Friday, 3 May 2013
Monday, 22 October 2012
King of Romance' Yash Chopra dies at 80
Legendary Bollywood filmmaker Yash Chopra, 80, passes away on Sunday evening at the Lilavati Hospital in Bandra, where he was being treated for dengue for the past one week.
In 1971, Yash Chopra left brother B R Chopra’s home as well as production company to set up his own venture. During his last interaction with the media on his 80th birthday on September 27, he recalled: “I had got married and I needed more money. When I told bhai saab he gave me his blessings and told me that from today I was on my own.”
His venture’s first film, Daag — starring Rajesh Khanna, Sharmila Tagore and Raakhee — released in 1973 to full houses and established his banner, Yash Raj Films (YRF).
Daag was one of the many cinematic love triangles that Chopra became synonymous with. His track record in filmmaking while working with his brother also helped him rope in some of the best talents of the time. While the success of Kabhi Kabhie, Kaala Patthar and Silsila helped establish his banner, his iconic works like Deewaar and Trishul for Gulshan Rai’s Trimurti Films made him one of the top directors. “The success of these two films played a key role in YRF becoming a powerful production house. Most actors were keen to work with it,” says Ramesh Talwar, who assisted him in the ’70s.
Chopra’s ability to adapt to the changing times and relate to the pulse of the audience made him the filmmaker of both the classes and the masses. Talwar recalls when the banner after the success of Silsila did not quite keep up the momentum. This, Chopra felt, was because he was making the same films everyone else was making. He decided to think out of the box and made Chandni. It was the starting point for heroine-oriented stories, leading ladies clad in chiffon saris, excellent music, songs shot in Switzerland and unlimited romance. The movies that followed — Lamhe, Darr, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Dil Toh Pagal Hai, Mohabbatein and Veer Zaara —mostly stuck to the formula. However, even in foreign locales, he stuck to his Punjab roots, with Punjabi characters in almost all films.
The banner became one of the most powerful in Indian cinematic history. The idea of the production house and studio grew in Chopra’s mind during the late ’90s. “He understood every aspect of filmmaking, from finance and production to marketing as well as direction and he brought these skills to his work,” writes Rachel Dwyer, his biographer.
Over the 40 years of its existence, the banner has expanded into several things. Since 2006, this self-sufficient production house has had a high-tech sound studio, a music label, talent and marketing departments. Y Films is its youth-oriented production house. YRF also ventured into television.
Some years ago, YRF felt the need to infuse new energy by introducing new directorial talent. Following the suggestion of Aditya, Yash Chopra’s elder son and current vice-chairman of YRF, the banner got new directors on board. Sanjay Gadhvi, who was one of the first outside directors to work for YRF along with Kunal Kohli, saw this as a strategic move. “It was a planned move to ensure the growth of the banner and make it bigger,” says Gadhvi. After all, it was the larger-than-life canvas that Chopra loved the most.
Saturday, 20 October 2012
Nine different ways of celebraing Navratri
Gayatri Sankar
It’s that time of the year when the sounds of dhol and the clapping of dandiya sticks are heard and feet tapping music gets you grooving to some of the most delectable numbers from Bollywood. Decked up in colourful desi attires one gets to feel India within - a nation which celebrates Navratri (meaning nine nights) amidst much pomp and show.
Though these festive nine days are dedicated to Shakti or the nine forms of Goddess Durga, people across the country have their unique way of celebrating the festival. While the celebrations in the metropolitan cities have a very commercial feel to it, the traditional way of celebrating Navratri is a very different and far more spiritual.
It wouldn’t be possible for an individual to visit the length and breadth of the country during the festive season to experience the fervour of Navratri in ways that are region specific, but this piece can make one go places virtually! Here’s taking a look at how the different states of India celebrate the auspicious nine nights of Navratri:
Tamil Nadu
This Dravidian state adds a religious touch to the celebrations by dedicating the nine special nights to Goddess Durga, Goddess Lakshmi and Goddess Saraswati.
Women belonging to the Iyer community invite married women to their homes in the evenings and gift them with accessories like bangles, earrings and other items that are symbolic of their marital status. These are suggestive of prayers for their husbands and their long lives. A coconut, beetle leaves and beetle nuts, and money are also given as gifts to these women. A special recipe called ‘Sundal’ made of lentil seeds and pulses is made on each day and served to the guests.
Some people also display a `Golu` at their homes. `Golu` is an arrangement made on a make-shift staircase with nine stairs. Each stair symbolizes each day of Navratri. Decorative items, idols of Gods and Goddesses are placed on the stairs. In most cases, the dolls that are used for the ‘Golu’ are handed over from generation to generation.
Andhra Pradesh
`Batukamma Panduga` is celebrated during Navratri in Andhra Pradesh, especially in the Telangana region. `Batukamma Panduga` means `Come Alive Mother Goddess`. These nine days are dedicated to Shakti and are celebrated in a very unique way.
Women prepare `Batukamma` which is actually a beautiful flower stack, arranged with seasonal flowers, in seven layers. It is made to look like a pot made of flowers. Batuku in Telugu means life and Amma, as we all know, means mother. So, this festival is devoted to celebrating universal motherhood. Women wear silk sarees and gold ornaments and make the most of these nine days to dig a hole in their husband’s pockets!
After preparing their respective Batukamma’s, women gather in the evening for the ritual. They place them in the centre and dance around them by singing folk songs dedicated to Goddess Shakti. Then they march towards a lake or any other water body and set afloat their Batukammas.
Kerala
Unlike Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, Kerala celebrates only the last three days of Navratri. Ashtami, Navami and Vijaya Dashmi are of utmost importance for the Keralites. This South Indian state that tops the literacy rate in the country, considers these three days as the most auspicious time to initiate learning. They place books, musical instruments (if any) in front of Goddess Saraswati’s idol on the day of Ashtami. The books are worshipped and people pray to the Goddess for granting them wisdom and knowledge. On the tenth day, the books are taken out for reading.
Karnataka
Karnataka will be celebrating its 402nd Navratri this year. Karnataka’s way of celebrating Navratri dates back to the times of Raja Wodeyar in the 1610. The way people spend these nine nights are absolutely historic in nature, for they follow the same trend which was followed by the great Vijayanagara dynasty. It’s called `Naada Habba’ in the state. However, the basic reason for the celebrations remains the same - victory of Goddess Durga over demon Mahishasur, who happened to be a resident of Mysore. The celebrations include procession of elephants on the streets. Fairs and exhibitions of handicrafts and artifacts are common feature.
West Bengal
The East Indian state of West Bengal celebrates Navratri as Durga Puja with much pomp and glitter. Starting from the seventh day until the tenth, Poshchim Banga looks drenched in bright and vibrant colours as Maa Durga descends from the heaven to visit her maternal home on Earth. She is received with much love and warmth and her arrival and departure are overwhelming, for she departs only to return the following year.
Beautiful and extravagant pandals are constructed and Maa Durga and her sons - Kartika and Ganesha - and Goddesses Lakshmi and Saraswati are sculpted in different forms much before the festive season starts. For the Gods and the Goddesses, pandals become their temporary abode and their sight mesmerises one and all. A literal visit to the capital city during Durga Puja is `a must watch` in one’s lifetime.
Gujarat
A clay pot symbolizes the garbha or the womb which is the source of life on earth. It is a prominent feature during Navratri celebrations in Gujarat. Women in vibrant and grand costumes dance around the pot which is filled with water, a betel nut and a silver coin. A coconut is placed on the top of the pot. The folk dance form of Garbha derives its name from the iconic clay pot around which women whirl and dance. Even men play Garbha along with women. Dandiya Raas is another important attraction in Gujarat during the festive season. Sticks of equal length are used for the dance and the only difference between this form of dance with Garbha is that the sticks are used for clapping instead of hands.
Maharashtra
For the Maharashtrians, Navratri is an auspicious time to initiate new beginnings, buying a new home or a car. Women invite their female friends to their homes and gift them with a coconut, beetle leaves and beetle nuts. They put haldi and kumkum on the foreheads of the married women as a gesture of `Saumangalyam` (remaining the wife of her husband until her last breath). The Navratri celebrations in Maharashtra, especially in Mumbai, bear resemblance to Gujarat owing to its geographical proximity to the state. Each and every locality has its own garba and dandiya nights celebrations and the whole family drenches itself in the festive spirit.
Himachal Pradesh
The beautiful state of Himachal Pradesh celebrates Navratri with utmost devotion. Navratri is a time when people meet up with their relatives to collectively pay their respect to the Almighty. It is the most important festival for the Hindus of Himachal. The tenth day of this grand festive season is called Kullu Dusshera in the state. Unlike other states, the festival begins in Himachal when it ends elsewhere. People mark this day to rejoice the return of victorious Lord Rama to Ayodhya. Songs and dance are common ways to express devotion and exhibitions of various items are set-up. On Dusshera or Dashami, the deities from the temples of the village are taken out in processions.
Punjab
The Punjabis have a unique way of paying obeisance to Goddess Shakti. Most of the people in Punjab go on a fast for the first seven days. They also organize a jagraata (keeping awake whole night by singing devotional songs dedicated to the Goddess). On the eighth day or Ashtami, the fast is broken by organizing a bhandara for 9 young girls (Kanjika). A bhandara means a feast that includes puris and halawa chana. The girls are also gifted with a red chunri.
It’s that time of the year when the sounds of dhol and the clapping of dandiya sticks are heard and feet tapping music gets you grooving to some of the most delectable numbers from Bollywood. Decked up in colourful desi attires one gets to feel India within - a nation which celebrates Navratri (meaning nine nights) amidst much pomp and show.
Though these festive nine days are dedicated to Shakti or the nine forms of Goddess Durga, people across the country have their unique way of celebrating the festival. While the celebrations in the metropolitan cities have a very commercial feel to it, the traditional way of celebrating Navratri is a very different and far more spiritual.
It wouldn’t be possible for an individual to visit the length and breadth of the country during the festive season to experience the fervour of Navratri in ways that are region specific, but this piece can make one go places virtually! Here’s taking a look at how the different states of India celebrate the auspicious nine nights of Navratri:
Tamil Nadu
This Dravidian state adds a religious touch to the celebrations by dedicating the nine special nights to Goddess Durga, Goddess Lakshmi and Goddess Saraswati.
Women belonging to the Iyer community invite married women to their homes in the evenings and gift them with accessories like bangles, earrings and other items that are symbolic of their marital status. These are suggestive of prayers for their husbands and their long lives. A coconut, beetle leaves and beetle nuts, and money are also given as gifts to these women. A special recipe called ‘Sundal’ made of lentil seeds and pulses is made on each day and served to the guests.
Some people also display a `Golu` at their homes. `Golu` is an arrangement made on a make-shift staircase with nine stairs. Each stair symbolizes each day of Navratri. Decorative items, idols of Gods and Goddesses are placed on the stairs. In most cases, the dolls that are used for the ‘Golu’ are handed over from generation to generation.
Andhra Pradesh
`Batukamma Panduga` is celebrated during Navratri in Andhra Pradesh, especially in the Telangana region. `Batukamma Panduga` means `Come Alive Mother Goddess`. These nine days are dedicated to Shakti and are celebrated in a very unique way.
Women prepare `Batukamma` which is actually a beautiful flower stack, arranged with seasonal flowers, in seven layers. It is made to look like a pot made of flowers. Batuku in Telugu means life and Amma, as we all know, means mother. So, this festival is devoted to celebrating universal motherhood. Women wear silk sarees and gold ornaments and make the most of these nine days to dig a hole in their husband’s pockets!
After preparing their respective Batukamma’s, women gather in the evening for the ritual. They place them in the centre and dance around them by singing folk songs dedicated to Goddess Shakti. Then they march towards a lake or any other water body and set afloat their Batukammas.
Kerala
Unlike Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, Kerala celebrates only the last three days of Navratri. Ashtami, Navami and Vijaya Dashmi are of utmost importance for the Keralites. This South Indian state that tops the literacy rate in the country, considers these three days as the most auspicious time to initiate learning. They place books, musical instruments (if any) in front of Goddess Saraswati’s idol on the day of Ashtami. The books are worshipped and people pray to the Goddess for granting them wisdom and knowledge. On the tenth day, the books are taken out for reading.
KarnatakaKarnataka will be celebrating its 402nd Navratri this year. Karnataka’s way of celebrating Navratri dates back to the times of Raja Wodeyar in the 1610. The way people spend these nine nights are absolutely historic in nature, for they follow the same trend which was followed by the great Vijayanagara dynasty. It’s called `Naada Habba’ in the state. However, the basic reason for the celebrations remains the same - victory of Goddess Durga over demon Mahishasur, who happened to be a resident of Mysore. The celebrations include procession of elephants on the streets. Fairs and exhibitions of handicrafts and artifacts are common feature.
West BengalThe East Indian state of West Bengal celebrates Navratri as Durga Puja with much pomp and glitter. Starting from the seventh day until the tenth, Poshchim Banga looks drenched in bright and vibrant colours as Maa Durga descends from the heaven to visit her maternal home on Earth. She is received with much love and warmth and her arrival and departure are overwhelming, for she departs only to return the following year.
Beautiful and extravagant pandals are constructed and Maa Durga and her sons - Kartika and Ganesha - and Goddesses Lakshmi and Saraswati are sculpted in different forms much before the festive season starts. For the Gods and the Goddesses, pandals become their temporary abode and their sight mesmerises one and all. A literal visit to the capital city during Durga Puja is `a must watch` in one’s lifetime.
GujaratA clay pot symbolizes the garbha or the womb which is the source of life on earth. It is a prominent feature during Navratri celebrations in Gujarat. Women in vibrant and grand costumes dance around the pot which is filled with water, a betel nut and a silver coin. A coconut is placed on the top of the pot. The folk dance form of Garbha derives its name from the iconic clay pot around which women whirl and dance. Even men play Garbha along with women. Dandiya Raas is another important attraction in Gujarat during the festive season. Sticks of equal length are used for the dance and the only difference between this form of dance with Garbha is that the sticks are used for clapping instead of hands.
MaharashtraFor the Maharashtrians, Navratri is an auspicious time to initiate new beginnings, buying a new home or a car. Women invite their female friends to their homes and gift them with a coconut, beetle leaves and beetle nuts. They put haldi and kumkum on the foreheads of the married women as a gesture of `Saumangalyam` (remaining the wife of her husband until her last breath). The Navratri celebrations in Maharashtra, especially in Mumbai, bear resemblance to Gujarat owing to its geographical proximity to the state. Each and every locality has its own garba and dandiya nights celebrations and the whole family drenches itself in the festive spirit.
Himachal PradeshThe beautiful state of Himachal Pradesh celebrates Navratri with utmost devotion. Navratri is a time when people meet up with their relatives to collectively pay their respect to the Almighty. It is the most important festival for the Hindus of Himachal. The tenth day of this grand festive season is called Kullu Dusshera in the state. Unlike other states, the festival begins in Himachal when it ends elsewhere. People mark this day to rejoice the return of victorious Lord Rama to Ayodhya. Songs and dance are common ways to express devotion and exhibitions of various items are set-up. On Dusshera or Dashami, the deities from the temples of the village are taken out in processions.
PunjabThe Punjabis have a unique way of paying obeisance to Goddess Shakti. Most of the people in Punjab go on a fast for the first seven days. They also organize a jagraata (keeping awake whole night by singing devotional songs dedicated to the Goddess). On the eighth day or Ashtami, the fast is broken by organizing a bhandara for 9 young girls (Kanjika). A bhandara means a feast that includes puris and halawa chana. The girls are also gifted with a red chunri.
Thursday, 18 October 2012
Dasara.
Vijayadashami (Bengali: বিজয়াদশমী, Kannada: ವಿಜಯದಶಮಿ, Malayalam: വിജയദശമി, Marathi: विजयादशमी, Nepali :विजया दशमी, Oriya :ବିଜୟାଦଶମୀ, Tamil: விஜயதசமி, Telugu: విజయదశమి) also known as Dussehra, is one of the most important festivals celebrated in various forms, across India, Nepal and Bangladesh. Dasara/ Dussehra is derived from Sanskrit Dasha-hara meaning "remover of bad fate" meaning remover of ten heads of Ravana's.
It is also referred to as Navratri and Durgotsav. It is also written as Dashahara, Dussehra Bengali: দশেরা, Kannada: ದಸರ, Malayalam: ദസറ, Konkani: दसरो, Marathi: दसरा, Oriya:ଦଶହରା, Telugu: దసరా, Punjabi: ਦਸੇਰਾ and Dashain in Nepal.
Vijayadashmi or Dusshera is celebrated on the tenth day of the Hindu autumn lunar month of Ashvin, or Ashwayuja which falls in September or October of the Western calendar, from the Shukla Paksha Pratipada, or the day after the new moon which falls in Bhadrapada, to the Dashami, or the tenth day of Ashvin. The first nine days are celebrated as Maha Navratri(Sanskrit: नवरात्रि, 'nine nights') or Sharada Navratri (the most important Navratri) and culminates on the tenth day as Dasara.
The day marks the victory of Goddess Durga over such demons as Mahishasur. It is a day when devotees worship Goddess Shakti. Shakti represents strength, ability and courage. This day also celebrates the victory of Lord Rama over the demon king Ravana.[1]
In India, the harvest season begins at this time and so the Mother Goddess is invoked to start the new harvest season and reactivate the vigor and fertility of the soil. This is done through religious performances and rituals which are thought to invoke cosmic forces that rejuvenate the soil. Many people of the Hindu faith observe Dasara through social gatherings and food offerings to the gods at home and in temples throughout Nepal and India.
Rama had performed "Chandi Homa" and invoked the blessings of Durga, who blessed Rama with secret knowledge of the way to kill Ravana. On the day of Ashvin Shukla Dashami, Rama's party found Sita and defeated Ravana. Thus it is termed as Vijaya Dashami. Based on the inferences from Balmik’s Ramayana, Kalidas’s Raghuvans, Tulsidas’s Ram Charit manas, and Keshavdas's Ram Chandra Yas Chandrika as well as common perception in India, Rama, Sita, and of Lakshmana returned to Ayodhya on the 30th day of Ashvin (19–20 days after Vijayadashmi). To mark the return of Lord Rama, in the evening, the residents of Ayodhya lit their city with millions of earthen lamps (called Deepak). Since then, this day is celebrated in India as Deepawali or Diwali.
Many people perform "Aditya Homa" as a "Shanti Yagna" and recite Sundara Kanda of Srimad Ramayana for nyr5oine days. These Yagna performances are thought to create powerful agents in the atmosphere surrounding the house that will keep the household environment clean and healthy. These rituals are intended to rid the household of the ten bad qualities, which are represented by 10 heads of Ravana as follows:
A very powerful band of lightning emerged from the mouths of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva and a young, beautiful female virgin with ten hands appeared. All the Gods gave their special weapons to her. This Shakti coalesced to form the goddess Durga. Riding on a lion, who assisted her, Durga fought Mahishasura. The battle raged for nine days and nights. Finally on the tenth day of Ashvin shukla paksha, Mahishasura was defeated and killed by Durga.
Hence Dasha-Hara is also known as Navratri or Durgotsav
and is a celebration of Durga's victory. Durga, as Consort of Lord
Shiva, represents two forms of female energy - one mild and protective
and the other fierce and destructive.
It is also referred to as Navratri and Durgotsav. It is also written as Dashahara, Dussehra Bengali: দশেরা, Kannada: ದಸರ, Malayalam: ദസറ, Konkani: दसरो, Marathi: दसरा, Oriya:ଦଶହରା, Telugu: దసరా, Punjabi: ਦਸੇਰਾ and Dashain in Nepal.
Vijayadashmi or Dusshera is celebrated on the tenth day of the Hindu autumn lunar month of Ashvin, or Ashwayuja which falls in September or October of the Western calendar, from the Shukla Paksha Pratipada, or the day after the new moon which falls in Bhadrapada, to the Dashami, or the tenth day of Ashvin. The first nine days are celebrated as Maha Navratri(Sanskrit: नवरात्रि, 'nine nights') or Sharada Navratri (the most important Navratri) and culminates on the tenth day as Dasara.
The day marks the victory of Goddess Durga over such demons as Mahishasur. It is a day when devotees worship Goddess Shakti. Shakti represents strength, ability and courage. This day also celebrates the victory of Lord Rama over the demon king Ravana.[1]
In India, the harvest season begins at this time and so the Mother Goddess is invoked to start the new harvest season and reactivate the vigor and fertility of the soil. This is done through religious performances and rituals which are thought to invoke cosmic forces that rejuvenate the soil. Many people of the Hindu faith observe Dasara through social gatherings and food offerings to the gods at home and in temples throughout Nepal and India.
History
Dasha-Hara is the festival of Victory of Good over Evil. There are many variations to this feat, that are believed all across India.Victory of God Rama over Ravana
On this day in the Treta Yug, Rama, also called Shri Ram, the seventh avatar of Vishnu, killed the great demon Ravana who had abducted Rama's wife Sita to his kingdom of Lanka. Rama, his brother Lakshmana, their follower Hanuman and an army of monkeys fought a great battle to rescue Sita. The entire narrative is recorded in the epic Ramayana, a Hindu scripture.Rama had performed "Chandi Homa" and invoked the blessings of Durga, who blessed Rama with secret knowledge of the way to kill Ravana. On the day of Ashvin Shukla Dashami, Rama's party found Sita and defeated Ravana. Thus it is termed as Vijaya Dashami. Based on the inferences from Balmik’s Ramayana, Kalidas’s Raghuvans, Tulsidas’s Ram Charit manas, and Keshavdas's Ram Chandra Yas Chandrika as well as common perception in India, Rama, Sita, and of Lakshmana returned to Ayodhya on the 30th day of Ashvin (19–20 days after Vijayadashmi). To mark the return of Lord Rama, in the evening, the residents of Ayodhya lit their city with millions of earthen lamps (called Deepak). Since then, this day is celebrated in India as Deepawali or Diwali.
Many people perform "Aditya Homa" as a "Shanti Yagna" and recite Sundara Kanda of Srimad Ramayana for nyr5oine days. These Yagna performances are thought to create powerful agents in the atmosphere surrounding the house that will keep the household environment clean and healthy. These rituals are intended to rid the household of the ten bad qualities, which are represented by 10 heads of Ravana as follows:
- Kama vasana (Lust)
- Krodha (Anger)
- Moha (Delusion)
- Lobha (Greed)
- Mada (Over Pride)
- Matsara (Jealousy)
- Manas (Mind)
- Buddhi (Intellect)
- Chitta (Will)
- Ahankara (Ego).
Victory of Durga Mata over Mahishasura
Main article: Mahishasura
See also: Maa Durga
Some of the demons, or Asuras, were very powerful and ambitious and continually tried to defeat the Devas, or Gods, and capture Heaven. One Asura, Mahishasura,
in the form of a buffalo, grew very powerful and created havoc on the
earth. Under his leadership, the Asuras defeated the Devas. The world
was crushed under Mahishasura's tyranny, the Devas joined their energies
into Shakti, a single mass of incandescent energy, to kill Mahishasura.A very powerful band of lightning emerged from the mouths of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva and a young, beautiful female virgin with ten hands appeared. All the Gods gave their special weapons to her. This Shakti coalesced to form the goddess Durga. Riding on a lion, who assisted her, Durga fought Mahishasura. The battle raged for nine days and nights. Finally on the tenth day of Ashvin shukla paksha, Mahishasura was defeated and killed by Durga.
Wednesday, 17 October 2012
NAVRATRI 9 COLOUR 2012
Pratipada - October 16, 2012 (Tuesday) - Red
Dwitiya - October 17, 2012 (Wednesday) - Sky Blue
Tritiya / Chaturthi - October 18, 2012 (Thursday) - Yellow
Panchami - October 19 (Friday) - Green
Sashti - October 20 (Saturday) - Grey
Saptami - October 21 (Sunday) - Orange
Ashtami - October 22 (Monday) - White
Navami - October 23 (Tuesday) - Pink
Vijayadasami - October 24 (Wednesday) - Blue
Tuesday, 16 October 2012
Navratri
Navratri 2012 Dates
When:Sharad Navratri 2012: 16th October - 23rd October
Where: Gujarat, West Bengal and other parts of India
‘Navratri’ meaning ‘nine nights’ is a significant Hindu festival, which is celebrated twice a year - ‘Chaitra’ or ‘Vasant Navratri’ (March-April), and ‘Sharad Navratri’ (October-November). Both the celebrations center on the worship of Goddess Shakti.
Monday, 15 October 2012
Fares hiked, but auto, taxi drivers still tell commuters to take a walk
Fares hiked, but auto, taxi drivers still tell commuters to take a walk
With the steepest hike of autorickshaw and taxi fare in effect from October 11, several commuters thought they would get better service. But most claimed that the hike had not changed anything. “These auto drivers still refuse fare for minimum distance. I wanted to travel from Andheri
As part of HT’s campaign against errant autorickshaw and taxi drivers, two reporters decided to investigate the issue.
Our reporters sought help from senior inspector P Temkar of the Vakola traffic police and senior inspector R Sonavane of Mahim traffic outpost.
During our investigation, we found several auto drivers at Santacruz and taxi drivers at Mahim refusing to ply.
HT reporters’ experiences across the city
‘Driver started to argue with the cops’Since many commuters complain about auto drivers refusing to ply to the international airport from Centaur junction, I decided to take that route.
Around 4:30pm, I flagged down an auto (MH 02 VA 8232) and asked the driver whether he would go to the airport. He refused saying he was heading to Bandra (West). He was about to speed away when traffic constable Anil Bhagwan Rao, who was waiting for my signal, stopped him.
The driver, Uma Shankar Patel, 26, a resident of Santacruz (West), argued that he hadn’t refused to ply. The constable impounded his licence, gave him a receipt and asked him to appear before the court.
‘He lied about his meter not working’Taxi driver Mohammed Aasif (MH 02 R 7569) was booked for fare refusal by the Mahim traffic outpost after he refused to ply me to Carter Road.
As soon as the driver was about to leave, I signaled to the traffic constables waiting about 20m away from me. Aasif, who till now was talking in a brusque manner, toned down when he saw the constables. He started pleading and claiming that he never refused the fare. Then he said he had no option as his meter was not functioning. When the constable pointed out that it seemed to be working fine, he handed over his licence and peacefully followed the police’s instructions.
‘He asked me to get out of the rickshaw’I tried to hail several autorickshaws at Vile Parle station, but many passed me without even stopping.
Finally, one auto (MH 02 TA 4951) slowed down; I told him to drop me at Hanuman Road and tried to board the rickshaw. However, he refused, asked me to get off and was about to leave when I signaled to the traffic constable police waiting nearby. The official took the licence of the auto driver, Ramesh Kadam, 27, and handed him a receipt. Kadam, a Khar resident, said had been driving a rickshaw for eight years and didn’t refuse fares unless it was an emergency. However, the constable was persistent.
‘His licence was already impounded’At Mahim, I was struggling to find a vacant taxi for over 20 minutes, when I finally spotted an empty one (MH 01 AT 402). I asked the driver, Rafiquddin Shaikh, 25, to take me to Hinduja hospital, but he refused saying that he was coming from Borivli and was headed towards town.
When the traffic police official reached the spot and questioned him, Shaikh said he had to go for fuelling. When asked for his licence, Shaikh gave him a receipt stating that his licence was impounded for meter tampering. The traffic constable issued him a receipt and said that he would inform the RTO concerned about the matter.
With the steepest hike of autorickshaw and taxi fare in effect from October 11, several commuters thought they would get better service. But most claimed that the hike had not changed anything. “These auto drivers still refuse fare for minimum distance. I wanted to travel from Andheri
Kurla Road to Chakala and was refused at least five to six times,” said Reena Gupta, 38.
Our reporters sought help from senior inspector P Temkar of the Vakola traffic police and senior inspector R Sonavane of Mahim traffic outpost.
During our investigation, we found several auto drivers at Santacruz and taxi drivers at Mahim refusing to ply.
HT reporters’ experiences across the city
‘Driver started to argue with the cops’Since many commuters complain about auto drivers refusing to ply to the international airport from Centaur junction, I decided to take that route.
Around 4:30pm, I flagged down an auto (MH 02 VA 8232) and asked the driver whether he would go to the airport. He refused saying he was heading to Bandra (West). He was about to speed away when traffic constable Anil Bhagwan Rao, who was waiting for my signal, stopped him.
The driver, Uma Shankar Patel, 26, a resident of Santacruz (West), argued that he hadn’t refused to ply. The constable impounded his licence, gave him a receipt and asked him to appear before the court.
‘He lied about his meter not working’Taxi driver Mohammed Aasif (MH 02 R 7569) was booked for fare refusal by the Mahim traffic outpost after he refused to ply me to Carter Road.
As soon as the driver was about to leave, I signaled to the traffic constables waiting about 20m away from me. Aasif, who till now was talking in a brusque manner, toned down when he saw the constables. He started pleading and claiming that he never refused the fare. Then he said he had no option as his meter was not functioning. When the constable pointed out that it seemed to be working fine, he handed over his licence and peacefully followed the police’s instructions.
‘He asked me to get out of the rickshaw’I tried to hail several autorickshaws at Vile Parle station, but many passed me without even stopping.
Finally, one auto (MH 02 TA 4951) slowed down; I told him to drop me at Hanuman Road and tried to board the rickshaw. However, he refused, asked me to get off and was about to leave when I signaled to the traffic constable police waiting nearby. The official took the licence of the auto driver, Ramesh Kadam, 27, and handed him a receipt. Kadam, a Khar resident, said had been driving a rickshaw for eight years and didn’t refuse fares unless it was an emergency. However, the constable was persistent.
‘His licence was already impounded’At Mahim, I was struggling to find a vacant taxi for over 20 minutes, when I finally spotted an empty one (MH 01 AT 402). I asked the driver, Rafiquddin Shaikh, 25, to take me to Hinduja hospital, but he refused saying that he was coming from Borivli and was headed towards town.
When the traffic police official reached the spot and questioned him, Shaikh said he had to go for fuelling. When asked for his licence, Shaikh gave him a receipt stating that his licence was impounded for meter tampering. The traffic constable issued him a receipt and said that he would inform the RTO concerned about the matter.
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