“Techies” and “Tum-Tums” – Is Chivalry Dead...?

After witnessing a hilarious free-for-all “Tum-Tum” fracas involving IT Nerds (“Techies”) this morning – I was reminded of this story I had written and posted on my blogs around 6 years ago in the year 2011. 

Sadly – my my pet dog Sherry passed away to her heavenly abode in December 2014 – so now – I go on my walks all alone. 

Dear Reader: Remember - I wrote this 6 years ago – and – concepts of “Social Graces” and the ground situation may have changed since then.

“TECHIES” and “TUMS-TUMS” 

IS CHIVALRY DEAD AMONG “IT NERDS”...? 

Musings of a Veteran

By

VIKRAM KARVE

Every morning I go for a long walk – with my pet dog Sherry – towards the vast open spaces – off the Mumbai Bangalore Highway, near Wakad.

When we return – it is sometimes past 8 AM – and – there is a huge rush of traffic transporting the “Techies” (as the “IT Nerds” like to call themselves) to their offices in the Infotech Park at Hinjewadi in Pune.

Most of these overly paid and pampered “Techie IT Nerds” travel in comfortable company buses (or in their own cars) – but many of them prefer to ride in the six-seater rickshaws (called Tum-Tum) – which carry are always cramped and overloaded with many more than the stipulated six passengers.

Why these IT Nerds prefer commuting in Tum-Tums – I do not know.

Maybe – they are from the smaller companies – who do not provide buses.

Or maybe – they have missed their bus and are late to work.

Or probably – some do not want to avail of the bus facility and they cannot drive a car either – or maybe some crazy ones think that travelling in a Tum-Tum is a substitute for a vigorous work-out in the gym

But – all that is beside the point. 

Let me tell what I saw this morning.

There were around twelve of these IT Techies (maybe seven boys and five girls) at the Wakad Chowk waiting for a Tum-Tum.

The moment a Tum-Tum arrived – everyone rushed towards the Tum-Tum – and – it was a chaotic situation – a free-for-all mêlée – a total fracas with each one trying to get inside and elbowing out the “opponents” irrespective of gender.

Two of the tougher girls managed to get in – elbowing out some of the “weaker” boys – while the three slightly fragile girls were not strong enough or agile enough to get the better of their male competitors. 

While two of these girls readied themselves up for the next encounter and looked eagerly for a Tum-Tum to arrive – one particularly dainty and delicate girl was on the verge of tears and she seemed to have given up the fight – wondering whether she should go home – or wait for a long time – till the crowd became less.

I realised – that in today’s “modern” world – chivalry has disappeared. 

Maybe – it is because men and women work shoulder to shoulder in the workplace.

Or maybe – it is because men and women are competitors at the workplace. 

Maybe modern women themselves have killed the concept of chivalry – since women prefer “gender equality” with their male counterparts – and – women do not want double standards. 

Can you expect a man – who has a tough woman boss who scares the hell out of him – to be chivalrous towards her...? 

Can a man be chivalrous towards a woman who he is afraid of...?

Can a man be chivalrous towards a woman who dominates him...? 

Well – I think that fear and chivalry are two different things. 

Chivalry implies that a man is supposed to be a “Knight in Shining Armour” – always ready to rescue a “damsel in distress”.

Long back – when we joined the Navy – we were expected to follow a “code of chivalrous conduct” and to show respect, courtesy, honour and gallantry towards women. 

It was always “Ladies First”. 

We opened doors for women – we stood up when a woman entered a room – we never failed to greet or wish women – we were protective and attended to their needs – and – we even saluted Ladies. 

Chivalry meant graciousness, gallantry, courtesy, politeness and good conduct – especially from men towards women. 

Of course – with the arrival of Lady Officers in the Navy in the 1990s – things did become quite confusing – and – there was ambiguity as to whether Women Military Officers ought to be treated as equally tough “macho” colleagues – or as dainty members of the fairer sex...?

But still – when in doubt – we adopted the chivalrous approach.

I think this must be the same dilemma in most workplaces – and as women start equalling or even outnumbering men in the workplaces – especially in professions like IT – and – the concept of chivalry may become passé – an archaic concept of the past.

So – Dear Young Ladies of today – there are no gallant “Knights in Shining Armour” anymore. 

You will have to fight it out on your own. 

VIKRAM KARVE

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Disclaimer:

1. This story is a spoof, just for fun and humor, no offence is meant to anyone, so take it with a pinch of salt and have a laugh.

2. All stories in this blog are a work of fiction. Events, Places, Settings and Incidents narrated in the stories are a figment of my imagination. The characters do not exist and are purely imaginary. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

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This story was written by me 6 years ago in 2011 and posted online by me in my Academic and Creative Writing Journal Blog and my other Blogs a number of times including at urls: http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2011/09/techies-and-tum-tum.html  and  http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2012/03/tum-tum-scene-in-wakad-travelling-to.html etc