Invasion of personal space and personal protection.

capt_mahajan · Sep 30th, 2007, 10:11

err, 'challo' and 'jao'

jao means go, or go away.

challo used alone can mean 'lets go' too.

'challo jao' means the same as jao, only slightly ruder.

kalbarri · Sep 30th, 2007, 11:09

it is 27 years sinse i had to use those terms, hence lack of accuracy. wht the err, captain?

capt_mahajan · Sep 30th, 2007, 11:16

the err was hesitancy

Aishah · Sep 30th, 2007, 11:24

I think Nick hit the nail on the head when he said 'gentler South'. North India is very much ' in your face' in crowded areas. Here there is no such thing as personal space, and sometimes, I blush to say this, a swinging handbag comes in handy when you have over-the-top pestering by someone almost sitting on your shoulders!! When I have resorted to physical violence you can see the notes of approval on the faces of surrounding people. ('Physical violence' so it doesn't hurt the victim and in a gentle manner sort of...} I might add I can count the fingers only on one hand for the no. of times I have done this over a period of almost 8 years. You should not be hesitant in asserting your need for space and loudly saying 'Chalo!chalo!" or 'Jao!Jao! will get you space rapidly.

palmlandtours.net · Sep 30th, 2007, 11:46

It depends where you would be in India. Most of the places in South are friendly and cool. There are few exceptions like tourist streets of Madurai. Normally, no body is going to pull you to his shop or rickshaw. In Madurai, beggars could hold your shirt for 10 Rupee note or rickshaw drivers could follow you for 200 meters for a trip. But, there would be other tourists as well. Try to divert their attention to other tourists.

Giving some thing to the beggars could bring more of them to you. They do not care, if you are upset. Keep your cool. Pushing them physically could result in dramatic situations which you can not control.

Try to use cars in some difficult locations as Nick suggested. That would be the price for your space. Also, try to communicate with normal people. It would give more confidence to deal with these people.

palmlandtours.net · Sep 30th, 2007, 11:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aishah

....('Physical violence' so it doesn't hurt the victim and in a gentle manner sort of...} ...You should not be hesitant in asserting your need for space and loudly saying 'Chalo!chalo!" or 'Jao!Jao! will get you space rapidly.

That does not sounds very nice to me. But, it is fine if you do not care what they are saying to you.

Aishah · Sep 30th, 2007, 15:23

You say this in extremely annoying situations where adults or children are so persistent, they won't leave you alone, and they are not being very nice to you. These expressions are very commonly used by Indians here and no one takes offence. they are not rude words.

kalbarri · Sep 30th, 2007, 15:58

i only went to kerala, and a couple of hours in tamil nadu (for the atm) and although i used hindi a bit i only saw about 4 beggars and none of them hassled me. so i never had to tell anyone to chalo or jao. in fact one beggar even offered me change when i said i didn't have any small money! he pulled a roll of notes out of his top pocket as he spoke to me and i started laughing and said "i think you already have enough"

kalbarri · Sep 30th, 2007, 16:00

last trip, that is.
thanks for the spelling and clarification about the words.

Aishah · Sep 30th, 2007, 18:16

When I went to South India - Chennai, Bangalore, mangalore, Gokarna, Hampi,Ooty, Kodaikanal.. I was never hassled in the way I was and still am in North India. There were no persistent touts, children pestering in the way they do here. And they are not pestering only foreigners, anyone 'new' to an area is game for it. It occurs more in crowded places than small, less populated villages; to make life more comfortable for yourself, you do have to become rather assertive and not dither about being overwhelmed by it.
I haven't visited Kerala, my daughter did and she said it was very 'civilized' and well-mannered there!

Nick-H · Sep 30th, 2007, 18:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by palmlandtours.net

... ... ... Also, try to communicate with normal people. It would give more confidence to deal with these people.

Oh yes! It would be awful to leave with the impression that all India is high pressure beggars and touts

. I think this can happen all too easily to those who only frequent the big Tour spots.

Off the tourist trail (even one or two streets away) you'll find even the beggars are more easy to deal with. You might even feel more inclined to give a little to them.

wonderwomanusa · Sep 30th, 2007, 22:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aishah

When I went to South India - Chennai, Bangalore, mangalore, Gokarna, Hampi,Ooty, Kodaikanal.. I was never hassled in the way I was and still am in North India. There were no persistent touts, children pestering in the way they do here. And they are not pestering only foreigners, anyone 'new' to an area is game for it.

Thatg pestering does not happen in all of North India. But it does happen in the Golden Triangle where tourists are as thick on the ground as mosquitos in the air.

Get off the tourist trail and go to Lucknow or Bhopal, or south to Hyderabad and you will not be pestered.

capt_mahajan · Sep 30th, 2007, 22:22

I see many more foreigners in Hyderabad today than a couple of years ago. So do the beggars. Touts? Dunno, not noticed them.

The other day I saw a couple of beggars hassling two foreingers who looked hassled.

I had two thoughts. One, should I intervene?
Two, should I direct them to some thread on indiamike?

Nick-H · Sep 30th, 2007, 23:59

I think you should have done the latter.

Beggars should have their own threads on Indiamike!

Can anybody let me have the price of an hour in an internet cafe?

capt_mahajan · Oct 1st, 2007, 00:08

Ok , but can they choose their thread?

Sep 30th, 2007, 11:09	#17
kalbarri kalbarri Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: WESTERN australia Posts: 378	27 years it is 27 years sinse i had to use those terms, hence lack of accuracy. wht the err, captain?

Sep 30th, 2007, 11:24	#19
Aishah She-who-must-be-obeyed! Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Jaisalmer Posts: 5,029	I think Nick hit the nail on the head when he said 'gentler South'. North India is very much ' in your face' in crowded areas. Here there is no such thing as personal space, and sometimes, I blush to say this, a swinging handbag comes in handy when you have over-the-top pestering by someone almost sitting on your shoulders!! When I have resorted to physical violence you can see the notes of approval on the faces of surrounding people. ('Physical violence' so it doesn't hurt the victim and in a gentle manner sort of...} I might add I can count the fingers only on one hand for the no. of times I have done this over a period of almost 8 years. You should not be hesitant in asserting your need for space and loudly saying 'Chalo!chalo!" or 'Jao!Jao! will get you space rapidly. __________________ "Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards."

Sep 30th, 2007, 16:00	#24
kalbarri kalbarri Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: WESTERN australia Posts: 378	oops!! last trip, that is. thanks for the spelling and clarification about the words.

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Sep 30th, 2007, 10:11	#16
capt_mahajan (in charge of navel affairs) Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 10,105	err, 'challo' and 'jao' jao means go, or go away. challo used alone can mean 'lets go' too. 'challo jao' means the same as jao, only slightly ruder.

Sep 30th, 2007, 11:16	#18
capt_mahajan (in charge of navel affairs) Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 10,105	the err was hesitancy

Sep 30th, 2007, 11:46	#20
palmlandtours.net Account Closed - Travel Agent Join Date: May 2005 Location: Trichur, Kerala, India Posts: 130	It depends where you would be in India. Most of the places in South are friendly and cool. There are few exceptions like tourist streets of Madurai. Normally, no body is going to pull you to his shop or rickshaw. In Madurai, beggars could hold your shirt for 10 Rupee note or rickshaw drivers could follow you for 200 meters for a trip. But, there would be other tourists as well. Try to divert their attention to other tourists. Giving some thing to the beggars could bring more of them to you. They do not care, if you are upset. Keep your cool. Pushing them physically could result in dramatic situations which you can not control. Try to use cars in some difficult locations as Nick suggested. That would be the price for your space. Also, try to communicate with normal people. It would give more confidence to deal with these people.

Sep 30th, 2007, 15:23	#22
Aishah She-who-must-be-obeyed! Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Jaisalmer Posts: 5,029	You say this in extremely annoying situations where adults or children are so persistent, they won't leave you alone, and they are not being very nice to you. These expressions are very commonly used by Indians here and no one takes offence. they are not rude words.

Sep 30th, 2007, 15:58	#23
kalbarri kalbarri Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: WESTERN australia Posts: 378	i only went to kerala, and a couple of hours in tamil nadu (for the atm) and although i used hindi a bit i only saw about 4 beggars and none of them hassled me. so i never had to tell anyone to chalo or jao. in fact one beggar even offered me change when i said i didn't have any small money! he pulled a roll of notes out of his top pocket as he spoke to me and i started laughing and said "i think you already have enough"

Sep 30th, 2007, 18:16	#25
Aishah She-who-must-be-obeyed! Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Jaisalmer Posts: 5,029	When I went to South India - Chennai, Bangalore, mangalore, Gokarna, Hampi,Ooty, Kodaikanal.. I was never hassled in the way I was and still am in North India. There were no persistent touts, children pestering in the way they do here. And they are not pestering only foreigners, anyone 'new' to an area is game for it. It occurs more in crowded places than small, less populated villages; to make life more comfortable for yourself, you do have to become rather assertive and not dither about being overwhelmed by it. I haven't visited Kerala, my daughter did and she said it was very 'civilized' and well-mannered there!

Sep 30th, 2007, 22:22	#28
capt_mahajan (in charge of navel affairs) Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 10,105	I see many more foreigners in Hyderabad today than a couple of years ago. So do the beggars. Touts? Dunno, not noticed them. The other day I saw a couple of beggars hassling two foreingers who looked hassled. I had two thoughts. One, should I intervene? Two, should I direct them to some thread on indiamike?

Sep 30th, 2007, 23:59	#29
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 26,866	I think you should have done the latter. Beggars should have their own threads on Indiamike! Can anybody let me have the price of an hour in an internet cafe?

Oct 1st, 2007, 00:08	#30
capt_mahajan (in charge of navel affairs) Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 10,105	Ok , but can they choose their thread?

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