Monthly Archives: March 2010

Very inspiring post i got from my friends please read, auto – A heroic mumbaikar

Please read this..very inspiring… J

Suvendu Roy of Titan Industries shares his inspirational encounter with a rickshaw driver in Mumbai:
Last Sunday, my wife, kid, and I had to travel to Andheri from Bandra.
When I waved at a passing auto rickshaw, little did
I expect that this
ride would be any different…
As we set off, my eyes fell on a few
magazines (kept in an aircraft style pouch) behind the driver’s back rest.

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I looked in front and there was a small TV. The driver had put on the Doordarshan channel.

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My wife and I looked at each other with disbelief and amusement. In front of me was a small first-aid box with cotton, dettol and some medicines.
This was enough for me to realise that I was in a special vehicle.
Then
I looked round again, and discovered more – there was a radio, fire extinguisher, wall clock, calendar, and pictures and symbols of all faiths
– from Islam and Christianity to  Buddhism, Hinduism and Sikhism.
There
were also pictures of the heroes of 26/11- Kamte, Salaskar, Karkare and Unnikrishnan.
I realised that not only my vehicle, but also my
driver was special.

I started chatting with him and the initial sense of ridicule and disbelief gradually diminished.
I gathered that he had been driving an
auto rickshaw for the past 8-9 years; he had lost his job when his employer’s plastic company was shut down.
He had two school-going
children, and he drove from 8 in the morning till 10 at night.
No break
unless he was unwell.  “Sahab, ghar mein baith ke T.V dekh kar kya faida? Do paisa income karega toh future mein kaam aayega.”

We realised that we had come across a man who represents Mumbai the spirit of work, the spirit of travel and the spirit of excelling in life.
I asked him whether he does anything else as I figured that he did not
have too much spare time.
He said that he goes to an old age home for
women in Andheri once a week or whenever he has some extra income, where he donates tooth  brushes, toothpastes, soap,  hair oil, and other items of daily use.
He pointed out to a painted message below the meter that
read: “25 per cent discount on metered fare for the handicapped.
Free
rides for blind passengers up to Rs. 50.

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My wife and I were struck with awe. The man was a HERO!

A hero who deserves all our respect!!!

Our journey came to an end;

45 minutes of a lesson in humility, selflessness, and of a hero-worshipping Mumbai, my temporary home.

We disembarked, and all I could do was
to pay him a tip that would hardly cover a
free ride for a blind man.

I hope, one day, you too have a chance to meet Mr Sandeep Bachhe in his auto rickshaw: MH-02-Z-8508.

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