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ETHNOGRAPHIC RESEARCH Women fruit and vegetable vendors Sector 7 Market, Gandhinagar, Gujarat Submitted by Tanu Malhotra NMD’ 11

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Ethnographic reach on the women vegetable vendors od Gujarat

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Page 1: Ethnography - sounds

ETHNOGRAPHIC

RESEARCH

Women fruit and vegetable vendors

Sector 7 Market, Gandhinagar, Gujarat

Submitted by

Tanu Malhotra NMD’ 11

Page 2: Ethnography - sounds

DEMOGRAPHICS

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SOCIAL GROUP MEMBER - 1

Name: Saakar Ben

Gender: Female

Age: 35 years

Education: Studied till 7 standard

Languages known: Gujarati – read, write and speak

Hindi – speak

Employment: Hired to sell vegetables

Income: earns Rs 100 per day

Husband: Arvind, died in 2006

Children: Sanjay, Married –wife and 2 year old daughter

Sandeep, Unmarried, Works as a clerk

Sunil, Unmarried, Studying

Current home: Sector 7, Gandhinagar

Origin: Village in Ahmadabad

Family: Stays with two of her sons – Sandeep and Sunil.

Eldest son, Sanjay stays away (with his wife and daughter)

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SOCIAL GROUP MEMBER - 2

Name: Urmila Ben

Gender: Female

Age: 26 years

Education: Studied till 7 standard

Languages known: Gujarati – read, write and speak

Hindi – speak

Employment: Stands on one of the three fruit carts belonging to the family

Income: around 1000 per day from all three carts

Husband: works in IDBI bank in Infocity, Gandhinagar

Children: Nidhi, 2 years

Current home: Sector 4,Gandhinagar

Origin: Village in Ahmedabad

Family: Stays with her husband and daughter alongwith her brother-in-law’s

family.

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SOCIAL GROUP MEMBER - 3

Name: Kamala Ben

Gender: Female

Age: approximately 55 years

Education: Studied till 5 standard

Languages known: Gujarati – read, write and speak

Hindi – read, write and speak

Employment: Stands on one of the three fruit carts belonging to the family

Income: around 1000 per day from all the three carts

Husband: sells fruits

Children: Two sons

Elder son, Jayesh – autorickshaw driver,Married,has two kids

Younger son works in IDBI bank,Married ,has one daughter

Current home: Sector 7,Gandhinagar ; stays with her husband

Origin: Village in Ahmedabad

Page 6: Ethnography - sounds

MY FRAME AND MY UNDERSTANDING

OF THE CHOSEN SOCIAL GROUP

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In my life I have been always inspired by women like my mother and mother like figures

– my maternal grandmother and maternal aunts.The word “mother” is a construct of

sacrifice, warmth, one who sweats and toils for her family.Hence I might tend to find

mother like figures in the field.

I do not feel comfortable with the male gaze and try to either get rid of it by leaving the

place or ignore it, the thought of which remains there in my mind at that very moment

but I carry on with my tasks. Hence I do try to keep myself on a safer side instead of

taking risks.

Considering my frame, I planned to take an all women social group. This would

eventually make me comfortable in the field without any insecurities of the male gaze

and would let me focus more on my research.Initially I thought the women of my

selected social group,the women fruit and vegetable vendors to be introvert and less

participating for them being weaker than me in status.

I was also ready to hear the comparisons between me and them which they might do to

gain my sympathy. My idea was to accept whatever they offered me to eat and to do in

order to make them feel that I was one of them.

I was bit skeptical about them giving me their time in answering my queries as they had

their work to do. Also had this assumption that majority of the lower middle class

Gujaratis were more comfortable in speaking in Gujarati language instead of Hindi.

Hence I had to be prepared to pay full attention to whatever they spoke.

I planned to play the role of a learner. By doing so I would make them understand my

unfamiliarity with the language. Additionally I could participate rather than being a mere

observer.

Also I had few worries regarding the hygiene: they way they ate food, washing hands

and sanitation habits.

I am most comfortable in quieter places with less people around me.Hence silence is

really significant to me.

Page 8: Ethnography - sounds

PARTICIPANT

OBSERVATIONS

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Date : 17 June, Sunday ,2012

Time : 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

Place: Nid Post-graduate Campus, Gandhinagar ; Sargasan

Research Method : Participant Observation,Two to many

Actors : Me, Abi,The cleaning woman, Village women, the shady villager.

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On one of the hot and humid summer mornings of Gandhinagar,I decided to explore 1

Sargasan, a village barely 2 kms away,for my research on the social group. I decided to 2

wear salwar kameez in order to cover my body fully and paired it up with the shoes 3

which covered the feet. I was always told by my mother to dress up soberly while going 4

to the remote areas to avoid unnecessary attraction. Every time I heard the word ” 5

Sargasan ” a picture of two women wearing saris with their heads covered, engaged in 6

rearing the cattle, emerged in front of my eyes.I could sketch this picture because of 7

Po’s instantaneous remark, “Sargasan” when I covered my face and head with a scarf 8

in the auto on our way to Ahmadabad,long time back. 9

On my way towards the campus gate I was stopped by Abi who wanted to know where I 10

was heading. On knowing my plan he insisted upon joining in as he had been making 11

several trips to the place for his projects .On reaching the main gate, I spotted one of 12

the cleaning staff ladies, who was being checked by the security guard. 13

( I appreciate the way the sweepers and the other cleaning staff are checked before 14

their entry and exit from the campus). 15

The lady wore a floral pink sari and had a beautiful face further prettified by the set of 16

hazel brown eyes. Thinking her to be a part of my potential research group, I went to 17

her and enquired where she lived. The selection criterion for my social group was firstly 18

women and closer proximity. Ankita, who was standing besides the lady prompted in 19

and told me that she stayed at a place quite distant from the campus.On questioning 20

Ankita as to how she knew about her residence, I was told that she was working on her 21

project which involved her. 22

We started searching for the auto rickshaw and none was seen in the vicinity. Five 23

minutes later, we saw an auto rickshaw approaching us. Even after signaling, the 24

rickshaw did not stop. On turning back I saw the same auto stopping for a guard who 25

was with two other people.I felt a bit offended as the auto did not stop for us even 26

though we called it first.I thought the auto guy either did not see our signal or he had 27

already been called by the guard, I turned around and started waiting for the other one. 28

The auto was finally found. After fixing the fare we jumped in the “rick” and started 29

heading for the remote settlement .The cool breeze provided an immensely soothing 30

experience. After ten minutes of chitchatting, we found ourselves near a vibrantly 31

colored temple besides a mud road.My eyes searched the katchcha houses made of 32

bricks and mud, with thatched roof and buffaloes around it.I thought the people here 33

lived in katchcha houses. 34

Dehydrated by the scorching heat, I started looking for grocery store to buy a bottle of 35

water. Thankfully I could spot a grocery store with doctors’ clinics on its either sides . 36

After passing by one of the clinics, I wondered why the other clinic, apparently a stone’s 37

Page 11: Ethnography - sounds

throw away, existed. The boards on both the clinics were in Gujarati. All I could decipher 38

was the abbreviation of the word doctor as it somewhat resembled to that written in 39

Hindi .Sadly I couldn’t find packaged drinking water.It seemed quite surprising that the 40

place having the Doctors’ clinics lined up did not have something as basic as packaged 41

water.After my trip to the Himalayas I realized the easy availability of packaged drinking 42

water as I was able to buy water bottles from the most secluded shops in the hills. 43

Walking down further, I glanced onto the pukka houses with motorcycles parked in the 44

front.It was here where I could see my notions about the place going wrong.The world 45

seemed industrialized for a couple of seconds.This was a model of an advanced village. 46

Kutchcha houses were replaced by pukka and the buffaloes with bikes.On peeping 47

inside one of the houses, I saw a girl sleeping peacefully on the cot. The floor of the 48

house was cemented. This helped in shattering my pre-conceived notions further. 49

Towards my left I saw a group of women sitting in relaxed manner, chattering. 50

Their inquisitive looks made me feel as if we were “aliens” in their “world”. 51

I smiled at them and politely asked “yahan koi auratein hain jo embroidery ka kaam 52

karti hain?” “Nahin”, replied a few unanimously. “Aap kaun?” asked one of the women. 53

Trying my level best to assure them that I haven’t come for a fancy socialwork project, I 54

replied “Main aapke lifestyle ke baarey mein jaanana chahati hoon.Aur saath mein 55

aapse kuchh seekhna chahti hoon.” (I tried avoiding the use of English words in order 56

to interact in a better manner.Also iterating English words would make them feel me to 57

be superior) 58

“Hum kya sikha sakte hain? Hum toh ghar ka kaam hi kartey hain”. 59

“Toh wahi sikha dijiye” 60

“Matlab hum sab ghar ka hi kaam karteen hai – khana banana,jhadoo,pochha,bartan 61

dhona.” 62

“Theek hai wohi sikha dena.Aap sab free(oops I uttered another English word) kab 63

hoteen hai.” 64

“Hum sab dopahar mein khaali rehtein hain.Kuchh kaam nahi hota.” 65

“Aapko mere aane se koi problem toh nahin hain na?” 66

“Nahin nahin…..Hum toh har roz dopahar mein aise hi rehtein hai…kuccha kaam nahi 67

hota….aise hai gappe martein hai.” 68

”Aapka naam?” 69

Page 12: Ethnography - sounds

“Mera naam Janak Ben”, replied one woman. 70

“Theek hai …. Fir main kal aaungi”I said with a smile. 71

They smiled back.As I was about to leave,Abi who had been silent and observing our 72

conversation (I was quite aware that he was observing my conversation with the 73

womenfolk, critically as he always does) all this while asked me to take down one of the 74

women’s number and inform them about my next visit beforehand. 75

“Aapka number?” 76

Janak Ben stood up and took out her cellphone.This made me wonder me how can a 77

woman staying in this remote locality, furthermore a housewife have a cellphone. 78

The cellphone was a basic mobile phone from Nokia with a hideous plastic see though 79

cover fixed by a zipper.I always hated those covers because I never found them to be 80

aesthetically appealing.This reminded of the mild arguments I had with papa on 81

aesthetics versus functionality.He always found mobile phones to be “safer” in those 82

covers. 83

Janak Ben gave me her number and I admired her beauty as she came closer. 84

Unfortunately, the number could not be saved owing to the less memory space in my 85

mobile. 86

I insisted Janak Ben to repeat the number.Instead of telling be the number verbally as 87

she did in the first place,she handed me her cellphone for me to take down the 88

number.(Did she trust me that much in first meeting to handover her precious 89

cellphone). 90

I took her cellphone,She had saved her mobile number as her phonebook contact under 91

the name of J.B. Vaghela. 92

(Questions like--Where are the Vaghelas from? Are they Gujarati? struck my mind 93

instantaneously) 94

Probably I wasn’t satisfied with what I saw - the pukka houses with the motorbikes 95

which were never there in my visualization of a “village”. Intrigued, I walked ahead (with 96

Abi) to explore the place . 97

(I was still expecting to find the katchcha houses and the cattle. Probably I wanted to 98

prove myself ) 99

There was a peaceful silence which made the place more fascinating….. 100

Page 13: Ethnography - sounds

I was enthralled to spot a small street lined up with katchcha houses and the cattle.The 101

houses had low ceiling and I wondered how the people moved in and out. 102

Excited, I bent down to peep inside one of the houses .All that could be seen was a 103

dimly lit empty room .Going ahead,my attention was caught by a woman drawing water 104

from a hand pump.This was the classical setting of the Indian village in my view and I 105

loved it. 106

On the porch of another house a woman was seen washing the clothes. 107

“Did you notice the woman washing clothes with a bat” asked Abi with a mischievous 108

smile. 109

Bat? 110

I turned back to see what Abi’s reference to a “Bat”. Perhaps ,I was familiar with this 111

way of washing clothes and did not notice the “bat”. 112

Amused by his unfamiliarity with the north Indian culture and his reference of a “bat” ,I 113

replied, 114

“It is called sota in Punjabi. Haven’t you never see something like this before?” 115

Abi smiled and shook his head. 116

“You must carry hand sanitizer,a scarf and a bottle of water when out come out in the 117

field”. 118

As Abi kept on instructing,I noticed a shady looking man leaning against a black 119

motorbike in the corner of the street .Trying to avoid the male gaze,I looked down and 120

continued walking.I could hear the man passing remarks.Though I couldn’t understand 121

the language(gujarati), I was aware of the tone and the intentions. 122

Abi figured out me getting upset and asked for the reason. I knew his unfamiliarity with 123

hindi (I was able to make sense of gujarati as it sounds somewhat like hindi). 124

“Nothing”,I said. 125

“I heard the man speaking something. Was he saying something to you?”Abi 126

questioned. 127

“Yes”I said and I started walking swiftly.”Let’s get out of this place”! 128

“Let me go and teach him a lesson”, said he aggressively. 129

Page 14: Ethnography - sounds

“Chuck it .Lets go” I said thinking about the shameless man and how harmful he could 130

be considering the fact that we were the outsiders. 131

I saw group of men seated near an abandoned house, in a secluded corner of the 132

village staring at us. 133

“This is the reason why I wanted to come with you” said Abi pointing them. 134

As we came outside the village,all we could see was barren land. 135

A dead silence was observed by me. 136

“You have to be extremely careful when you come here as you would not be able to find 137

any auto rickshaw here”he suggested as we started walking towards the road. 138

Considering this place to be an unsafe one, I started thinking about the other safer 139

options and the security measures that could be taken if I do my research in this place. 140

As we reached the main road the dead silence was now subdued by the sound of the 141

speeding cars.142

Page 15: Ethnography - sounds

Date :17 June 2012

Time : 1:00 p.m – 2:00 p.m.

Place: Auto rickshaw, Sector 7 market

Research Method : Participant Observation,one to many

Actors : Me, Abi, Auto rickshaw driver, Women vendors

Page 16: Ethnography - sounds

Considering Sargasan as an unsafe place to conduct my research, I planned to move 1

ahead and started finding other social groups. I stuck to my criteria: social group 2

involving women and it should not be far away from the campus. 3

I started thinking about the other social groups – women embroiders, potters, weavers. 4

Though the distance was one of the factors to choose the social group, yet I did not limit 5

myself to a specific distance. I was ready to travel as well if I got a desired social group. 6

Thinking about the social groups and simultaneously responding to Abi’s suggested 7

social groups, I kept on enjoying the auto rickshaw ride. I love to explore. Keeping a 8

record of the landmarks and signs I found unique, which I have always been doing since 9

childhood, I found myself is sector 7 market. This came into my realization when the 10

autowallah stopped the auto and said “ saat sector ka market “.Initially I thought of 11

taking the auto bit further but suddenly realized that I could explore more by walking. 12

After getting down and walking a few steps I discovered a group of women selling fruits 13

and vegetables. I was elated and thought of going and asking for their permission to be 14

with them every day. The place was quiet and seemed very cool as there was a big tree 15

under whose shade few of these vendors parked their carts. The birds were chirping 16

and there was hardly any noise of the traffic. I could see an under-constructed building 17

behind the place where the vendors stood.I saw a women feeding her baby on the 18

cemented floor which near the tree. 19

(I thought of the privacy as she was breast feeding in the public. I wondered where the 20

vendors went to relieve themselves?) 21

I saw few auto wallas who staring me.I was aware of them staring me but I ignored.) 22

I went to one of the ladies who was standing near the vegetable cart, smiled and politely 23

greeted her “Namstey” 24

“Namastey” she replied. 25

“Kya aap yahan roz aatey hain” I asked 26

She gave me a surprised look and answered “haan ben hum sab poorey din yahin 27

rehtey hain.subah se aa jatey hain…kyu?” (I was glad she knew Hindi) 28

I thought of not disclosing my motive and made up a story immediately “main gujarat 29

mein auratein kaisey kaam kartin hain uske dekhna chahti hoon…woh kaise mehnat 30

karti hain” 31

She smiled and seemed excited “haan ben aa janaa…aap padhtey ho?” 32

Page 17: Ethnography - sounds

“Haan padhti hoon…yahan paas mein” I answered. 33

“Kahan par?” she enquired. 34

“NID mein” I said 35

She gave me a questioning look.I understood she did not know about N.I.D. I could see 36

the people – customers and other vendors staring me. I felt conscious. 37

“Yeh kahan hai” she asked. 38

“Infocity ke pass” I answered, coming out of my thoughts. 39

“Theek hai ben...aap aa jao” she smiled and started attending her customers. I heard 40

the sound of the weights being kept on the weighing balance and the noise it made 41

when the vegetables were kept in the weighing pan and the cracking sound of the 42

polybag when she handed the vegetables to the customers. 43

“Apka naam ?” I asked 44

“Mera naam Saakar ben” she said. 45

I related it with the hindi word “shakkar”. 46

“Saakar ?”I confirmed 47

“Matlab mithaas”She smiled . 48

“Theek hai Saakar ben main fir baad mein aati hoon”I smiled and took her permission to 49

leave. 50

We took one of the autos standing nearby and left for the campus. 51

Page 18: Ethnography - sounds

Date : 23RD June 2012

Time: 10:00 a.m.

Place: Sector 7 market

Research Method: Participant Observation, One to many

Actors : Me,Saakar ben,Urmila Ben,Sandeep,Kamala ben,Jayesh bhai

Page 19: Ethnography - sounds

Since my last visit, I became quite aware of the surroundings where I was about to do 1

my ethnographic research. I wore salwar kameez with normal chappals.I did so in order 2

to look as simple as possible and mix myself up with the women.I sat in the auto and 3

the auto driver demanded forty rupees. 4

“Chalees kahan lagta hai bhaiya?”I said 5

“Chalees …itna hi lagta hai” he said 6

I sat in the auto without arguing much. I tried to observe the sounds while sitting to 7

prepare myself in the field.The sound of the auto rickshaw’s engine was dominant and I 8

could hardly hear the sound of the traffic.At times the sound of the speeding motorbikes 9

and cars approaching near the auto could be heard.I could also hear the sounds of the 10

vehicles’ horns. I tried to recognize the signs which I observed during my previous trip to 11

assure myself that autowallah was taking me from the right way.At a distance I could 12

spot them out.I asked the autowallah to stop near the corner of the road. 13

(I stopped the auto before because I did not want to get down in front of the women 14

vendors to avoid showing them my status) 15

The road was really wide and quiet and less of traffic noises could be heard.On my 16

right was Sector 7 market with a departmental store in the corner.On my right was the 17

fruit and the vegetable vendors lined up.Behind them was an empty ground with an 18

under-constucted building. 19

I walked past the lined up vegetable carts to reach Saakar Ben’s Cart.On her left were 20

two fruit carts.One was almost empty with few bananas and a small earthen pot- 21

“matka “ covered with polythene (was it because of the hygiene?) kept on it.On the 22

other cart, were mangoes and a weighing scale. 23

I went towards Saakar ben who was cleaning the vegetables, and politely said 24

“Namastey…Kaise ho?” 25

“Arrey..aao aao”she welcomed me and offered me a plastic chair to sit on and she 26

herself sat on the iron stool.I offered the chair to the other women standing besides 27

me.Saakar ben introduced her as Urmila ben. 28

“Nahin nahin…aap baitho”She said. 29

I could not see the other vendors whom I saw the other day “Baaki nahi aaye aaj?” 30

“Ghar par hain…who sham ko aatey hain.”She told. 31

She pointed towards a board “Woh Shiv complex hai… paanch bajey wahan saari lorry 32

lagengi “ 33

Page 20: Ethnography - sounds

She attended the customers while she talked.She again asked “Kahan par padhtey ho”. 34

“NID mein,Infocity ke pass”I answered. 35

She smiled and showed the willingness to talk.”Tumhara ghar…?” 36

“Yahan hostel mein rehti hoon”. 37

“Kahan se ho?”…“Dilli se”I replied. 38

“Aur tumhara family” she asked again.“Woh bhi dilli mein hi rehtey hain”.I replied. 39

“tum khana kahan khati ho”asked Urmila ben.”hostel mein hi milta hai”I answered. 40

She went back to her fruit cart to attend a customer. 41

Saakar ben asked” Tumhara naam kya hai”.“Tanu”.She repeated my name and called 42

Urmila ben loudly “Iski beti ka naam bhi tannu hai”.I smiled. 43

She started selling vegetables to the customer. I noticed the sounds of weighing scales 44

and the weights.The weighing scale made a “click” sound when the weighinh pan got 45

heavy. 46

I noticed two of the customers looking at me.She smiled and introduced me “infocity 47

mein bhadwaun”.I could not understand what she meant by “bhadwaun”.On asking the 48

meaning,she told “bhadwaun ka matlab kahan padhai kartey hain”. 49

“Aap kab se sabji bech rahey ho?” I asked 50

She told me about her family “mere mister do hazaar chhe mein chale gaye...tabhi se 51

main yahan sabji bech rahi hoon”. 52

She showed me her son who was going on a motorcycle with two other people.He wore 53

a clean white ironed shirt. “Woh jo jaata hai na woh mera beta hai Sandeep..mere teen 54

bete hain…Sandeep ko papa ka naukri mila..Ahmadabad mein clerk hai…woh mahine 55

ke pandrah hazaar rupaye kamata hai.” 56

She paused for a while. 57

“Main apne makaan ka pandrah sau rupaya deti hoon mahine ka… Sandip ka bada 58

bhai Sanjay hai…uski shaadi ho gayi hai…uski itni badi beti hai”. 59

“Sabse chhota Sunil hai”She further added. 60

“Woh kya karta hai?”I asked “Woh padhai kar raha hai… dasvi mein do baar fail hua 61

hai”She said 62

Page 21: Ethnography - sounds

“Tumhari umar kitni hai”she asked again. 63

“Taiees saal” I answered….”tees?”she aked with surprise.”Nahin taiees… bees aur 64

teen”I corrected her.”achha achha” she smiled. 65

A long pause. 66

Saakar ben asked “tumhara caste kya hai”.I answered “pata nahin. “Tumhey tumhara 67

caste nahi pata” she asked again. “nahin.. …main Punjabi hoon” I replied. 68

She peeled a cucumber and cut it into four parts and offered me a part “Yeh kakdi 69

khao”. 70

“Nahi nahin theek hai”I said.She smiled and said “khao na”. 71

I took and started eating it. 72

“Gujarati aati hai?”she asked. “Nahin” I said. 73

“Aap kahan tak padhey ho?” I asked. “Main saatvi fail hoon…meri solah saal mein hi 74

shaadi ho gayi thi…magar mujhe thodi english aati hai…ek kilo ko one kg boltey 75

hain…”she then told me english alphabets with minimal errors.I could feel the love she 76

had towards studies. 77

Then there came a man in her mid fifties.She introduced me to him “Yeh meri friend 78

hai…Infocity mein padhti hai….”. 79

The man told me about the girl from Nift Gandhinagar who was his tenant.He seemed to 80

know about N.I.D. “yeh DAIICT, NIFT ke paas hai naa ?”.He told Saakar ben that the 81

girl got fifity thousand when she passed out the college. 82

Before leaving he asked “koi room chahiye toh batana” 83

She told me that she worked from eight in the morning till ten in the night.This made me 84

think about the long working hours.I saw a vendor standing under the shade of the tree 85

and asked her why she does not stand under the tree.She said ”Ped ki chaaun ke saath 86

lorry aagey peechhe karti rehti hoon”. 87

“Shaadi kab karogi tum”she asked…”abhi nahi …abhi time hai”I answered. 88

She gave the direction me her house “ yeh shopping ke peechhe… do chokdi paar 89

karke…”.She also told me how she loved talking “Mujhe bolna pasand hai”. “Ben tum 90

Sandeep ka number le lo…mujhe phone karna” she said.She showed me the passport 91

sized photo of her husband, her lorry owner-Hansa ben and her sons “Yeh mere mister 92

hain…dekho kaise lagte hain…yeh mera bada beta hai Sanjay…mere mister isse gorey 93

hain…ye Hansa ben …jinki lorry par main kaam karti hoon…yeh meri best friend”. 94

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I could see the happiness on her face when she showed me all this. 95

“Aap subah hi yahan aa jatey ho toh ghar par khana kaun banata hai ?” I asked. 96

“Sunil khichdi banata hai raat ko...subah aur dopahar ka toh main subah hi bana leti 97

hoon”she said.“ben tum chicken khaati ho kya ?”.”Haan” I answered. “Suday ko mere 98

ghar par aana…main har Sunday ko chicken banati hoon…aaj shanivar ko nahi 99

khatey…Hanumaan baba ka din hai naa”. 100

(I thought of my security if she urged me to come to her place for dinner) 101

Sandeep came towards her lorry.He asked me where I was from and the purpose of me 102

coming there.I told him I studied in N.I.D. “Haan rashtriye institute of design” He said. 103

“Poora din kaam karna hota hai…isiliye dard hota hai…chicken khaane se sahi rehta 104

hai…mujhe chicken pasand hai”She smiled like a kid. 105

Most of Saakar ben’s customers came on vehicles.Every now and then a vehicle 106

slowed down and asked the price of the vegetables.She told the price and sometimes 107

helped the customer choose the vegetable he wanted, weighed the vegetables on the 108

weighing scale.Most of the times the customers brought their own cloth bags and 109

sometimes she provided the polythene bag if the customer asked for it. 110

After a while she showed me a broken glass, comb and soap.”Yeh dekho…kahin jaana 111

hota hai toh yahin se tayyar hokar chalu jaati hoon char nahi jaana padhta”.She then 112

talked about apna bazaar and how people come and shop there “udhar sab kuchh ek hi 113

dukaan main milta hai…bharat sarkaar ka hai…kuchh lena ho toh le lena”. 114

Urmila ben’s daughter started crying.Saakar ben started talking to her from her cart to 115

make her stop crying like a mother does.( I was aware of my frame and I started finding 116

a mother like figure in Saakar ben) 117

She brought her daughter to me.I smiled at her. “Kya naam hai iska?”. “Nidhi”she 118

replied. “kitney saal ki hai?”. “do saal”. 119

Saakar ben rose up from her iron stool and started running behind make noises 120

“hurr…hatt..kurrr…hatt”. I turned back,she was shooing the cows coming from behind 121

so that they do not eat the vegetables from the cart.After shooing them away she came 122

back and sat on the stool. 123

Then came an old women who started selecting vegetables.Saakar ben put the 124

vegetables selected by her into a polybag and hander it over to her.She did not pay 125

anything for the vegetables.(I thought she could be her close friend) 126

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She came towards me and asked Saakar ben who I was. “Yah yahan pehle lorry lagati 127

thi.”said Saakar ben.She started talking to me in gujarati and I was not able to 128

understand it. I tried telling her my unfamiliarity with the language “Gujarati aave 129

nathi”.She smiled.Saakar ben played the role of a translator between two of us.She 130

introduced me to her. “Yeh nahi ben hain…chhoti hai na isliye inko nani ben kehtey 131

hain” 132

“Tannu ben chhach piyoge?”She asked.”I smiled and did not want to refuse her offer 133

“theek hai…kaunsi hai…khatti ya meethi”(I realized I was acting very choosy and 134

demanding.”Khatti meethi hai”Saakar ben replied. “Main namkeen chachh hi peeti 135

hoon…”I said. “Ek baar pee kar dekho”I urged.I could not refuse any more and smiled 136

“theek hai”. 137

Saakar ben handed a twenty rupees note to Nani ben. 138

(I felt bad as Saakar ben spent her money on me and old Nani ben had to fetch 139

chhach.But I kept on wondering how the packaging of chhach would be like? 140

Polybag,polythene or a container?) 141

After some five minutes Nani ben came back.She was carrying a polybag.Saakar be n 142

asked me to get “Kaanch ka gilaas” from the banana cart.The tumbler was unclean.I 143

cleaned it with my kameez and handed it to Saakar ben who cut the polybag with a 144

knife and started pouring it in the tumbler. “Thoda sa daalna …main pehle thoda pi kar 145

dekhti hoon…achha laga toh aur loongi nahi toh bach jayega”I said to avoid wastage of 146

her money. 147

“Achha hai” I said. “thoda aur lelo”she started pouring more. “Nahin nahin bas zyada 148

mat daalo” (I thought what would be left for her and Naniben if she poured most of the 149

chhach from the polybag into my tumbler) 150

“Tum bhindi ki kadhi khaati ho ?” Saakar ben asked. “Nahi kabhi khayi nahi”I said. “wo 151

chane ka aata pani mein milaakar ubaalta hai nah…fir bhindi daltey hain usmein”she 152

explained the recipe.(Bhindi ki kadhi sounded repulsive.I did not want to eat it and 153

started thinking if she requested me) 154

It was their lunch time.Nani ben and Saakar ben took me to the cemented floor and 155

called Urmila ben for lunch. 156

“Yahan chappal mat lao” she warned “yeh mandir hai yahan chaapal utaar ke aatey 157

hai”Saakar ben informed.(I saw the small structure and realized it was a small temple). 158

Saakar ben took out some chapattis which were wrapped in the newspaper.She then 159

opened a steel tiffin box and poured some kadhi in the lid and served me. “ yeh 160

khao”.She pointed at the rotis and said “main moti roti banati hoon”.I took a bite from the 161

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chapatti and had kadhi with it “achhi hai” I said.She smiled and started pouing in some 162

more. “Nahin nahin bas aap khao .. mujhe zyada bhookh nahi hai…aaj der se breakfast 163

kiya mainey”.( I could not tell that I did not like the kadhi) Urmila ben came and sat with 164

us.She did not get luch.She gave money to Sandeep.Sandeep picked Nidhi up and she 165

started crying. “Isko bukhaar aaya hai” Urmila ben informed Sandeep, who put Nidhi 166

down and went away. 167

Sandeep came with a small paper pag which had kachori in it.Saakar ben took it out 168

and asked “tum ise kya kehtey ho?”. “Kachori”I said.Both of them smiled and said hum 169

bhi kachori kehte hain. “yeh khao”Saakar ben gave one of the two kachoris. “Nahin 170

nahin…”I refused. She broke it into two pieces,put chatni on it and said “yeh toh khaana 171

hi padega”.I took it.(It had a peculiar odour of cooking oil.I could not help it and ate 172

it).Saakar ben started cleaning her steel tiffin box by pouring the water from a can which 173

was wrapped with jute cloth to keep the water in it cool.She then poured water on the 174

cemented floor where food was dropped while eating and cleaned it with her hand.I 175

thought of the hygiene.The bottle in the can got over.Saakar ben took one more empty 176

can and started going to fill them “chalo yeh paani bhakar aatey hain”she asked me to 177

accompany her.I took one of the cans.She started laughing. “Tum mat pakdo…”she 178

took the can from me.On the corner of the road was an office.On the other side of the 179

road were few young men staring me “Woh Sunil hai”she said.I looked and tried to 180

avoid them.We crossed the porch of the office building .Few men were relaxing on the 181

bench of the garden near the porch. “Yeh meri friend hai” she told them.The men then 182

informed that the water is not coming and that she should come later to fill the 183

water.She wished them goodbye and we left the place. 184

On returning back,I saw an old women with two young girls sitting with Urmila ben.The 185

old woman was Urmila’s mother in law, Kamala ben and her young granddaughters 186

Taniya and Yashica.Kamala ben made space for me on the bedsheet they were sitting 187

on.She introduced me to her son Jayesh who is auto driver.Jayesh gave his number 188

and asked me to contact him if I needed to rent an auto.After a while I took Jayesh 189

bhai’s auto left the place.Jayesh bhai spoke about his friendship with the students of 190

NIFT,one of whom offered him a job in Delhi for fifteen thousand rupees which he left 191

for his family.He told he earns twelve thousands by driving the auto and had two 192

daughters – Taniya and Yashica.He dropped me at the campus gate and charged thirty 193

rupees unlike the other auto drivers who charged forty rupees. “Didi aapke liye tees 194

rupaye hi loonga…aap mera number aur doston ko bhi de dena…agar kahain jaana ho 195

toh phone karna”.I smiled “theek hai” and left. 196

Page 25: Ethnography - sounds

Date : 7th July 2012

Time: 9:30 p.m.

Place: Sector 7 market

Research Method: Participant Observation,

Actors : Me, Saakar Ben , Kamala Ben

Page 26: Ethnography - sounds

I reached the college gate after having a good breakfast. I ate two paranthas in order to 1

keep my stomach full for three to four hours. The campus was quiet today and many 2

people were seen. 3

(Maybe it was Saturday today. Also it could be because of the date night yesterday I 4

thought). 5

I found two auto wallas today. 6

“Bhaiyya sector saat chalogey ?” I asked in a usual tone. 7

“Baitho” said the auto guy. 8

I sat in the auto and the rickshaw was started. 9

“Sector saat shopping mein ?...” confirmed he. 10

“Ji” I said trying to recollect the mention of the word “shopping” by Saakar ben while she 11

was giving directions for her house. 12

As I reached closer to the sector 7 market, I asked the autowalla to stop where I usually 13

get down. After handing over the rickshaw fare to him and collecting the change, I 14

walked towards the place where Saakar Ben,Urmila Ben and Kamala Ben park their 15

“lorries”. 16

They always mention their carts as “lorries” unlike “redhi” or “thela” which I used to hear 17

back in Delhi. 18

From a distance I could see two new vegetable vendors. I kept a smile on my face to 19

make them realize of how happy I get when I come to meet them. 20

“Namstey” I said with a smile to Shankar Bhai, who was sitting on a chair today instead 21

of standing as usual today. 22

I thought Saakar Ben would have noticed me but she did not.She was busy arranging 23

her vegetables. 24

I stood behind her, watching her arrange the vegetables.When she was almost done 25

with arranging the vegetables I smiled and greeted her “Saakar Ben… kaem chho ?”. 26

She turned back smiled with surprise and said “Tannoo Manotra”, stretched out her 27

hand to shake hands with me and wished me “good morning.” 28

(I hate when someone pronounces my name as tannoo – e.i. putting more emphasis on 29

‘n’ and ‘u’.) 30

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But I appreciated the way she wished me. 31

“Kaisa hai tum” she smiled …”main tumhein yaad kar raha tha”. (I notice the gender 32

change) 33

I smiled. 34

“Dekho Sunil aaya” “I turned back and saw Sunil stopping his motorbike and said 35

“hello”. 36

She then offered me the white plastic chair to sit on and started attending a 37

customer.While she was busy, I turned and smiled at Kamala Ben and said “kaise ho?” 38

She nodded and smiled back at me. I turned back at Saakar ben and asked “Urmila Ben 39

kahan hain? “.”Who apne ghar gayi hai”Saakar Ben replied.”Kab aayengi?” I 40

questioned.”Sunday ayegi woh “…”kal ? ”I probed….”nahi agla hafte” she answered. 41

“Khaana khaake aaya?” She asked caringly. “Haan…abhi thodi der pehle….yahan 42

aaney se pehle”I replied. “tannoo tum chai peeyega?” “Chai nahi peeti” “kuch toh lo na 43

…. Coffee,? nimbu soda ?” “kuchh nahi Saakar Ben…abhi nashta kiya …doodh peekar 44

aayi hoon”. 45

She looked at the gray sky happily and said” abhi baaris ayega”. (Did she mean 46

“baarish ayegi?”) 47

“fir kya karoge ?”I enquired. “kuchh nahi aisa hi baitha rahega”. (Again she mixed the 48

gender) “Aur yeh ?” I pointed towards the vegetables. “kuchh nahi …fres ho jayega” she 49

said with a smile “aur aap?” I asked “hum aisa hi rahega” she pointed at her sari and 50

said further “yeh geela ho jayega fir bhi”. “Aur shaam ko barish aye toh?. “toh kuchh 51

nahi sabji bechega…poora bheeg jata hai” 52

(I appreciated their dedication towards their work and the carefree tone of her voice) 53

“Baarish kaisi lagti hai ?” I enquired. “barish achhi lagti hai…pure saal mein ek hi baar 54

toh aati hai…abhi toh waisa nahi aaya hai”she said 55

It started to drizzle. “baarish mein bheegna achha lagta hai ?” she asked. I smiled and 56

said “haan”. 57

As it started drizzling more, she told me to push the chair under the tree. As soon as I 58

started pushing the chair, it started raining heavily.Kamala Ben asked Saakar Ben to get 59

the chaadar(bedsheet). 60

She ran to fetch the bedsheet. While coming back,she started humming a song.I asked 61

her “yeh aap kaunsa geet ga rahe ho?”.She told me that the song is sung in the 62

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weddings “jab shaadi mein dulhan aati hai naa”.Kamala ben joined in “haan tabhi yeh 63

gaatein hain”.”tumhare mein shaadi mein kaunsa gana gaatein hain ?”. I replied “ 64

hamarey yahan ?..... lathe di chaadar utte saleti rang…..” tum chaadar ke liye ….aur 65

hum odhni ke liye gaatein hain”said Saakar Ben. 66

Both of them stated singing the song. 67

“Agar zyada barish aati hai toh aap kya kartey hain ?”I asked both of them.Kamala ben 68

pointed at the auto rickshaws standing and replied clamly “ yeh sab humarey hi 69

hain…inme baith jaatey hain….yeh sab mere bachhon ke hain”. 70

In the meanwhile Ravi, Sandeep’s friend who drives auto rickshaw started talking to 71

both of them in Gujarati. I could sense me being talked about in the conversation, but I 72

tried avoiding it. 73

I became alert when Kamala Ben said “chhokri gujarati nathi…..tamne maru chhoo” 74

which somewhat meant – had she been a gujarati girl,she would have beaten you up. 75

I waited for them to finish the conversation.Ravi left blabbering something. 76

I asked Saakar ben ”yeh kya bol rahey the?” She said in a guarding tone “kuchh 77

nahi…rehne do…”she pointed at the sleeves on my kurta and said “humarey Gujarat 78

mein yeh achha nahi maantey …aadmi log aisa aisa dekhtey hain….tabhi main 79

tumharey aagey khadi ho gayi“. 80

(I was bit surprised as according to me I dressed up soberly without exposing any part 81

of my body) 82

We stood under the bedsheet until it was fully wet and the water started dripping from it. 83

Me and Kamala ben swiftly went under the tree.Kamala ben started pulling me towards 84

the branch to protect me from getting drenched in the rain. 85

Saakar ben who was protecting herself from the rain by sitting uder the cart till now, 86

had to come out when one of the boys poured water on her. 87

She then came and stood beside me.They then started to talk about money.Kamala ben 88

asked ”tum padhai ke baad khoob paise kamaogey na?”.I smiled and replied ”dekhtey 89

hain”.She then said in a sad tone “hum kya kar saktey hain? Hamare bachhon ko hum 90

itna kahan se padhayengey?Jayesh ke teen bachhe hain auto chalakar bhi teen lakh 91

kahan se layega”.Saakar ben said”hum kahan itna padha saktey hai…paisa hi nahi hai”. 92

(I felt sad for them as I could relate to them.I thought the education expenses will be far 93

more than one lakh when their kids grow up. At the same time I felt lucky to be able to 94

pursue higher studies.) 95

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The rained almost stopped.Saakar Ben rushed towards her cart and started making way 96

for the clogged water with the knife she uses to cut the vegetables. 97

(I was bit shocked seeing her using the same knife to remove the soil and garbage from 98

which she cut the cucumber and gave me few days back !) 99

I went towards her and gave a closer look to what she was up to. 100

She stood up and moved her lorry. 101

“Woh dekho meri sister aayi”she said .I saw a women in her 50s dressed in a sari with 102

numerous piercings in her ears approaching towards us with a young woman and a 103

man with two kids.”yeh meri behen hai” she introduced me to her.I smiled at her with 104

folded hands and said “namastey”.Saakar ben said to her sister”dilli ni chhokri 105

….infocity bhadwano”. 106

She gave her the plastic chair and the others sat in a group and started their 107

conversations. 108

Saakar ben said” Iska bhi mihter nahi hai….mera do hajaar chhe mein gaya iska do 109

hajaar paanch mein. 110

She then went towards her sister.I went and stood at a side observing them conversing. 111

I asked the young woman pointing at the small kid “Yeh aapka beta hai?”.She smiled 112

and caressed his forehead and said “haan”.She then showed me her second son.Later 113

all of then got engrossed in their conversation and I hardly could make any sense as 114

they were talking in Gujarati 115

.I turned back towards Kamala ben,who was now standing with Jayesh bhai. 116

“Didi aapko kitni baar bola hai yaha mat aaya karo” said Jayesh Bhai in a low warning 117

tone. 118

I felt bit surprised and wanted to know what he meant by that. 119

“yahan ke log ache nahi hain…inke ladke theek nahin hain” he continued. 120

“Hum kuchh kahengey to yeh ladai kaarengi”Kamala ben added. 121

“Kabhi kabhi aaya karo …mahiney mein ek baar” warned Jayesh bhai 122

I got alarmed.But I kept cool and asked Kamala ben“shaam ko..??” . 123

“Haan shaam ko fir bhi theek hai chaar paanch baje ke baad….yeh office waale jatey 124

hain na.” said Kamala ben. 125

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In the meanwhile Saakar ben called me “chalo saari dekh ke aatey hain”.She pointed at 126

a shop in Shiv Complex “yahin saamne”. 127

I said “chalo..” 128

I looked at Jayesh Bhai and Kamala ben and said ”saari dekhkar aati hoon”.They 129

nodded. 130

On our way towards the sari shop,Saakar ben told me”bete ki shaadi hai”. 131

I asked “aapke?”. 132

“Nahin meri behen ke bete ki….baaris mein bathroom bahut lagti hai…” “tumko nahin 133

lagti?”she asked.”nahin I replied…karke aatin hoon”.”chalo peshaab karke aatey hain” 134

she said. I kept on following them. 135

I thought she uses someone’s house’s washroom but I realized it was not when she sat 136

behind the bush and said ” idhar saamne baith jao”. 137

“Nahin theek hai” I said. 138

We then started moving towards the sari shop. 139

We met Saakar ben’s sister waiting outside the shop…”peshaab karney gaye the”said 140

Saakar ben. 141

We then moved inside the sari shop.The shop had polyester saris displayed on the 142

mannequins.Few of them were embroidered in sequins.We went inside “Yeh meri friend 143

hai …infocity mein padhti hai “said Saakar ben to the shop owner.All the the ladies sat 144

on the mattress laid on the floor of the shop. I stood behind them. The shop owner 145

asked the attendant to get a chair for me. I sat and observed them choosing the saaris. 146

Saakar ben told the price range to the attendant “hajaar …padarh sau”.She kept on 147

convincing her sister to buy saaris she selected.Her sister liked none. After sitting in the 148

shop for some twenty minutes, they decided to leave without buying any sari and I 149

followed they kept on checking saris on the display saying “naya fasion”. 150

We reached near the carts… all the ladies joined the family of Saakar ben’s sister. 151

I went towards Kamala Ben who was sitting on the cemented floor of the porch of the 152

small temple and sat beside her. 153

“Yeh teeno lorry aap ki hi hain?” I asked. 154

“Haan …ek aam ki,ek kele ki aur ek mein baaki phal” she said. 155

“Kamai kaisi ho jaati hai” I asked 156

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“Subah mein hazaar rupaye tak aur sham mein teen chaar hazaar ki….phis usi paise se 157

maal laatey hain…toh din ka hazaar rupaya kama lete hain teeno lorry se”. 158

In the meanwhile two customers stopped near the cart with many fruits.The woman 159

sitting behind asked in hindi ”Yeh kitne ka diya ?” pointing at the plums. 160

“Tees ni dhisau” she said.She asked Ranjit to attend the customer. 161

“Yahan graahak kis bhaasha mein boltey hain?”I asked. 162

“Kuchh engliss kuch hindi aur gujarati” she replied. 163

“Fir aap kaise baat kartey ho?” 164

“koi engliss mein poochhta hai yeh mango kaisa diya..koi aam bolta hai…gujarati mein 165

kairi boltey hain.Toh jo jaise bolta hai waise hi jawaab detey hain.kela ko 166

banana…nariyal ko coco” 167

“toh aapney yeh english kaise seekha” I asked. 168

“Jayesh ne sikhaya..bola koi poochhe toh aise jawaab dena… kabhi kabhi grahak hi 169

bata dete hain…pehle koi angrezi naam boltey hain fir humey samajh nahi aata toh 170

usko dikhakar boltey hain…isko yeh kehtey hain”she said. 171

“English bolna kaisa lagta hai?” I asked. 172

“Accha lagta hai…padhna achha lagta hai…main paanchvi tak padhi hoon…jab koi 173

cheez pasand aati hai toh usey padhti hoon…jaise pooja hoti hai…uski katha padhti 174

hoon …achha lagta hai”she said. 175

I could see the twinkle in her eyes and seemed interested in talking about education 176

and reading. 177

She then started talking about mythology,Sita maiyya how she had to face the 178

troubles.She then was joined by the auto walla in her late fifties. Both of them started 179

conversing in Gujarati.I was hardly able to understand the sentences.But the use of few 180

words which resembled that of hindi make me understand the context. Soon their 181

conversation transformed into a debate as the level of their voices increased.They 182

talked about Krishna and the gopis which made me understand the topic was about the 183

relationship between gods and goddesses. 184

Soon Shanta ben came.She put her hand on my shoulders,smiled and asked “kaise 185

ho?” 186

“Theek hoon”,I smiled back and replied. 187

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“Yeh humari mummy hain” Kamala ben said. 188

“Haan jaanti hoon”I smiled and replied. 189

Shanta ben started selecting mangoes. 190

Kamala ben then spoke to Shanta ben in gujarati.She stood up,took a five hundred 191

rupee note from her and left. 192

(Did she take money from her mother for mangoes?) 193

Shanta ben told me “yeh meri badi beti hai…meri chhoti beti sector ikkees mein rehti 194

hai…main apne bete ke saath rehti hoon”. 195

I kept on listening. 196

I saw Saakarben running all of sudden and making noises “hattt…karr.. hurr…”She took 197

a stick and started chasing away the cow.Ranjit joined her and both of them started 198

shooing the cows awayI could hear sounds like hatt ..kurr…katt katt..shooo. 199

Kamala ben came back.She had a blue colored cloth in her hand and showed it to 200

Shanta ben.Shanta ben saw it and kept it in her bag. 201

(It was here I realized that Kamala ben did not take money from her mother instead she 202

went to get something for her). 203

They then started talking amongst themselves in gujarati. 204

I went to Saakar ben who busy arranging the vegetables and humming a hindi song 205

which sounded like “tu chhod ke chaala gaya…teri yaad reh gayi”. 206

(May be she was missing her husband) 207

“aapko gaana achha lagta hai?” I asked 208

“She smiled haan pasand hai…aise hi gaa leti hoon…kabhj kabhi mann karta hai toh 209

zor se gaati hoon”She said. 210

Kamala ben got free as her mother went and called me to sit beside her. 211

She asked me about my family. 212

“Kitney bhai behen ho” 213

“Do…main aur mera chhota bhai.”I said 214

“Ghar par aur kaun hai ?” she asked 215

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“mummy,papa,main aur bhai..bas”I said 216

“achha hai”she smiled. 217

“aapke ghar mein kaun kaun hai?”I asked 218

“Do bete hain…Jayesh jo rickshaw chalata hai aur chhota…woh Urmila ka mister…woh 219

infocity mein kaam karta hai…bacche sector chaar mein rehtey hain…aur main apne 220

mister ke saath yahin paas mein rehti hoon…subah subah yahin aa jati hoon”she said. 221

(I did not want to ask why she did not lived with her children.I thought it might offend 222

her.) 223

“Meri mummy sector do mein rehi hain mere bhai ke saath…ek chhoti behen hai…uske 224

pati ki yeh nariyal ki lorry hai. 225

A bike slowed down and the the man asked the price of the mangoes “kairi ke 226

bhaav..”.She stood up and started attending him. 227

The place was silent with birds chirping. Minimum sound of vehicles was heard. 228

I saw Saakar ben, she was having her lunch with Ranjit.She offered me to have it. 229

“gillode aur aaloo ki sabzi hai …khaogi?” 230

“Nahi itni pasand nahi hai” I said .She smiled and said “theek hai”.“Achcha main ab 231

chalti hoon …aap aaram karo” I said before taking leave.(This was the time when the 232

women rested and I thought I should not disturb them while they rest) 233

“ Theek hai” she said with a smile.I said goodbye to Kamala ben and left the place. 234

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Date :13 July 2012

Time : 5:30 p.m.

Place: Sector 7 market

Research Method : Participant Observation, One to many

Actors : Me, Auto rickshaw driver, Urmila Ben, Kamala Ben

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The weather was extremely pleasant as it had been raining since three days. The 1

evening was cool and less humid. I took an auto rickshaw as usual to meet Saakar Ben, 2

Urmila ben and Kamala Ben. I got my auto rickshaw stopped near the tree where these 3

women park their carts in the morning. I got down and started moving towards the 4

market. 5

Today I saw Urmila ben standing near the fruit cart where Kamala ben generally 6

stands.On the cart was Nidhi. She was wearing a t-shirt without any 7

undergarment.Urmila ben was standing besides her.I was surprised to find Urmila ben 8

as I was told by Saakar ben and Kamala ben the other day of she going to her brother’s 9

place in Ahmadabad as he wasn’t keeping well. I went near her cart and said “Urmila 10

Ben …kem chho”. She smiled and replied back “Majaa maa … kaise ho ?” “theek 11

hoon”I replied. I could see a new kind of fruit which I had never seen before. It looked 12

like dates in their fresh state.Urmila ben offered me a chair to sit on “aao baitho” she 13

said.”Nahin nahin theek hai …aap baitho “I said thinking these women stand the entire 14

day to earn a living and it should not be good to sit. She said affectionately “Baitho 15

naa”.I could not deny any longer and sat. “Aaj Saakar massi nahin hain” she 16

informed.”Kahan gayeen?”I asked. 17

“Who apne gaon gayeen hain Ahmedabad…agle haftey ayengi”Urmila Ben said. 18

“Aur Kamala ben?”I asked. 19

“Ye Nidhi ne chaddhi mein pee pee kar diya hai naa… isiliye who bazaar se doosri 20

chaddi lane gayeen hain”she told. 21

“Achcha”I said. 22

“Hum isko yahan aise nahi rakhte achha nahi hota” she added. 23

(I thought how the females are taught to be civilized and sober by draping themselves 24

from very young age.) 25

“Hmm …”I said in order to respect her point and started looking at the fruits. I saw her 26

other fruit carts, they seemed empty. The third cart which was full of bananas now had 27

coconuts on them with a man looking for the cart. I assumed of him being one of their 28

relatives as on my previous visit Kamala ben spoke about the coconut cart belonging to 29

her brother. I was impressed seeing the entire family working together. 30

“Yeh kya hai” I asked intrigued by seeing that red fruit. 31

She said some name which I could not get.”Isko khaakar dekho” she plucked one piece 32

from the whole bunch. I took it and had a bite of it. 33

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The fruit tasted very sweet and a got a weird taste on my tongue, the milder form of 34

which I get on eating Jamuns. 35

“Kaisa laga ?”She asked inquisitively. 36

“Thoda kasela hai”I answered frankly. 37

(I did not think twice as I had become friendly with her and answered her bluntly.) 38

“Thoda bada chaak maro tabhi achha lagega” She said. 39

I took a bigger bite and it tasted better but I did not like the fruit much as it was sweet! 40

Kamala ben arrived. She seemed to be in a rush. She handed Urmila ben the 41

underwear which she had got for Nidhi and started looking after the mango cart. I called 42

her “Kamala ben….”.I did not get any reply as she did not seem to notice me. 43

(I started thinking of the reason of her ignoring me.) 44

I called her again “Kamala Ben kem chho “ and stretched my hand towards her . 45

She turned back, smiled and shook hands and said “Theek hoon… aap kaise ho?” 46

I replied “majaa maan”. 47

It started drizzling.Urmila ben picked Nidhi who was sitting on the cart till now and made 48

her sit on the plastic chair. She then opened up the umbrella and placed Nidhi under it. 49

( I could feel the motherly warmth Urmila ben had for Nidhi as she herself did not come 50

under the umbrella instead she wanted Nidhi to be safe from the rain.) 51

Kamala ben got umbrella for me ”yeh lo tumhare liye”.She gave the umbrella to me 52

without coming under its shelter.”Nahi yeh aap ke liye hai…aap aaiye na” I said . 53

“Tum bheegne se bach jaogi” she smiled and urged me to take the umbrella.I wanted to 54

stand and make her come under the umbrella as well.She forced me to sit “tum aaram 55

se baith jao”.I could feel the affection. 56

The entire market seemed to be in commotion.The voices of the vendor who were 57

calling customers all this while,subdued.Everyone was covering their carts with plastic 58

sheets.Few of them took the shelter under their umbrellas. 59

I saw Geeta ben from a distance.She started wearing a raincoat.I could see her son 60

wearing raincoat as well.She came towards Kamala ben’s cart and stated chitchatting. 61

She saw me and shook hands ”kaem chho “ she asked. 62

“Maja maan …aap??”I asked. 63

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”Mast majaa maan” She said. 64

(She seemed a fun loving woman by the mention of the word ”mast” ) 65

“Yeh hamari kanya hai “ said Kamala ben with pride. 66

(I felt the warmth again by the mention of the word “kanya” by Kamala ben.) 67

Geeta ben and Kamala ben started conversating in Gujarati and Kamala ben seemed to 68

emphasize on “humari kanya”. 69

I saw Urmila ben standing alone and asked “baarish mein graahak aatey hain?” 70

She said affirmatively “haan jinke paas chhatri hoti hai who aa jatey hain”. 71

“Toh kya aap baarish mein saaman kaise bechtey ho?” I asked 72

“Kabhi chhatri lekar khadey ho jatey hai… zyada baarish hoti hai toh hum dukan mein 73

khadey ho jaatey hain” she explained. 74

(I noticed the decreasing number of customers in the market.Most of the vendors took 75

shelter in the Shiv complex) 76

It stopped raining and the vendors started coming back to their carts.Again the entire 77

market enlivened.The hustle and the calls of the vendors were heard again. 78

Kamala ben asked “chalo sector chaar chaltey hain …tumhein chalna hai?” 79

“Nahin abhi hi aayin hoon thodi der baithkar jaungi”I said. 80

“Theek hai toh main fir chalti hoon…fir milungi”she said and took Nidhi home. 81

“Kamala ben aaj jadi kyu chali gayin?”I questioned Urmila ben. 82

“Aaj maal nahin hai naa …isiliye who jaldi chali gayin…ghar jaakar khaana banana 83

hai”She said. 84

“Khaana kaun banata hai?”I further questioned. 85

“Main banakar aati hoon” she said. 86

I saw few vendors shouting in gujarati” bataka pandarh rupaya”…”doongri vees ni” 87

“Aap grahak ko kaise bulatey ho?” I asked Urmila ben. 88

“Jisko lena hota hai woh aakar khareed leta hai…hum nahi bulatey…woh khud hi aatey 89

hain”she said. 90

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“Hum chillatey nahi hain…sabji waale chillatey hain”she added. 91

“Aisa kyun” I asked. 92

“Sabji waalon ke paas ek do tareeke ki sabzi hoti hain… toh woh chilla lete hain…hum 93

itne saarey phalo ke naam kaise bolengey…isliye nahi boltey”She said. 94

She then started attending the customers.I sat quietly and observed. 95

I noticed the way she attends the customers. 96

Customer : ben…ye rasbhari ….daam kitla? 97

Urmila ben : chaalis ni paanch sau. 98

She responded in gujarati no matter whether the customer asked the price in hindi or 99

gujarati. 100

I then see the chaiwala serving chai to her.The glass was very tiny. 101

“chai pee lo” she offered me a glass. 102

“Nahin main chai nahi peeti”I replied. 103

I was thinking of the number of times I have refused to take chai and at times I gave the 104

reason for me not drinking chai.Yet they offered me chai every time I went. 105

“Chai kyu nahi peeti” she questioned.( she emphasized on the word “chai” when she 106

asked this) 107

“Achhi nahi lagti” I replied. 108

“kyun pasand nahi hai ?”she asked . 109

“Mummy papa peetey hain…unko aadat lagi hui hai…ek din nahi peetey toh sir mein 110

dard hota hai…unko dekhkar main nahi peeti…”I answered. 111

“Main bhi khadi rehti hoon aise…poorey din bhar…matha dukhta hai…isliye chai peeni 112

padhti hai”she anwered. 113

“Din mein kitni chai pee letey ho?” I asked. 114

“Do…ek subah mein…ek is time”she replied.”tabhi sahi rehta hai”. 115

I then happened to notice nimbu- mirchi tied on their weighing balance . 116

I asked her “yeh kyu lagaya hai?” 117

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“Yeh najar nahi lagney deta …dhandhe ke liye achha hota hai…dhandha sahi chalta 118

hai…isiliye isey lagana hota hai” she said. 119

I saw a customer coming and plucking the red fruit and asked “ketla bhaav” 120

“Chalees na paanch sau” replied Urmila ben who on seeing the customer going away 121

started yelling at him for eating the fruit. 122

I later on noticed few other customers doing the same…I then thought of the losses she 123

had to face because of a lot of customers coming in and eating that fruit without her 124

consent. 125

She at times yelled and warned the customers not to put their bags on the fruits 126

“o ben bhaar nathi daalo ….”. 127

When there was no customer to attend,she arranged the fruits. 128

(Presentation matters a lot for them to sell fruits I thought.) 129

When any poor looking person asked for the price of kesar aam which cost rs 70 per 130

kg,started going away on hearing the exorbitant amount started leaving,she called him 131

back to show the other variety of mango which costed rs 40 a kg” aa kairi lelo….chalees 132

rupaya na kilo”. 133

Once a woman kept her vegetable bag on her fruit cart,Urmila ben immediately yelled 134

“aey ben …bhaar nathi…maari kairi ne”. 135

(“Maari kairi ne” - my mangoes ; showed the respect and love she gave to the work) 136

Her sister-inl-law,Pinky who was on the second cart which had mango and pear started 137

calling the customers “kairi chalees ni kilo…naaspaati vees ni kilo”. 138

(I started brooding upon Urmila ben’s reference to “hum” when she said ”hum chillatey 139

nahi”.Was she referring to herself or to the members in her family who sold the 140

vegetables e.i. she and Kamala Ben”) 141

Pinky came to me showing her phone ”aap phone par office mein baat karo…mera 142

balance saara chala jaata hai…mein jab bhi daalti hoon…mujhe samajh nahi padhta”. 143

(I thought of the reason behind she saying “samajh nahi padhta” - because these days 144

the customer has options to talk to the customer care executive in her own 145

language.Was it the confidence? Was it the language?) 146

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I took her phone and started searching for the customer care number.I could find any.I 147

notice her phone had barely eight contacts in the address book that too of the men one 148

of which said- Jayesh bhai. 149

(I guessed she could only talk to the husband or her brothers and the mobile phone 150

served as a means of security rather than leisure) 151

I spoke to the executive and he informed me about the caller tune and two other 152

services activated on her phone and gave me the number to deactivate it- the customer 153

care executive spoke in hindi . 154

I took Pinky ben’s permission to deactivate the services”caller tune lagwaya tha 155

aapne…usko hata doon?” 156

“ Mujhe toh kuchh nahi chaiye …mera balance hi khatam ho raha hai” 157

(Again this made me think about the connection she had with her phone. It meant more 158

of a device which connected herself with her family.) 159

I called on the number to deactivate the service.The voice response was in Guajarati.I 160

tried my best to understand each optipns.After nearly5 minutes on trying,I gave up “ yeh 161

Guajarati mein bol rahein hain- kuchh samajh nahi padh raha…yeh number le lo..” 162

Urmila ben asked”Gujarati nahi pata padhti”. 163

I said “nahi… bahut jaldi mein bol rahey they” 164

(I tried to justify myself .I wanted to tell her that I have started understanding Gujarati to 165

be a part of them but it was the way it was spoken on the phone which made me not 166

understand it) 167

She started attending the customers again.A middle aged woman came and started 168

looking at the fruits.She took the mango in her hand and asked the price” kairi na bhaav 169

…ketla?” 170

“Kairi sittar rupaye kilo… bolo ben ketla aapu” She said. 171

This was her way of selling and I noticed her following the same pattern for most of the 172

customers. 173

She aked me ”Bharati ben se milkar aao”. 174

“Haan jaati hoon”I said though I sat for some more time with her. 175

I went to meet Bharati ben.”Kaem chho I greeted her”.Her cart was empty today. 176

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She called Leela ben “ye ben aayi hain”.Leela ben who was busy attending the 177

customers took time out and looked at me with a smile “arrey kaise ho?” she asked in 178

her cool attitude and stretched her hand out and shook hands with me “majaa maan”I 179

smiled and answered. 180

I again saw Leela ben asking the customers to give five rupees and refused to have any 181

change.She sold “saragwa,tindora,phalawar” for “pandarh rupaye” and rarely had five 182

rupee change. 183

“Kela khaogey?” she asked. 184

“Nahi aaj hi khaaya” I answered 185

She asked the lady selling bananas to choose two bananas and gave one to me. 186

“Kha lo …” she winked and smiled. 187

Bharati ben was calling “American ! American”. 188

“Yeh American kya hai ?”I asked Leela ben. 189

“Yeh makkai American hai” told Leela ben. 190

I observed the two ladies selling the vegetables. It started getting dark.Bharati ben 191

said”Andhera ho raha hai ab jana chahiye”. 192

(I admired the care but at the same time I thought it is in their frame that girls should not 193

be out in the dark) 194

“Haan bas jaa hi rahi hoon”I smiled and left in a while. 195

On my way back I met Urmila ben again to wish her goodbye “chalti hoon”.She smiled 196

back adjusting her pallu “theek hai aatey rehna”. 197

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EMERGENT

CATEGORIES

Page 43: Ethnography - sounds

1. Conversation

1a) Permission

(17 June …14- 15,49-50)

I was elated and thought of going and asking for their permission to be with

them every day.

“Theek hai Saakar ben main fir baad mein aati hoon”I smiled and took her

permission to leave.

1b) Introduction

(23 June…28-29,78-79,188)

I offered the chair to the other women standing besides me.Saakar ben

introduced her as Urmila ben.

Then there came a man in her mid fifties.She introduced me to him “Yeh meri

friend hai…Infocity mein padhti hai….”.

She introduced me to her son Jayesh who is auto driver.Jayesh gave his

number and asked me to contact him if I needed to rent an auto.

(7 July…143-145)

“Yeh meri friend hai …infocity mein padhti hai “said Saakar ben to the shop

owner.All the the ladies sat on the mattress laid on the floor of the shop.

1c) Greeting –

1c.1) “Namastey”

(17 June 23…24)

I went to one of the ladies who was standing near the vegetable cart, smiled

and politely greeted her “Namstey”.

(23 June..24-25) I

went towards Saakar ben who was cleaning the vegetables, and politely said

“Namastey…Kaise ho?”

(7 July…21-22)

“Namastey” I said with a smile to Shankar Bhai, who was sitting on a chair

today instead of standing as usual today.

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1c.2) “kaem chho”

(7 July…25-26)

I stood behind her, watching her arrange the vegetables.When she was almost

done with arranging the vegetables I smiled and greeted her “Saakar Ben…

kaem chho?”.

(13 July…10-11)

I went near her cart and said “Urmila Ben …kem chho”

1d) Smile

(17 June…32,49-50)

She smiled and seemed excited “haan ben aa janaa…aap padhtey ho?”

“Theek hai Saakar ben main fir baad mein aati hoon”I smiled and took her

permission to leave.

(23 June…42-43,130-131,136)

Saakar ben asked” Tumhara naam kya hai”.“Tanu”.She repeated my name and

called Urmila ben loudly “Iski beti ka naam bhi tannu hai”.I smiled.

She smiled.Saakar ben played the role of a translator between two of us.She

introduced me to her.

I could not refuse any more and smiled “theek hai”.

(7 July…32-34,185-187)

“Kaisa hai tum” she smiled …”main tumhein yaad kar raha tha”. (I notice the

gender change)

I smiled.

Soon Shanta ben came.She put her hand on my shoulders, smiled and asked

“kaise ho?”

“Theek hoon”,I smiled back and replied.

(13 July…10,62)

She smiled and replied back “Majaa maa … kaise ho ?” “theek hoon”I

repliedShe saw me and shook hands ”kaem chho “ she asked

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1.e) Warning

(23 June...120-122)

“Yahan chappal mat lao” she warned “yeh mandir hai yahan chaapal utaar ke

aatey hai”Saakar ben informed.(I saw the small structure and realized it was a

small temple

(7 July...117-118)

“Didi aapko kitni baar bola hai yaha mat aaya karo” said Jayesh Bhai in a low

warning tone

2. Languages

2a) Hindi

(17 June…28,46)

I was glad she knew Hindi.

I related it with the hindi word “shakkar”.

(7 July…159-160)

In the meanwhile two customers stopped near the cart with many fruits.The

woman sitting behind asked in hindi ”Yeh kitne ka diya ?” pointing at the plums.

(7 July…154)

The customer care executive spoke in hindi .

2b) Gujarati

(23 June…24,128-130)

Gujarati aati hai?”she asked. “Nahin” I said.

She started talking to me in gujarati and I was not able to understand it. I tried

telling her my unfamiliarity with the language “Gujarati aave nathi”.

(7 July…71-72,113-115,165-166,178-180,204)

In the meanwhile Ravi, Sandeep’s friend who drives auto rickshaw started talking

to both of them in Gujarati

She then showed me her second son.Later all of then got engrossed in their

conversation and I hardly could make any sense as they were talking in Gujarati.

Gujarati mein kairi boltey hain.

She then started talking about mythology,Sita maiyya how she had to face the

troubles.She then was joined by the auto walla in her late fifties. Both of them

started conversing in Gujarati

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They then started talking amongst themselves in Gujarati.

(13 July ,87,99-100,161-163)

I saw few vendors shouting in gujarati” bataka pandarh rupaya”…”doongri vees ni”

She responded in gujarati no matter whether the customer asked the price in hindi

or gujarati

After nearly5 minutes on trying,I gave up “ yeh Guajarati mein bol rahein hain-

kuchh samajh nahi padh raha…yeh number le lo..

Urmila ben asked”Gujarati nahi pata padhti”.

2c) English

(23 June…75-77)

Aap kahan tak padhey ho?” I asked. “Main saatvi fail hoon…meri solah saal mein hi

shaadi ho gayi thi…magar mujhe thodi english aati hai…ek kilo ko one kg boltey

hain…”she then told me english alphabets with minimal errors.

(7 July…27-28,35-36,165,169-175)

She turned back smiled with surprise and said “Tannoo Manotra”, stretched out her

hand to shake hands with me and wished me “good morning.”

“Dekho Sunil aaya” “I turned back and saw Sunil stopping his motorbike and said

“hello”.

koi engliss mein poochhta hai yeh mango kaisa diya.

“Jayesh ne sikhaya..bola koi poochhe toh aise jawaab dena… kabhi kabhi grahak hi

bata dete hain…pehle koi angrezi naam boltey hain fir humey samajh nahi aata toh

usko dikhakar boltey hain…isko yeh kehtey hain”she said.“English bolna kaisa lagta

hai?” I asked.“Accha lagta hai…padhna achha lagta hai…main paanchvi tak padhi

hoon…jab koi cheez pasand aati hai toh usey padhti hoon…jaise pooja hoti

hai…uski katha padhti hoon …achha lagta hai”she said.

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3. Work

3a) Sound of the weights

(17 June…40-43)

“Theek hai ben...aap aa jao” she smiled and started attending her customers. I heard

the sound of the weights being kept on the weighing balance and the noise it made

when the vegetables were kept in the weighing pan and the cracking sound of the

polybag when she handed the vegetables to the customers.

(23 June...44-46)

She started selling vegetables to the customer. I noticed the sounds of weighing

scales and the weights.The weighing scale made a “click” sound when the weighing

pan got heavy.

4b) Shooing the cows away

(23 June...120-122)

Saakar ben rose up from her iron stool and started running behind make noises

“hurr…hatt..kurrr…hatt”. I turned back,she was shooing the cows coming from behind

so that they do not eat the vegetables from the cart.

(7 July…197-199)

I saw Saakarben running all of sudden and making noises “hattt…karr.. hurr…”She

took a stick and started chasing away the cow.Ranjit joined her and both of them

started shooing the cows awayI could hear sounds like hatt ..kurr…katt katt..shooo.

3c) Yelling

(13 July 121-127,134-135)

“Chalees na paanch sau” replied Urmila ben who on seeing the customer going away

started yelling at him for eating the fruit.

I later on noticed few other customers doing the same…I then thought of the losses

she had to face because of a lot of customers coming in and eating that fruit without

her consent.

She at times yelled and warned the customers not to put their bags on the fruits

“o ben bhaar nathi daalo ….”.

Once a woman kept her vegetable bag on her fruit cart, Urmila ben immediately

yelled “aey ben …bhaar nathi…maari kairi ne”.

3d) Calling the customers

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(13 July 57-59,77-78,87,89-91,137-138)

The entire market seemed to be in commotion.The voices of the vendor who were

calling customers all this while,subdued.Everyone was covering their carts with plastic

sheets.

Again the entire market enlivened.The hustle and the calls of the vendors were heard

again.

I saw few vendors shouting in gujarati” bataka pandarh rupaya”…”doongri vees ni”

“Jisko lena hota hai woh aakar khareed leta hai…hum nahi bulatey…woh khud hi

aatey hain”she said.

“Hum chillatey nahi hain…sabji waale chillatey hain”she added.

Her sister-inl-law,Pinky who was on the second cart which had mango and pear

started calling the customers “kairi chalees ni kilo…naaspaati vees ni kilo”.

4. Ambience

(17 June…15-17)

The Place was quiet and seemed very cool as there was a big tree under whose shade

few of these vendors parked their carts. The birds were chirping and there was hardly

any noise of the traffic

(23 June….9-11,16)

I could hardly hear the sound of the traffic. At times the sound of the speeding

motorbikes and cars approaching near the auto could be heard. I could also hear the

sounds of the vehicles’ horns.

The road was really wide and quiet and less of traffic noises could be heard.

(7 July…228)

The place was silent with birds chirping. Minimum sound of vehicles was heard.

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Synthesis of the categories formed

The first category “Conversation” has been further categorized based on different type of

interactions with the social group. The sub-category permission plays the foremost role in

initiating the conversation with social group. This also helps in nullifying the power dynamics at

the initial stage in order to gain access within the social group.”Introduction” is the sub category

which highlights the fact that the social group wanted to gain attention by introducing me- an

upperclass,uppercaste woman as their friend.Furthermore,the use of the words”infocity”,”dilli ni

chhokri”,”bhadwano(which means studying in Gujarati) by the women vendors helped them in

indicating me as a device to show off their pride.”Greeting” as another subcategory has further

been divided into – Namastey which indicated the way I greeted the women and other people

around. On gaining access within the social group,kaem chho became a catalyst in building a

bond between me and the social group. Additionally it provided happiness to the women who

then started considering me as one of them.”Smile” was formed as another sub-category as it

had became an indispensible part of the conversation. Initially smile was used as an ice breaker

and as a gesture which made both me and the group members to show the happiness (though

at a superficial level) during the conversation and that both the sides value each other’s point of

view.”Warning” as a category was made to understand the fears and prejudices of the social

group.

The second category was based on the languages the social group was aware of .Language

again has been subdivided into Hindi, Guajarati and English.

The social group used Hindi in order to communicate with me- a non Gujarati speaking person.

Hindi was also used by the social group to interact with the customer and henceforth selling the

fruits and vegetables.

Gujarati being their mother tongue played a major role in dealing with the customers which were

mainly Gujarati. It was also significant to me as I had a non Gujarati background and had to try

hard to understand what they wanted to convey.

English was used mostly for transactions. They were aware of the basic English words to be

used while dealing the customers such as “one kg”,”half kg”,names of the fruits- mango,

banana.

The third category “work” highlights the sounds significant to the social group while working.

Language as mentioned above can be overlapped with the category work as it dealt in the

words used by the vendors to interact with the customers.

Sound of the weighing balance though significant sub-consciously to the social group also plays

an important role especially when they dealt with many customers altogether. The click sound of

the weighing balance helped them in weighing the fruits or vegetables without them giving a

second look at weighing balance.

They yelled at the customers damaging their fruits which showed that the item to be sold held

much more importance to them.

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Unlike the other vendors who called the customers, the women of this social group avoided

calling customers.

Other sounds observed were the ambient sounds like that of the traffic, birds chirping and

silence in surroundings which though did not hold much of importance to the social group.