Petty Shopkeepers & deep convictions; versus white lies adding up to a petty life...

If there's one thing I pride myself for- it's my ability to connect with the ground reality- and be sensitive to the market around me.

And yeah... each time I visit a market- I feel like I'm visiting a beach or climbing a beautiful snow covered mountain or experiencing a communion with God.

Why ? because a market to me embodies a idea of freedom and independance. A idea of being one's own boss and living by one's beliefs and sleeping happy even if that means sleeping hungry.

And yet; that same sense of independance often adds up to anarchy; and that same sense of shop-keeperliness adds up to chaos and a seemingly ungovernable city.

So ok; one aspect of this ungovernable-ness is the sealing of un-planned shops that's happening here.
Another is the spectre of student protesters clashing with and inflicting casualities upon heavily armed riot police...
ANd then there's the dark side!!!
Of stupidly profiteering autowallahs that give our city a bad name.

Ok, so anyways, I met this friend on orkut- she's a law student, and passionate abt taking a stand for certain causes... most notably the one relating to profiteering autowallahs... so ok, here's this scrap exchange we recently had on orkut:--

Myself: (in orkut scrap)
You know, I and a friend were standing at a uncle-jee's shop- and a friend remarked upon seeing a 23 yr old female autodriver about the equality - and uncle-jee sadly commented abt how she's their neighbour and how when school bus didnt come, she charged him Rs 60 for a ride others charge Rs 20 for and insisted on talking rudely to them in front of their kids.

NC: (Orkut scrap)
the term 'autowallah' is used as iv never come across an 'autowallih'....so for me its a gender neutral term.....feminism is not abt.allowing women to indulge in corrupt actions.....whether a woman or a man, 'autodrivers' will surely be taken to task if the meters are messed up with!!!

... a interesting exchange... and yeah... this is a exchange we're gonna come back to, with heavy philosphy someday soon... so, folks!!! watch this space!!!