MUMBAI: While people learning new languages start with bare necessities, some city auto drivers seem clear on their priority. After nearly a week of learning basic Marathi at RTO-run classes, they are rustling up a string of excuses in Marathi to refuse rides.One such auto driver in Kurla has scribbled down on paper what he claims are essential phrases in Marathi to get by but what catches the eye is that most are different ways to turn down passengers-from “mala jevayla jayche aahe” (I need to eat), “mala lagvi la jayche aahe” (I need to use the restroom) and “mala ghari jaychay” (I need to go home) to “mala gas bharaychay” (I need to refill CNG) and “mala riksha durust karaychi aahe” (I need to repair the auto).Ride refusals are a major menace, making up 60% of auto passengers’ complaints.The notes aren’t entirely dedicated to strategic refusals, though. They include practical phrases such as “hoy, basa” (yes, please sit), “kuthey jaychay?” (where do you want to go?), “to kuthe aahe?” (where is that place?), “ujvi kade gheu?” (should I take a right?), “davi kade gheu?” (should I turn left?), “flyover varun gheu ka?” (should I take the flyover?), along with the all-important financial vocabulary of Mumbai’s transport ecosystem: “sutte dya” (please give change) and “sutte nahi” (I don’t have change).
Union leader: Illegal language classes fleecing auto drivers
Mumbai Rickshawmen’s Union leader Thampy Kurien said many non-Marathi auto drivers have now acquired a basic working knowledge of Marathi and are likely to use their own sentences while communicating with commuters to sound more natural. He raised concerns over several unauthorised Marathi coaching classes that have allegedly sprung up across the city, with individuals claiming affiliation with regional groups and charging drivers at least Rs 500 for lessons.He demanded a crackdown on such operations and urged the state govt to continue its online Marathi learning platform, enabling drivers to learn functional Marathi from their vehicles or homes.The language drive comes ahead of enforcement of the amended Motor Vehicles Rules requiring drivers of all commercial passenger vehicles to possess a working knowledge of Marathi. Officials said the deadline for completing the training ended on Aug 15 and enforcement will begin on Aug 18 with show-cause notices for violators, which will grant them a month to polish functional Marathi skills.Meanwhile, over 1 lakh certificates have been prepared and will be distributed simultaneously across Maharashtra’s 58 RTOs on Monday. Drivers will also participate in a live-streaming of a felicitation ceremony at Thane’s Ram Ganesh Gadkari Rangayatan to be attended by CM Devendra Fadnavis, and deputy CMs Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Pawar.RTO sources said drivers may have to demonstrate functional Marathi during inspections and produce their certificates when asked.For Mumbai’s passengers, however, the real test of Marathi proficiency may be far simpler: whether “hoy, basa” eventually becomes more common than “mala ghari jaychay”.
