RECENTLY, I embarked on a week-long spiritual journey to various parts of India and as someone who has visited the country many times before, I still can’t help but feel like an outsider when it comes to understanding its culture and customs.
Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu, has grown significantly in recent years, with its residents enjoying disposable incomes that allow them to indulge in luxury goods and services.
However, this growth has also resulted in the rising cost of living, making it difficult for those from less affordable counties to keep up.
The middle class has seen momentous advancement which is apparent.
One industry that has experienced noteworthy upheaval in recent years is public transport, particularly the auto-rickshaws.
These are three-wheelers and can be compared to our minibus of yesteryears.
The auto-rickshaws have a long history in India dating back to the 1960s, similar to the tuk-tuks in Thailand, and have been a popular mode of transport in Chennai.
The auto-rickshaws were introduced in Chennai as a cheap and convenient mode of transport for middle and lower-middle-class residents.
Initially, they were metered and the fares were regulated by the government.
However, over the years auto-rickshaw drivers started avoiding using the meters and began charging the customers at their own discretion.
This led to frequent disputes over the fare between the passengers and auto-rickshaw drivers.
Haggling could turn into ugly incidents when either party was not able to come to terms with the pricing.
The auto-rickshaw drivers claimed that the government-regulated fares were not sufficient to cover their operating costs, including the daily rental charges for the vehicles, maintenance and fuel costs.
As a result, they resorted to charging higher fares on passengers.
The government has periodically increased the basic fares for auto-rickshaws to address the concerns of the drivers.
However, the drivers have continued to charge higher fares, leading to a contentious relationship between the drivers and the passengers.
On another note, auto-rickshaw drivers, like many other blue-collar workers, are sometimes looked down upon in most cities in India.
This can be attributed to various factors such as cultural stereotypes, economic disparity and lack of awareness about the role of these workers in the city’s economy.
One reason for this attitude towards auto-rickshaw drivers is the perception that they are uneducated and unskilled, and therefore not as respectable as people with white-collar jobs.
The media and popular culture often reinforce this stereotype, which portrays these workers as lazy or unprofessional.
Another reason for this attitude is the economic disparity that exists in the city.
Auto-rickshaw drivers typically come from lower-income backgrounds and their profession is often seen as a last resort for people who cannot find other work.
This can lead to a lack of respect for their profession and their contribution to the city’s economy.
Despite the challenges, auto-rickshaws continue to be a popular mode of transport in Chennai as they are easily available, albeit the competition it faces.
In recent years, the emergence of ride-hailing services such as Ola and Uber has further disrupted the auto-rickshaw industry, leading to increased rivalry and conflicts between the drivers and the ride-hailing services.
On another note, Chennai also needs to address its lack of proper waste management practices and prioritise cleanliness.
I am unsure if it is a lack of bins, waste collection or attitude that has made this a prevailing issue.
On a positive note, India’s thriving economy has led to significant growth in consumerism, with a rising middle class that has more disposable income than ever before.
This has led to the emergence of modern retail formats such as supermarkets and shopping malls, and the growth of e-commerce has made it easier for consumers to access a wide range of products and services.
However, this growth in consumerism also raises concerns about sustainability and its impact on the environment.
With increased consumption comes greater waste generation and the use of natural resources, which can have severe environmental consequences.
Impressively, Chennai has taken steps to balance the benefits of consumerism with sustainable practices that minimise the impact on the environment.
One pleasant example of sustainable practice in Chennai is the near-absence of plastic bags, with residents using affordable and reusable bags made from various materials.
Simply put, you cannot get hold of plastic bags for whatever cost.
While there is still much work to be done, it is heartening to see progress being made in this regard.
Overall, my spiritual excursion in India was a thought-provoking experience that shed light on both the positive and negative aspects of growth in some cities I visited.
It is not without reason that India is known as “the cradle of the human race, the birthplace of human speech, the mother of history, the grandmother of legend and the great-grandmother of tradition”.
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