21.1.10

Taxi, Taxi

I thought it was Raj Thackeray. But it was Maharashtra chief minister, Ashok Chavan, trying to convince us that is was important that taxi drivers in Mumbai will get a licence only if they are domiciled in the city for 15 years and can read, write and speak in Marathi.

This is not the Shiv Sena, but we must remember that Mumbai’s psyche has subconsciously imbibed the SS ideology. It is part of the anti-immigration move. Most commentators wonder how a cosmopolitan city can be like this. It is precisely the cosmopolitanism that is causing the problems. We are dealing with several types and now have them pushed against the wall based on different factors – religion, region, language, economic status, education.

Most cabbies are from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. As always, the cities biggies are saying, oh, let us stop them for a month and see how the city suffers. That is not the point. This is a selfish way of looking at things.

How many passengers can read, write and speak in Marathi? Even if they do, most prefer to speak in English or Hindi. English because it makes them appear superior and Hindi because it is the language of Bollywood. I have seen yuppie types converse in ‘Bhai’ underworld lingo! It is not unusual to watch a Raju driver type being addressed as “Boss, idhar say right turn maarna…oye baap, oopar bhejneka chance mangta kya?”

I have tried conversing in some Marathi with cabbies who insist on responding in Hindi. They are either sensitive about my lack of fluency or prefer to use another language.

The other argument about domicile would make sense if the Marathi drivers knew the city as well. The reason given is that they should be able to identify addresses. This is a problem, and I have encountered Marathi-speaking drivers who do not know.

Instead, there should be a system of a central office that can provide such details. With low mobile phone rates, it is not too difficult.

With the advent of private taxis, this will be a huge blow to the black-yellow cabs. Instead of language skills, there should be other mandatory rules – like insistence on running the meter, being polite to passengers, not refusing to ply to certain areas, clearly indicating the timings that a particular cab operates.

An anecdote during the month of Ramzan is worth repeating. I had to reach the airport. No cabs anywhere in sight. Finally, I found one. There was a traffic jam and he started grumbling about getting the wrong place to go to in Marathi to someone on his cellphone. I ignored him. Then the vehicle behind brushed against his cab. He got out, there was a fight and finally upon discovering there was no damage he returned. He started on this spiel about how he would get delayed for breaking his fast.

I started talking on my cellphone and did the Muslim act by interspersing the conversation with “mashallah, inshallah” and ended with "Khuda hafiz”. When we were close to our destination, he said he did not know where the terminal was. I directed him, although all the signs were there.

I had not realised that he had not stared the meter. “Soch-samajh ke de do (give what you think best).”

Hum pehli baar airport nahin aaye. Seedha bataa do, yeh ginti karma hamara kaam nahin hai (It isn’t the first time I am going to the airport. Tell me straight, I am nto here to count),” I said.

He demanded four hundred for a ride that costs not more than 250 bucks.

I had no choice and he knew it. I did tell him clearly, though, that this was nto the amount and he said he had come all the way and was getting late.

This was getting too much, so after paying him, I did not shut the door, but peeped in and said, “Aapka roze rakhne ka koi faayda nahin. Asli roza hota agar aap tameez se pesh aate aur tareeke se meter chalate. Ab jao aur iftaar manao aur apne gunaah ki muafi maango. Hamara koi nuksaan nahin hua hai, aapka hua hai inn paison ko lene ke baad bhi.” (Keeping the fast has not helped you in any way. True roza is when you behave well and follow the rules. Now go break your fast and accept your mistake. I lost nothing but even with the additional charge you have.)

8 comments:

  1. Farzana,
    I wish to pick on three topics at the same time and to me they rhyme logically. First is the whole Hindi/Marathi lunacy being played by one group , second is the IPL boycott and third is the aussies racism.

    First, democracy places popular lunatics into power but I guess the sanity check is required, what is the safety valve mechanism here ....None.

    Second , Lunacy in Pak Army, I guess first time the Indian corporates took the right call, exclude boys from Jhang, Multan and Chinyot.fact is 26/11 was a Pak army planned attack on Indian corporate freedom and a reply has been given . It was an attack on our ability to keep jews, Muslims, Sikhs in all one city....

    Third the Aussies, they should get a wake up call..India is a Phenomenon , every sixth person in the world is an indian and they will be all around ..From Surgeons to Cabbies to Banana Farming, they run vital parts of Australia...We are not aborginals and they should stop lunacy ..or their lunacy will get replied ...in some shape or form ..sooner rather than later.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Manish, is this really you?

    1.The Hindi/Marathi lunacy was played by one group and has now expanded. The safety valve is that our leaders renege on what they say the next day, as has happened in this case. Now taxi drivers can speak a local language!

    2. Lunacy in Pak Army, I guess first time the Indian corporates took the right call, exclude boys from Jhang, Multan and Chinyot.fact is 26/11 was a Pak army planned attack on Indian corporate freedom and a reply has been given . It was an attack on our ability to keep jews, Muslims, Sikhs in all one city....

    Really? If indeed it was the Indian corporates that took the call, then why do they need Wasim Akram? What are these corporates doing about the Aussies being killed? The IPL may be a private enterprise, but it does need govt approval; how can we let them decide on political issues? Was 26/11 an attack on corporate freedom? Why? Because the big hotels were targeted? What about the blasts in 1993 where big buildings were blown up? And why is it so important that we only think about a “right call” when it comes to such elitist targets and such elitist responses?

    This was an attack on our ability to keep Jews, Muslims, Sikhs together? What ability? How many Jews are there in this city? Our own riots don’t do anything to keep the city together. Please, it is the job of the GOI to act on the attacks and no one else.

    3. the Aussies, they should get a wake up call..India is a Phenomenon , every sixth person in the world is an indian and they will be all around ..From Surgeons to Cabbies to Banana Farming, they run vital parts of Australia...We are not aborginals and they should stop lunacy ..or their lunacy will get replied ...in some shape or form ..sooner rather than later.

    Indians have been in various parts of the world even when we were not a Phenomenon. (Or is it based on population?) I am surprised that you mention aboriginals in such a cavalier fashion. I mean, what are you trying to convey? That we are the Phenomenon and aboriginals are these backward guys who can be treated any damn way?

    How do you propose we will reply? As I said, our great corporates are bidding for Aussie players.

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  3. Ya really me , I guess in 2010, I am wearing my illogical emotional hat more than the rational one (some more folks have pointed that out)....
    On IPL, i saw a debate between Imran Khan and Kapil dev post the comment...i change my view....done in a lil bad taste ...oopsies daisies ...

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  4. Hmm...an opinion is an opinion. Was just surprised at the change. I still root for emotionalism, though!

    PS: The reference to Aussie being killed obviously meant Indian expats in Australia.

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  5. Farzana,
    Picture this. A few months back Raj Thackeray's Party and ideology recieved a proverbial "kick in the butt" by the electorate in recenet Maharashtra Assembly elections. Ashok Chavan is trying to re-ignite the same waning sentiment. Applying formal logic, this just doesn't make sense. The reasons for Maharashtra CM to rake up such a divisive step may have more to do with "something else" than the underlying "anti-immigrant" tone. At this point - while me being tempted to believe the move to more benefitting and paving way for entry of corporations in "Cabs Sector" (a la Meru) - the details appear a bit too sketchy to conclude anything on the CM's "Marathi Fatwa".
    Cheers,
    Mahesh.
    p.s.: Happy Weekend, or whatever remains of it.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Mahesh:

    The “something else” could be commercially driven, but it could also be to use an already populist agenda. It does not require added footwork. The MNS has already laid the ground and the SS, too. Ashok Chavan has to add a dollop of regional politics to become more acceptable. The choice of the taxi sector has acceptability and will yet not affect too many. (Private companies charge less, small and low-end cars are now not a luxury, and we have a very good public transport system in place.)

    Happy Monday!

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  7. Farzana,
    You said : "The “something else” could be commercially driven, but it could also be to use an already populist agenda. It does not require added footwork. The MNS has already laid the ground and the SS, too. Ashok Chavan has to add a dollop of regional politics to become more acceptable."
    Agreed that not much footwork is needed to play up the sentiment, but then it hasn't worked and has resulted in a heavy loss for MNS. My own take is Raj Thackeray's campaign speeches proved to be - well - just entertainment. They failed to inflame "required emotions". BTW, the actions committed at Kalyan , Nasik were MNS activities sans any "public participation". Given this, me finds it rather unlikely that Ashok Chavan would make such a move just for populism. Plus elections are not around anytime soon. Moreover, a sizeable chunk of Cabs are due for phase outs and hence the corresponding permits would be due for renewal.More likely, it would be some corporate enttity that would fill the gap. Meru has shown this model can be successful. So more players come in, orchestrated by a populist rhetoric. But again, that's a guess - my best stab at understanding why this move - made too early and perhaps more prone to assumptions. We should know more in the enar future, though.
    Cheers,
    Mahesh.

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  8. Mahesh:

    I don't believe populist moves are only election-driven. Chavan has to deal with internal opponents, too, and as we already discussed the private sector could be a player, but that too will need political blessings.

    We will wait and see.

    ReplyDelete

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