As our historic Premier Padmini Fiat taxis, the Kaali Peeli, retire and fade away, I have mixed feelings. Their impact on Mumbai’s changing landscape was comparable to the departure of the magnificent double-decker BEST buses in September.
The cabs were old and noisy, with a luggage rack on the roof and a shady meter outside. Regardless of sentiment, most Mumbaikars choose to avoid using the final Fiats. These sad rattletraps had forgotten their former glory. The seats were uncomfortable due to the springs in the old ones.
Additionally, the road had potholes, bumps, and speed-breakers due to worn shock absorbers and cabbies’ reluctance to repair them. The drooping upholstery was dusty, discolored, and moist from the monsoon. It smelt of years of wear and tear, gasoline, oil, and grease, and of previous passengers like vegetable merchants and fishmongers.
With new, clean taxis like Ritz, Santro, Eeco, Alto, WagonR, and i1o from Hyundai and Maruti offering clean and comfortable rides, who would choose the noisy Fiat for the same fare? It was evident that the old Kaali Peelis were leaving.
Migrant taxi drivers, who resemble Bollywood heroes with one hand on the steering wheel and the other outside the door, are either driving newer cabs or returning home. The Kaali Peelis will be remembered nostalgically. Little missed.
The theaters had become like the rundown single-screen theaters in the city’s red light districts. A historical aspect of Bombay. Still running, but not where any cine-goer would want to watch the latest Friday release.
About Mark Manuel
The above thoughts/content has been proudly copied from the wall of Sir Mark Manuel. Being interviewing almost every role model of this country and going stronger each day. Mark Manuel is a respected Mumbai editor, writer, and columnist.
With over three decades of journalism in leading publications. This includes the Free Press Journal, Times, Dainik Bhaskar, Mid-Day, and Afternoon. He is famous for his brilliant pen interviews. He himself is a TEDx speaker.
Further
His interviews have featured in several leading media houses. They include the Hindustan Times, Huffington Post, BBC, and Network 18. Almost every famous person has been interviewed by him in the country from Mother Teresa to Muhammad Ali. His first book is just out. It’s titled Moryaa Re! It is a crime thriller that is perhaps the country’s first police procedural. He began his career covering crime. And in a tribute to his experience and knowledge of this beat.
Several distinguished officers of the Mumbai Police and its Crime Branch collaborated with him to make this book possible. Amitabh Bachchan wrote the forward in a statement of friendship for Mark Manuel and admiration for his work.
About Storyofsouls
Leave your comments on how you like this story. If you love it, share it to bring that change we wish to see in the world.
You can also share your inspiring story with us at replytosos@gmail.com. Story Of Souls is an initiative where we invite people to bring their stories to us. We want people to “write to heal.” The idea of Storyofsouls is appreciated by ALL INDIA RADIO. An Online Platform where you can share your real-life stories. The impact of our stories has reached the UN and Harvard University. For some real-life stories, web series are also planned. You can also visit our YouTube channel. You can follow us on Facebook LinkedIn Instagram
Storyofsouls is glad to inform you that we are now a Google news-verified platform.
We are proud to inform you all that storyofsouls.com is the official TedX MotiJheel Kanpur Partner for their upcoming event.
