MUMBAI: As Maharashtra steps up efforts to ensure auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers have working knowledge of Marathi, one Mumbai driver appears to have found a simple way to put the requirement into practice — by turning the inside of his auto into a pocket Marathi phrasebook.The auto driver, reportedly from Mumbai, has pasted a handwritten list of common Hindi phrases and their Marathi translation inside his vehicle, apparently to make it easier to communicate with passengers in the local language.A photograph of the driver’s cabin has since gone viral, with the list offering quick translations for everyday exchanges between drivers and passengers.Among the phrases on the sheet are:Chhutte nahi hain = Chhutte nahitRuko zara = Thamba jaraRasta bataiye = Rasta sangaJaldi bataiye = Lavkar sangaIntezar kijiye = ThambaKaunsa rasta hai = Konta rastaKahan utaroge = Kuthe utarnarAage utariye = Pudhe utaraTraffic hai = Traffic aaheLamba rasta hai = Lamba rasta aaheThe simple-yet-effective by the auto driver comes at a time when the Maharashtra government has mandated practical knowledge of Marathi for auto-rickshaw, taxi and app-based cab drivers in the state.The Maharashtra Transport Department had launched a statewide drive from August 20 to check the working knowledge of Marathi among non-Marathi-speaking taxi and auto-rickshaw drivers.The move followed the BJP-led state government’s announcement in April that such drivers would have to learn basic Marathi, with Marathi classes being organised and August 15 initially set as the deadline.However, the language requirement triggered anxiety among sections of the transport community.Rumours led to protests by auto and taxi drivers in parts of Mumbai on Monday, with some drivers reportedly trying to prevent others from ferrying passengers, inconveniencing commuters during the morning rush.However, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis subsequently sought to allay the concerns, saying the government’s objective was not to turn drivers into language experts but to ensure that they could communicate in Marathi for their work.The government has since given drivers more time to meet the requirement. On Thursday, Fadnavis announced a one-year extension after a delegation of auto-rickshaw and taxi unions met him at Sahyadri Guest House.The extension means immediate action against non-Marathi-speaking drivers has been put on hold.On Friday, auto-rickshaw and taxi unions welcomed the decision, saying the additional year would remove the immediate threat to their livelihoods while giving drivers sufficient time to learn functional Marathi.The announcement came a day after deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde handed certificates to around 20,000 auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers who had completed a Marathi language course in Mumbai.The wider campaign has also seen significant participation. A 105-day ‘Hinduhriday Samrat Balasaheb Thackeray Marathi Language Campaign’, conducted by the Konkan Marathi Sahitya Parishad and Mumbai Marathi Sahitya Sangh, saw 1,65,601 non-Marathi-speaking auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers come forward to learn functional Marathi.Last week, state transport minister Pratap Sarnaik said the requirement for practical Marathi knowledge among auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers had existed in Maharashtra since 1989 but had not been strictly enforced. He said the government did not intend to take away anyone’s livelihood and wanted people working in Maharashtra to learn and respect the state’s language and culture.(With PTI inputs)
