Chennai residents

How are the people of Chennai? I heard that they are less helpful,rude, people in support functions like auto rickshaws, maids etc cheat, police are very corrupt, lot of theft, murders etc. Is it true? Many people who are not Tamilians with whom I spoke to, do not prefer to come to Chennai to stay like how people are willing to go to Bangalore, Pune , Mumbai etc.

Ha ha, Im waiting to see what sort of hornets nest you will stir up with this!

For what my opinion is worth, I do not agree with you at all. Chennai is far more "civilized" than say Delhi or Mumbai. Lets hear what the local Chennai folks have to add.

Well you read my posts even im somewhat frustrated and my friends here have named me CBCID ;-)

but I will give you quick scenario :

Police: they are unknown to me atleast, and never got caught by traffic cop, but its true they will screw you if you are caught and dont know tamil, mostly this has been going on for generations I think so, with maids, and other people if you dont know tamil you are bound to get cheated, but the truth is even people like me having knowledge of tamil get cheated ;-(

Autorickshaws are big exception, no words for them just actions, feel to take a blade in autorickshaw and as I travel cut the seats without the driver knowing, they are big time nuisance in this city,

my aunt says for coming from vellore to chennai she has to pay 80 rs bus fare, for around 150 + kms and from tambaram to her place which is around 4 kms she has to pay 100 bucks to auto walas, they are highly avoidable things. BUt we cant help , because there comes a time when we need to use their services,

Dont know about theft , murders etc, but people are good, i mean there are good and bad people everywhere, depends on your luck , and mostly here people are too orthodox, I have come across many , always looking at time, dates to do a particular job.


But somethings are also good here, which I myself dont know, I myself am confused, so some other member will tell you what is good here,

Dear Darkangel,

Please name one metro city / One Township / one taluk Headquarters where there is no crime rate.

Crime rate is there everywhere. Why alienate Chennai alone. Police are corrupted worldwide, why target Chennai alone?

You spoke to non tamilians right? How will they know what is chennai like.

You should ask veterans in indiamike who has spent quite a long time in chennai like Nick.

Chennai people are warm, considerate and they are more than helpful to tourists. Don’t know who has given you this information but, I would say this.

Please come and stay in Chennai and then probably you will reverse your stands

RSK: Autorickshaws are a nuisance in every major metro. Not only in Chennai.

Hi Angel,

I dis agree with you.

The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), in one of its annual report—Crime in India also points out that Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore together accounted for more than one-third of all crimes reported in Indian cities having a population of over a million people, for the second year in a row.

The national capital occupies the top slot for almost all violent crimes, including murder, rape, dowry death, molestation, kidnapping and abduction

Source Times of India Jan 2008

People cheat all over , not only in India but overseas too. Once I was conned by a Tuk Tuk driver in Bangkok and again cheated by a Taxi driver in Beijing. It doesn't mean that i categorize all Thai Nationals and Chinese as bad. There is always a black sheep in the crowd and they are a neglible lot.

Hence it is not fair to generalise and say that Chennai is bad. You will be surprised to find how helpful people are. If you wish to find out, you may start with Chennai members of India Mike who are warm, friendly and ever helpful.

There are Lady IM members who had visited Chennai in the recent past like Girl from Venus, Luciana & Dara who are still here, Neeny Pie is also new here, Nick , Chennai's very own British born, Chennai Resident who can all narrate their personal experiences about Chennai People.

About safety it is in your own hands. Chennai is relatively a safe place as long as you dont venture out alone after 11 PM and that too where the place is lonely and it is the same elsewhere in the country too.

It is not true that Non Tamilians dont prefer Chennai. There is a large North Indian Community , Andhrite Community and Keralite Community some of whom have made Chennai their homes decades ago and visit their home town rarely because they consider Chennai as their home. These people who have come from other states have also given a lot to our State and Chennai in Particular and we consider them as one amongst us and we deeply value their contribution in whatever they do.

Raghu

Very well said Raghu....Amen to all your points.

Spot on Raghu!

Thank you Achilles and Synonymous for your kind words.

Raghu

In the face of such blind condemnation, I really have nothing to say!

Dear Dark Angel,

These remarks what have you heard are overstated. Every big city in the globe contains some corrupt officials, non cooperative citizens, pickpckets, criminals, fraudsters, greedy public transport drivers, dishonest hoteliers, businessmen etc. Why pin pointing to a particular city?

I remember reading in the newspapers recently about the citizens of Delhi being asked to improve their behaviour for the forthcoming Asian games .....................

Thanks for your feedback rsk. Some similar incidents (about the autos) have been mentioned to us by my hubs collegues who had stayed in Chennai as well as one of my friend who had been to Chennai on vacation some years ago. My hubs current boss's wife has told him in case of a transfer, among the metros, say no the Delhi and Chennai. Anyway it looks unavoidable to us and we have to go there, else look for another job which is not very feasible at the moment. Lets go there and see what happens. If we like the place, we shall stay on and put the kids in the schools there, else quickly look out to move elsewhere...

WEll take my advice, now its globalisation, lots of people are staying here from people of other states to foriegners and so on, so there is obviously no doubt you will be taken for a ride in autos, but afterwards you can improve, now after 2-3 months of staying in chennai , the only occasion where I take those rascal autowalas are in case of urgency, or when my mom needs to go somewhere, else I just drive my bike, use the bus , train facilities, etc.

So keep in mind all these things, before taking a house for rent, as the more POSH area you take house for rent, more the fees of autowalas, so take a house which is nearby bus stand, railway station, share autos etc, which will enable you minimize usage of autos, for work, travelling , whatever,

And take my work, I dont think anybody will bother you, even if you live in flat, just a hi, hello with neighbour and thats all, you in your own world and they in their own world ;-) , and from social networking sites like indiamike you can make friends of your frequency, and enjoy life.

Dear CB CID,

Havent you heard one of Mahatma Gandhi's famous words, " An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind " If you are upset with the Auto driver for rash driving, tell him straight, if he still drives you mad, ask him to stop and walk off.

If he over charges you and know that you are a victim of the situation but no other choice but to pay, just pay him off and in fact give him 5 Rs more and tell him on his face that you know you have been cheated, but this is not the way to treat a tourist and you are paying him the money knowing well he has cheated you.

When you are paying throuh the nose another 5 Rs wont matter, but it might bring in a change in him and make him realize his fault.

I have lived in Bangalore and Mumbai too and you know many a times I have received small change from auto drivers. there are honest people also. You feel over whelmed by their actions.

You Say you feel like slicing the seats with a blade, what will you do when you come across honest and hard working guys, buy them a new seat if it is already worn out ???

Raghu


[QUOTE=rsk11584;861093]Well you read my posts even im somewhat

no words for them just actions, feel to take a blade in autorickshaw and as I travel cut the seats without the driver knowing, they are big time nuisance in this city,