It seemed like a normal day to get ready to go to office. Had a wonderful tea which mom prepared. It was drizzling outside. I usually leave home and catch a rickshaw to station, catch a bus or train and reach office. As part of this daily routine, I got ready and came downstairs. Today seemed a bit unusual to me. But I could not figure out what it was. There were more number of people walking, roaming around. I could hear less of those honking horns and less number of vehicles plying on the road. I just could not figure out what it actually was. I tried to look around for a rickshaw and could not find one. Thats very rare that you cannot find a rickshaw in a city like Mumbai. Were are all those little boxes of crap. It's getting late for me now and I could not get a rickshaw. I had to walk to the station. Already frustated, I stopped by a small "tapri" (tea house) to have a tea and cigarette. Already unaware of what the situation was, I saw a group of people, around 40-50 in number walking on the road. They were shouting slogans - "Shiv Sena Jindabad", "Hey rashtra Maharashtrians cha". Most of them were holding a orange colored flag in their hand, waving it high. In matter of minutes, you could see a huge traffice jam. These people had jammed the road and were not allowing vehicles to move. WHY?? I asked a man standing besides me. He was also enjoying his cigarette and tea and looked at me and just gave a smile at first. He replied - "Well, there seems to be a stirke of the rickshaw-walas and these guys are not allowing rickshaws and BEST buses to ply."
I asked - "Why are they doing this?"
Man - "Well, it seems they are not happy with the price hike in the fare. They want more." (drinking another sip of tea)
Me - "Well, the price is already so high that I avoid travelling by Rickshaw whenever possible. You know, cannot afford it."
Man - "Yes, it is. Anyways, what can we do. Lets enjoy our tea."
Me - "Yes....." (I did not have any else to reply to this guy) I tried to concentrate back on my tea and ignore whatever was going on in front of me. But I could not. I again looked at the guy and asked him - "I believe they are from Shiv Sena or MNS".
Man - "Bingo. Who else.... (laughing)..."
Me - "Sorry, I dont know if you support this party of not. But I do not."
Man - "Don't worry. It does not matter at this point of time."
Well, then I left off to catch my train. This was an end of our conversation there. Well, it seemed like a usual conversation. The topic of commodities getting expensive, fuel prices rising, taxes, etc.... had created a huge success last time for BJP-Shiv Sena alliance. We could see that the rickshaw were shut down and government actually increased the fare for rickshaws. Well.... So, what if a topic like this creates a stir. Will these parties continue to take this up all the time and create problems for common people like me? I had read it long time back that common strategy of the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance is to give commodities at subsidised rates and empty the national treasure. Congress on the other hand has to then fill up the treasury by increasing taxes. I can say that this is a very brief comment of the 40 page long article that I had read in a magazine and it definitely is true from my perspective. I do not know if there will be another hike or not or if the commodities will be available at lower prices or not. All I am concerned is that I need to earn money, do the hardwork and get the required stuff at whatever price it is available. I understand that if I get commodities at subsidised rates, it is only making me more lazy and inspiring me not to earn more. It is only going to help me become more dependent on the political scene and less independent. So, better not hope for any miracles and mercy from government and do the job we are meant to do.
I asked - "Why are they doing this?"
Man - "Well, it seems they are not happy with the price hike in the fare. They want more." (drinking another sip of tea)
Me - "Well, the price is already so high that I avoid travelling by Rickshaw whenever possible. You know, cannot afford it."
Man - "Yes, it is. Anyways, what can we do. Lets enjoy our tea."
Me - "Yes....." (I did not have any else to reply to this guy) I tried to concentrate back on my tea and ignore whatever was going on in front of me. But I could not. I again looked at the guy and asked him - "I believe they are from Shiv Sena or MNS".
Man - "Bingo. Who else.... (laughing)..."
Me - "Sorry, I dont know if you support this party of not. But I do not."
Man - "Don't worry. It does not matter at this point of time."
Well, then I left off to catch my train. This was an end of our conversation there. Well, it seemed like a usual conversation. The topic of commodities getting expensive, fuel prices rising, taxes, etc.... had created a huge success last time for BJP-Shiv Sena alliance. We could see that the rickshaw were shut down and government actually increased the fare for rickshaws. Well.... So, what if a topic like this creates a stir. Will these parties continue to take this up all the time and create problems for common people like me? I had read it long time back that common strategy of the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance is to give commodities at subsidised rates and empty the national treasure. Congress on the other hand has to then fill up the treasury by increasing taxes. I can say that this is a very brief comment of the 40 page long article that I had read in a magazine and it definitely is true from my perspective. I do not know if there will be another hike or not or if the commodities will be available at lower prices or not. All I am concerned is that I need to earn money, do the hardwork and get the required stuff at whatever price it is available. I understand that if I get commodities at subsidised rates, it is only making me more lazy and inspiring me not to earn more. It is only going to help me become more dependent on the political scene and less independent. So, better not hope for any miracles and mercy from government and do the job we are meant to do.
