The Great Driving Challenge

Follow the road

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09:42 PM

04 August 2009

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(9) Comment(s) (17) like it

Change in Fare

Posted By radhika

In the midst of the chaos and honking(and cursing)in Mumbai traffic, the sight of the familiar black and yellows with their multitude of typography, quirky geometric patterns with gods and bollywood all rolled into one, for me the taxicab of the city is one of its primary icons.

Our classic premier padmini taxicab has now rolled into retirement since 2008 with the government legislation banning all cabs above 25 years from the city’s streets. Even the newest cab is a decade old. Based on a small fiat sedan from the 60’s the padmini was names after a Rajput princess known for her beauty and courage.

Though synonymous with Mumbai, the taxicab means different things for different people. For first timers like Bharath who visited Mumbai in 2005, the cab which swung from left to right sometimes without even stopping for a traffic light, bumping into each other without checking for damage, him profusely sweating in the velvet covered seats at the back it was his first ‘glimpse’ into Mumbai.
Many dents cover the metal body and one can hear the characteristic diesel clatter as it waits at a traffic light, wheezing sounds emanating from the engine as it touches 60kmph on the expressway; it is almost as if the cab is held together by hope or sheer will.

For me the taxicab and the anonymous taxi driver go hand in hand. He is privy to the hopes, dreams and disappointments of Mumbai’s people as lives are played out in his backseat.
Mumbai will never be the same without these great urban art forms.

Posted by Amit Sharma 06 August 2009	Awesome photographs! And congrats! Two of my 3 favourites have made it!
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) 07 August 2009	Hi Guys… hows it going ... hows the feeling to be racing against time .... do send us updates and pix ... take care and drive safe ...
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) 07 August 2009	Awesome pic!!! Taxi at its best….. Started Liking Taxis now… Keep going… Where are your GDC Travel pics….waiting to see those…all the best!!!!!
Posted by Anand 07 August 2009	Guys, First of all congrats to make it to the top 3! I see that you are in Nasik today. So if you plan to stay in Nasik, do visit ‘Trimbakeshwar’. You would love the place. And if you wanna enjoy ethnic Maharashtrian food, do visit ‘Saheba’ restaurant in Nasik. How I know about these places? Well I belong to Nasik. Happy riding and wish you all the best. I am following your journey Cheers! Anand
Posted by Ram 07 August 2009	Hi there. No blogs yet? Guys please blog as much as you can to keep everyone up to date. We are here to support you! I may not be your follower, but I am a well wisher for all 3 teams. It has to be a healthy and good competition. Good luck.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) 08 August 2009	I love these pictures. You guys have such a good eye.. and nice selective coloring. I need to learn how to do that! Ok.. show me when you get back. Good luck! and I will be following you on this site…
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) 08 August 2009	Such a stunning element of the city most of us in Mumbai look past… great observation and beatifully illustrated.
Posted by Harish Kukreja 16 August 2009	‘The humble taxi’ Only you could come up with this. Your keen eye for details is astounding and I’m looking forward to see the pics from your trip. Awesome!
Posted by Shabari Karumbaya 19 August 2009	So proud of you Brat! You are making up for your dad’s armchair travelling. Great pics and writing from both of you.
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