AYE, AUTOOOOOOOO
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MY HUMBLE OPINION
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This review is in response to the review on the same topic pasted by none other than our Sakshi lallupanju. The review was very much fun to read, but I cannot say that I can agree with her on all the points. Sakshi, dear friend, please don't take it that I am saying that your review was not useful, but no two persons can't fully agree on a thing. I am just expressing my humble opinion.
Like she said, autorikshaw is a form of travel, but not unique to India, I think. It is available in this part of the world, where the need for a LOW COST mode of public transportation is more crucial than in any other part of the world. These are the developing countries, and although India is emerging as one of the major forces in the world, still the growth has to reach the nook and corners of India, and so rural economy is still backward.
Auto rickshaw is a TAXI service except that the vehicle in itself is a three-wheeler. The meter is also like in any taxi, and so I don't think that it will go on and on.
'All auto waalas are goonda mawali guys.' I agree with her to some degree. But to say that all of them are like that is a bit too much. It is almost like the auto walas are not even human at all. They are also HUMANS. Some people desperate for earning a living. Lallu, that day you had to go from school back to your home, you had to depend on an auto, right? There are many people who cant afford their own vehicles, and for them the auto walas are a boon.
I have a few distant relatives in the business. There is one person near to my ancestral home. He was the one who taught me two-wheeler, three wheelers and four wheeler driving. They are not at all goonda mawali guys. They have a FAMILY TO FEED. So they are trying their best to earn what they can in a day.
SOME AUTO WALAS ARE VERY FRIENDLY. My friend who was bleeding to death on the road from an accident was not even looked upon by the so-called'people who have their own vehicles'. If it weren't for a kind auto driver, he would have been dead.
A majority of the auto drivers are either having a VEHICLE ON LOAN, or they must be driving the vehicle owned by somebody else for a fixed percentage of the days' earnings. There is a person in my gym, a friend of mine who is driving an auto, and he earns for 150 RUPEES a day. With that he has to make his ends meet.
But Sakshi, I agree with you to a certain degree. It is a fact of human nature that GOOD IS BALANCED BY EVIL. There may be auto drivers who are goonda mawali kind of people. And though they are a minority, they can cause real trouble. In our small state of kerala, there are even small gangs associated with some auto walas.
Sakshi, for your information, the auto has the same type of IGNITION SYSTEM, as you would see in a bike. The only difference is that in the bike the pedal is to be kicked. In the poor auto, due to the space constraints, the pedal is arranged so that it is to be pulled. I guess, seeing it for the first time can be really funny.
The auto walas have varied hairstyles. They are also human beings, social animals and so their hairstyle must reflect the general trend in the place. But I am not an expert on the topic, as I have not gone deep into their hairstyles. I DIDN'T, UNTIL NOW, REALISE THE NEED FOR LOOKING INTO THE HAIRSTYLE OF THE AUTO DRIVER BEFORE GETTING INTO AN AUTO.
A very good point I noticed was the mention of the DRIVING STYLES of the auto drivers. The auto drivers are reckless drivers here in the state of kerala also, but like I said earlier, that CANNOT BE GENERALISED. Even among auto walas there are guys who are very careful with their vehicles. But then, if my memory is correct, DIDN'T YOU MENTION IN YOUR REVIEW ON CHOOSING GIFTS THAT GUYS ARE RECKLESS DRIVERS. Then why should we say that specially for the auto walas?
In my XII, I had a biology teacher. She would get into an auto, and would put her hand behind the seat of he driver. She wanted to be prepared to grab the guy by the neck. We used to laugh thinking that one day, when the guy tries to put his vehicle in reserve, our teacher would either jump off, or grab the guy by his throat.
This is for the information of all the girls who get into an auto with a bag ready to hit him, the auto has a limited petrol tank and usually it has to be put in reserve. THE KNOB FOR THE RESERVE TANK IS JUST UNDER THE PASSENGER'S SEAT. So all you have to do is to move over.
Also I agree with the view that it is always good to be prepared, and it is always best to sit next to the end of the seat. In case the guy is a goonda mawali, get out and run.
The METER is another very important aspect to be looked after. It can be TAMPERED in many ways, and if you doubt that there is any fault, NOTE DOWN THE NUMBER OF THE VEHICLE. It is not advisable to go into a direct argument with the guy, as he could call you some pretty good names. So give a written complaint to the police station.
Auto rickshaws are also subject to the POLLUTION norms, but still some guys just don't stick to it. They will try kerosene instead on petrol and make a hell of a smoke. Sometimes, it gets near to complete blindness going behind an auto.
One thing is for sure; their SUSPENSION IS A HELL OF AN EXPERIENCE. It is a very bumpy ride. It is inconvenient for us, who travel in it for a few seconds. Then just think about what these DRIVERS must be going through. My friend used to come and sit for hours together at the gym, not able to exercise, crippled by severe BACK PAIN.
Hey, auto walas are a large community. Even though some people are causing a disturbance to the society, they are also part of our society. Travel by it or not, they could become useful at some point of your life. We wont abolish the whole human race for the crimes of the few in prison. Such is the case with auto drivers. They cannot be blamed as a group for the misdeeds of a few.
One day, lying by the side of the road, bleeding, and in need of help. All that would be there to save your life would be a ride in an auto to a hospital. THE GUYS MAY BE POOR, WITHOUT A PROPER HAIRCUT, OR A PROPER SHAVE, BUT IN POVERTY LAYS THE BASIS OF LOVE. EITHER WE CAN SAY THAT THEY ARE POOR GOONDA PEOPLE, OR WE CAN SAY THAT THEY ARE HUMAN BEINGS, JUST LIKE US, WITH THEIR OWN POSITIVES AND NEGATIVES.
Sakshi, I hope you will understand. Guys, don't be mad at me. O.k.? I am not into an argument with her. Just my humble opinion.
THANK YOU FOR READING.
PLEASE RATE THE REVIEW.
