What questions should the taxi driver ask?
Most of March went capturing, downloading, editing and subtitling. The footage I have till now was unplanned, both in terms of the questions being asked and the way in which it was shot by me. However the compliance of the passengers and the audible footage gave me proof that the concept works and that the logistical details can be ironed out. I am inherently intervening in the space between the driver and passenger and then facilitating a dialogue between them. It’s a tricky thing to handle, especially in Mumbai where class distinctions prevent conversation to take place. A driver will rarely ever initiate a conversation and he will only talk if the passenger speaks to him. This premise is turned on its head in this project.
I am currently working on a list of comprehensive questions to be asked by the taxi drivers to their passengers. These questions decide the focus of the conversations and the key issues that will be addressed with regards to Modern terrorism. So I’m all in favor of inputs and feedback. This is my list. Feel free to edit it by posting your comments.
Q1. Have you ever experienced terrorism? What do you think terrorism is?
Q2. Can terrorism be avoided/ prevented?
Q3. After the 26/11 terrorist attack in Mumbai how do you think the:
(1) state (2)media (3) security forces
should have responded?
Q4. If you were a politician what would you have done?
Q5. As ordinary citizens how can we reduce terrorism?
Q6. What kinds of things make a person into a terrorist?
Q7. What can Muslims do to remove misconceptions about Islamic Terrorism?
April 26th, 2009 at 11:35 am
Great website and wonderful pictures. It will be interesting to see how this project develops, and I hope it can bring about genuine change in the mindsets of people.
April 26th, 2009 at 11:36 am
I think your list is quite good.
Scientifically, I would say that there are several antecedents of terrorism. These antecedents are comprised of both individual as well as country/macro level factors (wealth, culture, rule of law).
Next, there is a set of consequences of terrorism.
So ultimately, you want to examine the nomological net of terrorism, which includes both antecedents as well as consequences.
Based on such relations (and their strength), public policy makers should act, and as you said, also individuals within a society can do things to prevent terrorism.
April 26th, 2009 at 11:36 am
By the way, if possible, you can also reverse the roles, by asking questions to cab drivers instead of passengers (which would be a different setting and research methodology, as you would not need to be in a cab for that). Then, you can see whether the belief structures of cab drivers are different from the beliefs of passengers. People from different social strata might have different views on terrorism, who is to blame, etc. Then again, the views might also be the same. It’s an empirical question. I don’t know enough about Indian culture to have strong prior beliefs.
April 26th, 2009 at 11:36 am
In addition, I think that merely talking to people will lead to further questions. You can discuss each theme, and each theme will give you further insight into what should be asked at the follow-up interviews. Like that, you can generate a hermeneutic interpretation, which seeks to be open to possibilities afforded by the data you have, rather than to project a predetermined system of meanings on to the data.
April 29th, 2009 at 4:20 am
dear,vandana,clips dekne ke baad laga ki wakai akela insan chahe to khuch bhi kar sakta hai,jis tarha se aap ne terrorism ke khilaaf awaz huthai hai woh kabile tareff hai,terrorism ko haaar pehlo se dekhna chahiye jaisa ki aap ne dekha,,aisa nahi hona chaiye ki attak hua aur sidha ilzam kisi ek ommunity ke sar laga diya.meri taraf se aap ko bahut bahut mubarak baad,
May 5th, 2009 at 1:07 am
Yes good point Martijn. I am reversing the roles too. In casting or finding a taxi driver to become part of this project I am talking to many drivers daily.In that sense those chats of ours are conversations between a passenger and taxi driver and will be part of the project.I try to engage the taxi driver in the same set of questions to investigate his perspectives too.
June 10th, 2009 at 5:13 pm
Vandana, Thank you for directing me to this site! You are doing some great work! I look forward to seeing how it all progresses!
Hugs,
Tori
June 15th, 2009 at 5:03 am
Great post! I’ll subscribe right now wth my feedreader software!
July 28th, 2009 at 12:35 pm
Taxicab Confessions for the conscience !
Very Very interesting concept Vandana. Heard about your site through Trips.
As a Bombayite, I cannot express how much I appreciate this.
July 29th, 2009 at 6:20 pm
Thanks Rohan! It really matters to me that Bombayites like the project and respond to it well. PL. do pass the word around to others. Trips can always be counted on:)