The Other Sarathys

I mentioned in an earlier blog my friends the Sarathy. The term sarathy refers to a chariot driver, and specifically to Krishna, who offered his services as a chariot driver to Arjuna in the epic Mahabarta, which was penned by none other than Ganesh himself.

Traffic is so crazy in Indian cities that many people forego the hassle and hire drivers or sarathy for themselves. Despite the godly connections and the neccesity of these folks, their social status is rather low and several have been surprised by my talking to them.

My driver comes to pick me up at 7am each morning, and is sometimes late, or maybe I'm early. (Stop laughing please) At such times I sit in this nice little open air pavillion by my building's security gate and wait for my car.

The Indian caste system may be disappearing, but the class system certainly is not, and I caused a bit of a stir the first week I sat with the boys. They all saluted and stood up and wouldn't sit down even when I motioned for them to do so. A couple of the residents gave me very worried looks. Everyone has now written me off as a crazy foreigner, though they do still all rise and say good morning when I walk by. (sheesh)

Anyway, these are some of the guys. One is in the standard white of the chauffer class. There are a couple of the security gaurds and another driver in his street wear.