India Online Journal, November 2001
Author: Jennifer Kumar

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Day 8

This morning around 10am, Amma and I went to the tailor to get the stitched blouses. However, in the usual fashion, these were not ready, but the saris were. That was something I missed in discussing what to do when buying saris. Most synthetic and other types of saris do not have the ends stitched, hence you can do it yourself, or take it to the tailor, and he will do it for 5 rupees. That is what I do because I can not do it myself. We also asked the tailor if he could stitch a chudidhar for us with embroidery. He said he could stitch it, but embroidery is only available in T. Nagar. I think I am going to skip that this time, it requires too much of running here and there. Readymades are best. However, when buying them, be careful to check the seams by lightly tugging on them. Sometimes they immediately fall apart at the shop itself. This happened to me and I fought with the shop keeper to give the dress at a lower rate if he got it overstitched for us. He did do this, after some pleading, because their was a tailor nearby. Else, since this usually is not possible, you can bargin for a lesser price for the dress and take it to a tailor and get it overstitched. That should not cost more than Rs. 20.

This morning Amma helped me get an auto that took me to the college and back to the house. These autovallas (auto drivers) really like to rip off foreigners (and Indians, too) so I have a few tips to deal with autovallas:

1. When getting an auto try to find the help of a local person who can understand your English very well. Ask that local person if he know exactly the place you want to go and how much is a good cost to get to that place (and back if you require).
2. Have the local bargin for you if you are not comfortable. If you are comfortable, try to find an autovalla who can understand your English. In Chennai this may not be such a problem since most autovallas will understand simple English and reply to you in English. (This is not always the case in cities where Hindi is the local language, they will understand you but reply in Hindi.)
3. When you get down in that place, pay the autovalla after you get out of the auto. That is if you have correct change. If you do not have correct change, pay him in the auto and wait til he gives you change, then get out.
4. If you felt the autovalla delivered you to your desitination in a timely and safe manner, you can tip him up to 10 rupees. I do this especially when I know the route well, it is long, and the autovalla hadn’t tried to cheat me at the outset. Sometimes these autovallas give you a run for your money. Once, I was in Pizza Corner, in Nungambakkam with a friend and some other Americans were there and wanted to go to Marina Beach. We helped the students get the auto at the correct price (about Rs 50) and told them to pay that when they got down. However, these poor students e-mailed me when they returned to US saying, as they handed the money to the autovalla, he demanded they give Rs 500 each! And they did not think of it being too much or outrageous, and gave it. This is a no-no. If the autovalla quoted 50 rupees you give that only and then walk away saying ‘you said only …”. I know that sounds a bit rude, but if they want to rip you off, it is ok to be a bit rude. Once, I had to go to a particular place from a particular place. I knew the route very well. The autovalla did not believe me cause I was a foreigner. He understood my English, I told him to take a turn at a particular place, and he thought I was wrong, being a foreigner. He took me some round about way and realized that was the correct way that I had told him. He went about 5 km out of his way. When we got there, I was supposed to pay him Rs 30. So, I got out and gave that amount. However, he thought he deserved more cause he took me on a tour of Egmore! I said no, I am not giving more than 30 rupees, I knew the route and did not give. He asked for about 100 rupees. Why should I give that when he knew very well I knew they way?? Don’t let these guys run you over like that! Another time, I was going on the same route with an Indian friend and two Americans. The autovalla wanted 10 rupees more cause we were 4, but I got it for 35. Anyhow, when we got to the destination, I told my friends to get down, and I would pay. My Indian friend, who is a bit shy and doesn’t know how to deal with these con artists, waited with me.

I told her to go ahead. As I gave the 35 rupees, the autovalla said “I want 50.” She was taking money out of her pocket book. That is the worst thing to do, if they see it they won’t give up asking for it! So I shoved her hand back in her purse, telling her don’t worry about it. I told the autovalla, who understood my English, “You said this much and we are not giving more. I got in the auto with the understanding to pay this much and not a rupee more.” I walked away. He kept shouting, but if you don’t give the money, he can’t do much. If he really tries to bug you for it, you can tell him you will call the cops on him. It is not the matter of the money, which amounts to cents on the American dollar, it is the principal of it. Usually the autos are owned by Police and rented by the drivers. Even in such cases, the autovallas will just give up the case on you and drive away. This one realized we weren’t soft enough to turn back, and so he finally did.

In the college, I saw my classmate who was also going to be taking the exams starting Friday. I told him he needed a passport size photo for the ID card. Even he did not know. He is coming from past Ambattur, that takes 1.5 hours at least one way. He said he would have to come back with it tomorrow.

This morning, I had got the auto with the understanding he would wait and take me back. I started in West Tambaram on Shanmugam Road, and wanted to go back to a place a few blocks from there. I told him to wait for me for 10 minutes in MCC, so the total for this ride would have been Rs 50 (a good price considering one way, each way without waiting is 50). But I made him wait three times as long. So, when I got down at the house, I asked him how much he wanted. I was willing to give Rs 75, he asked for Rs 70, so I thought he is a fair person, and gave it.

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