The points below might help you in identifying NRIs in Chennai, for whatever reason you may want to do so.
1.Almost all the points refer to identifying NRIs while they are in the act of driving a car, for this is where their differences with the rest of the locals show through clearly.
A NRI is driving the car if the driver is wearing a seat-belt. The only belts the locals know of are the ones you get for 30 rupees in Pondy bazaar. Few years back, when the Tamil Nadu government planned to make wearing seat belts compulsory, the brahmin community revolted against the idea by saying "We already wear cross-belts, why do we need yet another belt?" and so, seat-belts went off fashion. The NRI wouldn't know that wearing a seat-belt in the searing heat of chennai would "brand" his shirt in sweat.
2.Both its side mirrors are in the proper position. Why would a local unnecessarily invest in an useless accessory? A NRI wouldn't know that it the responsibility of the person coming from behind to adjust according to the position of the person in front, who without any care whatsoever in the world, can swerve from one side to another.
3.An indicator is used to move from an imaginary slow lane to an imaginary fast lane or vice versa. A NRI wouldn't know that indicators are used to act as a first layer of defense for the car's body against other vehicles which come in a "little" close and are not meant serve any other purpose. Using an indicator is a sure-shot giveaway that the person at the wheel is a NRI. You could even go unnoticed by having a L-board, but not when using an indicator.
4.The car is still at the traffic signal when the countdown timer has reached the threshold of 9. Maybe, the NRI doesn't know that a single digit on the counter, and not a 0 or a 1, means that you have the green signal to go. The only other people still at the signal would be the unfortunate ones who are directly behind the NRI and it is logical that they can't turn to go around him, because they would have stopped their vehicles 1.2 cm behind the NRI's car.
5.you as a pedestrian walking on the side of the road, without warning, without any hand signals, jump to the middle of the road to continue your walk and happen to be in the way of a car, you hear the driver saying (and not shouting) "What the ...", "Are you crazy?" , "Are you out of your mind", then you can be sure that the driver is a NRI. If the same NRI happens to retain some of his roots, you might hear him saying "Paathu ponga sir" or "Enganga poringa". If it were a local, you would wish you were deaf for you might hear "Eh Saavugraki, Vootle solltiya?" or "kasumalam, Nee Saavarthukku En Vandidhan Kadchidha". A NRI wouldn't know that pedestrians, cows, buffaloes, goats and not vehicles have the right of way on our roads.
But, chennai is constantly changing and so, the breed of NRIs would also have to constantly evolve to be ahead of the masses. No idea as to what this breed might do next.
source: www.srajarams.com
1.Almost all the points refer to identifying NRIs while they are in the act of driving a car, for this is where their differences with the rest of the locals show through clearly.
A NRI is driving the car if the driver is wearing a seat-belt. The only belts the locals know of are the ones you get for 30 rupees in Pondy bazaar. Few years back, when the Tamil Nadu government planned to make wearing seat belts compulsory, the brahmin community revolted against the idea by saying "We already wear cross-belts, why do we need yet another belt?" and so, seat-belts went off fashion. The NRI wouldn't know that wearing a seat-belt in the searing heat of chennai would "brand" his shirt in sweat.
2.Both its side mirrors are in the proper position. Why would a local unnecessarily invest in an useless accessory? A NRI wouldn't know that it the responsibility of the person coming from behind to adjust according to the position of the person in front, who without any care whatsoever in the world, can swerve from one side to another.
3.An indicator is used to move from an imaginary slow lane to an imaginary fast lane or vice versa. A NRI wouldn't know that indicators are used to act as a first layer of defense for the car's body against other vehicles which come in a "little" close and are not meant serve any other purpose. Using an indicator is a sure-shot giveaway that the person at the wheel is a NRI. You could even go unnoticed by having a L-board, but not when using an indicator.
4.The car is still at the traffic signal when the countdown timer has reached the threshold of 9. Maybe, the NRI doesn't know that a single digit on the counter, and not a 0 or a 1, means that you have the green signal to go. The only other people still at the signal would be the unfortunate ones who are directly behind the NRI and it is logical that they can't turn to go around him, because they would have stopped their vehicles 1.2 cm behind the NRI's car.
5.you as a pedestrian walking on the side of the road, without warning, without any hand signals, jump to the middle of the road to continue your walk and happen to be in the way of a car, you hear the driver saying (and not shouting) "What the ...", "Are you crazy?" , "Are you out of your mind", then you can be sure that the driver is a NRI. If the same NRI happens to retain some of his roots, you might hear him saying "Paathu ponga sir" or "Enganga poringa". If it were a local, you would wish you were deaf for you might hear "Eh Saavugraki, Vootle solltiya?" or "kasumalam, Nee Saavarthukku En Vandidhan Kadchidha". A NRI wouldn't know that pedestrians, cows, buffaloes, goats and not vehicles have the right of way on our roads.
But, chennai is constantly changing and so, the breed of NRIs would also have to constantly evolve to be ahead of the masses. No idea as to what this breed might do next.
source: www.srajarams.com
2 comments:
Dude I read your blog for the first time, its good man.But try making it short.It tests a lot of patience to read it in toto.Anyway job well done.
That comment was actually not meant for this blog,meant for the bewitched actually.I am indeed proud and priviliged to have such brainy people around me & so close to me.I will strongly resist anyone else occupying this space,females including
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