The Marathi Speaking Rule

I've lived my whole life in Maharashtra and therefore the "Marathi Speaking rule" imposed by "those few" didn't really bother me. Infact for me it was just a topic you discuss for a minute or two and then forget about it. The same way we casually say- "Ah, corruption is on a rise.. blah blah.." and later we continue with our daily routine and wont even think twice before bribing the traffic policemen if we are getting late for work. However on a Friday morning, something happened and it got me thinking and I decided to put it in my blog.

I commute by train to reach work and normally I go to the station by car. However, this friday the poor driver could not come. (I call him poor cos his house or as they say "kholi" was demolished by the BMC and he had to stay on the road and rebuilt the same. Anyway, more on that later) So I decided to get a rick. Its never a favorable means of transport for many reasons- the chaos they create, the meter manipulations stories that I hear from friends, the undue "cuts" taken by them, etc etc. I got into a rick to reach the station. We were at a red signal on the Kamdhenu square near 4-Bungalows. As always he was trying to squeeze his way into the traffic. There was a Van- more like those 9 seaters- to our left and even it was trying to squeeze in. The Van wrongly came to its right and its side-view mirror touched that of the rickshaw's. So my rickshaw wala said- "Bhaiya kya kar rahe ho.." And to my surprise this was in a polite tone!! What happened next left me speechless-

The Van guy rolled down its window. Adjusted his side mirror. Spitted one of those pan-kinda-red-liquid-thingy outside. Then looked at the rickshaw wala. Pointed his finger and said "Marathi bol Marathi. Samjha kya..?!! Marathi bol. Kya?!" The poor rickshaw wala nodded- what else could he do right? And then that Van guy drove away.

I wanted to say so much in his defence but I didnt kno what to do. For the first time my heart went out for such rickshaw and taxi walas. I realised their misery. And at the same time I realised how wrong it is to put a rule like that. India is a symbol of democracy and yet in its very own Financial Capital we have something so contradictory!! I couldnt think of any way to stop this all by myself. Until Friday, I didnt even think about this. Its stange how a little incident can change your perception. I will try to make a difference- I dont know how- but I want to.