Carrying Change – Common Man’s Responsibility
[Written in 2002 when availability of small notes was posing a serious problem particularly here in Bangalore]
Chandrababu Naidu may well have lured Bill Gates and his Microsoft away to Hyderabad. Bangalore in its own humble style has been attracting capital from every nook and corner of our country and that too strictly in cash. What if the same is all in small denomination? What if most part of it is virtually in shreds held together by gum tape – no matter transparent or otherwise?
The Reserve Bank Of India may not feel obliged to issue new notes, much less so to withdraw old notes. So long as we Bangaloreans are there – the most peace-loving and least cantankerous people ever known to exist – the rest of the country need not worry on this score. Bangalore shall continue to be the haven for these small notes to enjoy extended life in their full glory. While these notes are freely accepted by one and all, if someone were to flash a fresh note the same is likely to be looked upon with suspicion. The responsibility of having to carry small notes/change is squarely on the common man – day in and day out – and by no means on the bus conductor, counter-clerk at KEB or the Railway Station or for that matter any one except you and me. Offer a tenner to the auto driver, cheap coach purses outlet , “Have you two rupees on you sir?”, the query is bound to come through almost by way of reflex action. Now the problem is, the shop-keeper closest to you doesn’t have change. Going in search of it might call for a detour and you might end up paying that ten in any case. So why bother? Instead you choose to say, “Keep the change” – the British style.
But then when I went to Bombay last week I had to come back with all my dirty notes intact. Show them one of these, and you are made to feel like an ass. “Where did you get that note from eh? Bangalore?! You mean in Bangalore they accept such notes?”, the conductor asked holding my note aloft which evoked all-round peals of laughter. I didn’t know what to say. It is in this kind of a situation one ends up appreciating the adage ‘Silence is Golden’.
Last evening I was at a nearby vegetable shop. The total bill came to Rs 46/- I handed over a 50-rupee note. “Do you have six rupees?”, the old lady enquired. “You do one thing. How much do you charge for these drum-sticks?”, I asked. “We have been selling at two rupees each. Take 3 for Rs 4/-”, she said. “Give 4 at rupee one each”, I said and frankly I never expected a ‘no’ for an answer.
Basically I am no good at bargaining much less so at haggling. I had purchased so many items, not once had I even tried it. After all this was my first ever attempt in the direction and I was hell-bent upon getting those 4 drumsticks – it was by now a prestige issue. But the old hag wouldn’t agree.
I stood my ground. Moreover I was in an irritable mood myself having had to pay three rupees extra to auto-driver under circumstances explained earlier and that too twice during the same day. She dug out three rupees all in small coins 25/50 paisa coins and asked me to claim back the balance one rupee during my next visit to the shop.
“You are not prepared to let go one rupee. Then why should I agree to do that?” I wanted to know. “Our shop is there. Can you not trust me?” she asked politely. At this stage all the bitterness I had been feeling on this subject surfaced and I let off steam then and there. “Take back everything and return my 50-rupee note”, I demanded. She couldn’t believe her own ears. “You mean for the sake of a mere one rupee you want to reject everything I have so painstakingly weighed and sold to you”, cheap five fingers , she asked.
“Most certainly I do”, I insisted maintaining a stern expression. Swiftly she rushed inside and brought out a small tin box from which she fished out small small coins that included even 2/5 paisa coins one hadn’t seen for decades. I walked back home my pockets heavy with change. For once I had my way despite being a common man, cheap five fingers shoes !