Is it allowed to physically hurt your 'Maali"? If he is not behaving himself at all, getting lazy and innovative and going totally contrary to your instructions?? Like hit him with a spade, throw clods of manure at him, or stab him in the foot with the 'khurpi'.
I have been pondering this question for sometime and would like some feedback
lolz.... that is why we never hire a Maali, they have a mind of their own, no matter how well you instruct them, they'll do whatever pleases most (to them!! not to you)
Aoa malli is very important if u have a large garden.i always hire a mali.i m very happy with my maali.because he goes acording to my instructions.he also gives some feed back to me.basically it the intrest which u have to judge choosing a gardener.my procedure is whenever i hire a new one.i give him free hand. i watch what he does with pots.what is his response to moving grass.can he weed well.after that i make a decision to hire the new one.i m really proud of my gardener.
AOA
Its very difficult to get an ideal maali.
I usually call the maali at time when i am at home and do alot of work with him
and get the work done under my supervision.
Hope this call help to some extent if u call maali twice in a week.
U cant get the work done by Dannda in present days. So have patience.
Lol, @Ikhan. Love your intentions but No one is perfect. Bear with his temperament, he might be doing best to his understanding.
Best practice is that for sometime work with your Maali, share hand with him. You will learn things and also manage him well.
My maali is quite old and he is deaf as well but I trust he is very honest. I also had very funny moments with him, I tell him to prune and he used to cuts the whole stem at once, so now I keep my hand on the stem and point him to cut now as to my requirement, I wish his eyesight always remain good to save my fingers.
Remember one thing your experience that you get from education,friends,like-minds or Internet is beyond his approach because he has learn from hearsay or guesswork.
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Gardening requires lots of water - most of it in the form of perspiration. ~Lou Erickson
Thanks for all your input people, Izhar you are a class apart. Rest of you thanks a lot, you will happy to know he is still unhurt and I have calmed down a lot
My Maali very experienced, working as part time to his convenience, acted like what Izhar has aptly described. So I employed a full time handy man, who acted as help to Maali, acted as my caddy in golf and did other odd jobs. Considering I was too demanding the Maali asked me to relieve him and I paid him off.
The helper (who is learning fast) and I are maintaining the garden as it had never been done before. The lawn gets mowed in time and all plantation is in time and as I desire.
The Maali pays a visit at least once a week to see how the things are working and mainly in a hope that I will re-call him.
For me it was a blessing in disguise.
I can feel your anger I khan, Mali is such a pain........ but in the end u have to have him at least for lawn mowing and pruning. Therefore, like most of u I call my mali when I am at home and keep an eye on him, otherwise they r very good at spoiling things.
If he is not behaving himself at all, getting lazy and innovative and going totally contrary to your instructions?? Like hit him with a spade, throw clods of manure at him, or stab him in the foot with the 'khurpi'. 
