Mumbai Auto Driver Installs Handwritten Marathi Translation Sheet in Vehicle

An auto-rickshaw driver in Mumbai has installed a handwritten Marathi translation cheat sheet inside his vehicle cabin to communicate with passengers in the local language, following the Maharashtra government's mandate requiring commercial drivers to possess working knowledge of Marathi.

A photograph of the driver's vehicle interior gained widespread attention after showing a list of everyday Hindi phrases paired with their Marathi counterparts. The handwritten guide serves as a practical reference for routine conversations during trips across the city.

The cheat sheet contains basic translations for daily commuting scenarios. Phrases written on the sheet include "Chhutte nahi hain" translated as "Chhutte nahit", "Ruko zara" as "Thamba jara", "Rasta bataiye" as "Rasta sanga", and "Jaldi bataiye" as "Lavkar sanga". Other listed phrases include "Intezar kijiye" translated to "Thamba", "Kaunsa rasta hai" to "Konta rasta", "Kahan utaroge" to "Kuthe utarnar", "Aage utariye" to "Pudhe utara", "Traffic hai" to "Traffic aahe", and "Lamba rasta hai" to "Lamba rasta aahe".

The initiative comes in the wake of policy measures introduced by the Maharashtra government requiring auto-rickshaw, taxi, and app-based cab drivers operating in the state to acquire basic Marathi skills. In April, the state government announced that non-Marathi-speaking drivers would be required to learn the language, with dedicated classes organised and an initial compliance deadline set for August 15.

Following the deadline, the Maharashtra Transport Department launched a statewide inspection drive on August 20 to verify the working knowledge of Marathi among commercial drivers. While the new language requirement caused anxiety among sections of the transport community, drivers have sought practical methods to adapt to the regulations and assist passengers during daily travel.