Some interesting experiences I have had when I was living in Mumbai. Its normal to pay a bribe to get your work done, what is important is to be sure that your work will be done. For ex: If you have to get a name transferred to your Ration Card, all you have to do is go the BMC (Municipality) dominated by Maharashtrians (Than God for small favors) give the "Saab" Rs 50 (that was maybe 10 years ago) and in the evening the guy would have the work done. Same goes for Birth Registration. Now, lets talk abt MTNL (dominated by UP/Bihar/MP folks... no disrespect). Bribe to submit form, Bribe to move it, Bribe to get it approved, Bribe to activate it, Bribe on all festivals and it goes on. Maybe my Grandchild will continue bribing for the phone line we installed. And in one particular incident I refused a linesman, next day phone goes dead. No exaggeration but 3 months and no phone line active. So finally I approached the Prabhadevi office, the Area Manager was... guess... a Maharashtrian and in 2 days the line is back. Most recent experience, I had to sell some property, papers had some issue, Collector office, Mumbai is dominated by all kinds of chor agents. I was given a list of names, I looked at the list and looked for a Maharashtrian name. I went to the guy. He heard my case, and honest enough he said it was near imposible.
RE:Interesting facts
by Drive A McLaren on Feb 09, 2008 01:33 AM Permalink
...I raised the bar a bit. He thought then excused himself for a few minutes, consulted the ranking officer in the Collector office, came back and we agreed on the amt. Promise given, work will be done in 48 hrs. I paid my price, I was happy to pay the price to my fellow Maharashtrian and the work was done. So you can call us peons, Sweepers what have you... but we have more integrity than any other. Jai Maharashtra.
RE:RE:Interesting facts
by Girish on Feb 09, 2008 01:42 AM Permalink
...and if you go to delhi, you will be conned as soon as you get down of the train...... Bihar.....my friends had joined IOCL in Barauni Bihar and they just left the respected good public sector engg. job just to get out of that place....
RE:RE:Interesting facts
by Drive A McLaren on Feb 09, 2008 01:58 AM Permalink
Oh that reminds me... once on the way back to Mumbai from New Delhi, arrived at Dadar Stn. Looking for a cab, the driver of this particular cab was from UP/Bihar/MP, says he wont go by the meter. Now that statement may work in New Delhi but this is my backyard boss. I asked the guy if he was new, he was outraged. I said I will be back in a few minutes and he will be taking me in his cab and I will pay by the meter, he just laughed. I looked for our friendly old Pandu, found an officer. Maharashtrian officer. I explained the situation. So he comes with me, you should have seen the look on this cabbie's face, he didnt get a chance to run. The officer notes the cab number, gives his card to me, says if the cabbie acts smart call him and he will have him picked up. The journey home went without any further incident. I also tipped the guy Rs 10 to ease his pain.
RE:RE:RE:Interesting facts
by on Feb 09, 2008 02:41 AM Permalink
the north indians bring their culture of non discipline and defiance of laws to a city like mumbai and destroy it not only they are dirty but they look down upon maharashtrians saying they have no culture these are the people who ogle at woemn on the streets and look at them with hungry eyes because they are not used to seeing women move about openly and freely also by nature the northies are easy liars catch southies ever lying about their qualification,work experience,marriage status or otherwise this is an observation over a period of time also there are some criminal minded people among them for whom mumbai is susceptible since people are pretty open minded here
RE:Interesting facts
by sujoy chowdhury on Feb 09, 2008 03:01 AM Permalink
Not only Mumbai.. There are so many cities in India where you will find people from different parts of India. Nothing happens in those cities. Only hardcore maharshtrian has problem with Outer state people. Can you explain why so?
RE:Interesting facts
by D S on Feb 09, 2008 01:47 AM Permalink
By showing how some X is better than Y, we don't solve the problem. I think this will continue. I could have pointed some wrong in X and Y both, it will further the bad blood. SO I back out of it. The world is getting united, European Union, United Arabs, United kindom and DIVIDED INDIANS
RE:RE:Interesting facts
by Drive A McLaren on Feb 09, 2008 02:01 AM Permalink
D S ... you are right. This will get no where. I just got carried away reading some of the posts on Rediff. No hard feelings.
