Shillong Jottings

Guwahati, ‘Guwati’ or ‘Goti’: What have you heard?
The timeless saga of “Guwahati, Guwati, Goti Goti,” calls by the Guwahati bound shared-taxi drivers is a permanent cultural phenomenon, unlike the fleeting promises, “we will do everything for our voters” that surface only during election seasons. In the popular taxi points like Khyndailad, Civil, and Anjalee Cinema, the eager calls of drivers, indiscriminately targeting both passengers and non-passengers alike is quintessentially a Shillong-esque spectacle.
Recently, this Shillong Jottings’ member witnessed a particularly memorable encounter when a driver, undeterred approached a schoolgirl with the timeless query, “GUWAHATI, GUWATI, GOTI?”
The audacity of it all couldn’t help but elicit a chuckle from bystanders.
And when the fateful moment arrives, and a genuine passenger bound for Guwahati emerges, it’s as if the drivers possess an uncanny ability to sniff out potential fares from miles away.
Like a pack of eager wolves, they descend upon the unsuspecting traveler, almost as if engaging in a tug-of-war over luggage, often resorting to elaborate fibs about pre-existing passengers just waiting to depart. This whimsical dance of taxi tango, one thing is clear: Shillong’s taxi drivers are masters of their craft, but with chaos and hilarity.