I always wonder what happens to our own crude production? What percentage is it of the total? The domestic production ought to be cheap and not subject to any import duties etc I always read that the international price of oil is this and that and so we got to pay so much. As Indians, what advantage do we get out of what crude we have in the country? Also, why compare our prices with international retail prices when our production costs are much lower even if we have to import the crude at international prices? Our plants cost less to build and operate so where is the advantage that we should be getting? So all this talk of the refineries bleeding etc is a lot of crap. Add to this disturbing rumors that India tends to sell or swap/ barter petroleum products and crude oils at terms not favorable to the country.

The government earns tons of money from the sale of petroleum at artificially high rates. First, the import duties, transportation costs, insurances, cess, central as well as state-level taxes, VATs and finally Octroi duties on petro products alone would be enough to support the economy of many states. We are advised solemnly by the oil companies to conserve petrol since it will not last forever. Luckily, we already know that. Bad roads mean more consumption and more money in the government's hands. If we really start using less, the government's budget would go for a toss.

In disgust after the latest petrol price hike, I had left my car at home and hopped into an auto rickshaw to go to the airport. On the way, I was actually asking him the various merits and demerits of conversion to CNG and lamenting the increase in price and was suddenly left wondering why auto fares still continue to rise in spite of all auto rickshaws dictated to switch to CNG? Well, we'll talk about that another day.