I got into an ordinary auto rickshaw, on an ordinary day. I was just glad to find an autowallah willing to accept the pre-pain ticket, without any arguments.
I lit my cigarette and enjoyed a few moments when I was interrupted by the autowallah. An autowallah who wanted to talk? My groan was drowned by the engine’s din.
Him- Madam, I see that you are very modern. Smoking is bad for ‘ladiej’.
Me- It’s bad for everyone.
Him- Yes madam, you are right. It is not good. My girlfriend, she also smokes. I tell her not to but she doesn’t listen.
Me-Ah. Well, having a ‘hi-fi’ girlfriend is expensive no? I have heard life is hard for auto wallahs.
Him-That is true. I am from Bihar and had to see all my ancestral property to buy this auto. Many of my friends are not so fortunate; they get stuck working for auto owners, who charge large sums as rent.
Me-I have heard autos are very expensive. Was the money sufficient?
Him-Kahan (Hardly)!! I did have to borrow from a lala (moneylender) and I’m not sure if I’ll be able to repay the loan plus 30%interest. If only the banks trusted us poor folk. The policemen, middlemen and licencewalahs conspire together.
Me- Don’t you have a Union to protect your interests?
Him-What will the Union do? They try to plan strikes, they talk to the politicians but nothing is of any use. The Union leaders are also hand-and-glove with all the middlemen. I am forced to give my auto to other drivers during the second shift to save money for my installments. An auto’s cost goes up by four times! That is why we cannot afford to go by meter, the extra change is necessary.
Me- Do you think Anna Hazare’s movement will help you? After all, he is fighting to bring in new laws to curb corruption. Corrupt autowallas cannot change the system.
Him-Maybe. I went for the rallies and listened to the speeches. May he achieve his goal. I feel that this will take a lot of time and effort.
Me- You also feel that you cannot help him in anyway?
Him- We are too poor to be honest. I was telling you about my girlfriend. We are very close Madam. An auto wallah has no ‘izzat’. When we sit in my auto, policemen come and trouble us. They say dirty things, leer at us, and comment on her character. They wouldn’t dare say such things to a lady otherwise.
I got off soon after. An autowallah had skillfully argued in favour of breaking he rules and consumer rights didn’t stand a chance.
interesting... =)
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