There was a time when a taxi ride was a treat. I have chlidhood memories of travelling by taxi between Churchgate and Colaba. The taxi driver was invariably a Sardar in a white outfit with a great turban. As a child, i was fascinated by the taxi and the fact that it could go anywhere, and the men who drove it were the equivalent of knights in shining armour — you must also remember that in the time I grew up Taxi Drivers, coolies and trade union workers were represented as heroes in films. Today, they may have been marginalised — but in those days, they had an aura. A taxi trip is something that one anticipated and looked forward too. But today, in the suburbs, with a whole bunch of cheap, air-conditioned vehicles for hire, and a car of my own — the prospect of going by taxi is actually minuscule. A a few weeks ago,however, i did catch one from Vashi back home. The driver was an old Sardarji — must have been about 75. Had fascinating eyes – a wonderful voice and a great sense of narrative. He had got year some time after independence and started working here driving his cab. The Bombay that he knew and the Mumbai that it has become — are two different places. He spoke about the demographics of everything – from ‘women of negotiable virtues’ to the ethnographic profile of vegetable vendors and how it changed over the decades. He had a view on practically everything. And I wished that i could make a documentary on him. Somehow — in this crazy rush to produce beautifully packaged fluff — are we forgetting the real stories? The interesting ones?
A PoV
Harini Calamur's Writings
Great post and lovely photograph. His eyes do look reflective, if a bit melancholic. I wish you made a documentary; these are certainly stories we need to hear more of.
I wish I could make a similar one on Delhi’s auto-wallahs.
You know the only skinny Sardars I have seen in big numbers are taxi wallahs. If you are alone do you sit in the front or back?
Yes, you are absolutely right Harini! We have become very modernity-centric(dunno if that’s a proper word, but still…:-P)
or should I say ‘Skin-centric’, that we are forgetting the more important part of ourselves…the Soul..
Now-a-days, people are more interested in knowing how Mumbai has changed over the last one year in the eyes of celebrities, who mostly have popcorn stuff to offer; than knowing how and when this gradual shift of culture happened, through the eyes of such seasoned residents of Mumbai…
Nevertheless, that’s because, people don’t know or haven’t realized how much insight such narrations can offer…
If only someone could show them…
this article is a rare combination of objectivity filled with emotion….you’re absolutely right….a “taxi ride in Bombay”…is completely lost in the busy streets of today’s Mumbai….though im not very old..and i dunno wat a taxi-ride was, say 30 yeras ago…but i remember..when i had come to Bombay for the first time, 8 years back…the thing that i enjoyed the most was …the sight of taxis lined up at every nook and corner of a street…..it was a welcome difference from what i was used to seeing in my hometown Calcutta….i was left completely amazed at the taxi culture in Bombay….today Mumbai has become my base…but somehow I miss the romance of a taxi-ride…..even the beautiful marine drive seems unending as i get up in a black-yellow taxi…..may be we are excessively dependent on readymade comforts of an air-conditioned vehicle….!!
i will wait for your documentary on taxi-drivers in mumbai….it’s one of the most interesting aspects to cover….!!! (harini mam..this is one of ur students..)
I used to think that taxi drivers are uneducated and unaware [most of u would agree with me]……
But to my surprise they observe more than anybody else regarding…..say anything….though most of them don’t communicate with the customers. I was doing an awareness campaign for NSS on anti spiting and anti honking among cab drivers, and the result were eye-opener: most of then were 10 pass and few knew more that I did on the harms of spiting.
Another time was when, I caught a cab from Wilson college to come to Sophia and this taxi driver was so knowledgeable and a smooth talker as well, I thought he could have done a better job of selling insurance product.
i read this article AFTER having done the journalism assignment. i truly have a new found respect for not only the taxi-drivers, but everyone in general, and by everyone i mean the sabziwallas, the sweepers et all.
when we were asked to do this project, all of us sighed n cursed, it was another assignment in our already full bag of assignments. n me included.
but when i actually did interview a cab driver, i got to learn so much. he was from palankhet a village in UP. he had left his family to earn a living here. he occasionally sends home money so that his brothers and sisters are well taken care of.he also has money which he has kept aside to start a project back in his village. he is very proud of the fact that his children are in college, smthn that he couldnt achieve, bieng a 9th std pass.
all this really blew my mind. before, all we did was get into the cab, snap at the driver to hurry up and finally argue with him abt the fare.(im talking abt the irratable ones in general…me included)
but after speaking to Mr siyaram, i learnt:
a)every body has a story to tell
b)not everyone was born with a silver spoon
c)and we have to respect what others do. he’s not JUST a cab driver. heck, if it wasnt fr him, most of us wud be late to where ever it is we wanna go.
*end of ramble*
ok i guess iv sed enuff…im sry my language isnt that great so pardon.
btw, nice article miss harini, n i like the picture too. T_T
CYA IN CLASS
cheers
hi m doing a training project on taxi drivers .kindly help me with any info that you could be having.
try the mumbai taxi drivers union
23078409 , 23078414
Hi shetty…since u r doing training project on taxi drivers…would like to interact with u..as im doing a title role of a taxi driver…my mail id is pawan.shankar@gmail.com…kindly get in touch…
pawan shankar
actor
i want to know more about taxi drivers….