India, Feb. 28 -- After decades in the cantonment and command post system, a 74-year-old retired Army colonel came to Gurugram seeking peace. Instead, he was met by a whirlwind of traffic, tangled roads, and the city's relentless urban surge.

Rather than cribbing about traffic woes or relocating to another city, the Colonel (Retired) Satish Chander pulled him out of the comfort of retirement and into the thick of civic responsibility.

He began helping road crash and road rage victims, stepping in where others chose to slow down, only to record videos or simply drive past. He follows strict personal rules: never drives above 60 kmph, always carries a first-aid kit, water bottles and basic repair tools. "If you are prepared, you can save ...