#Inspiration
This morning, on my way to work, I was stranded by an Uber auto driver in the middle of the highway.
I must have had a worried expression on my face, which made an old man driving a rickshaw stop and ask me where I wanted to go.
Skeptical at first, I told him
This morning, on my way to work, I was stranded by an Uber auto driver in the middle of the highway.
I must have had a worried expression on my face, which made an old man driving a rickshaw stop and ask me where I wanted to go.
Skeptical at first, I told him
I needed to get to my office at the other end of town and that I was already late.
He said, "Please come in, ma'am. You can pay what you want" in impeccable English.
Taken aback by such kind behaviour, I said ok and what followed was a very enriching 45 minutes.
Of course,
He said, "Please come in, ma'am. You can pay what you want" in impeccable English.
Taken aback by such kind behaviour, I said ok and what followed was a very enriching 45 minutes.
Of course,
as a researcher, I couldn't contain my curiosity and asked him how he spoke such good English.
To which, he replied that he was an English lecturer and that he has done his MA and M Ed!
He predicted my next question and asked me himself, "So you're going to ask me why I
To which, he replied that he was an English lecturer and that he has done his MA and M Ed!
He predicted my next question and asked me himself, "So you're going to ask me why I
am driving an auto, right?"
I said, "Absolutely, please tell me."
He said that he is 74 years old now and that he has been driving a rickshaw for 14 years.
Previously, he used to work as an English lecturer at a college in Mumbai, because he did not get any jobs in Karnataka.
I said, "Absolutely, please tell me."
He said that he is 74 years old now and that he has been driving a rickshaw for 14 years.
Previously, he used to work as an English lecturer at a college in Mumbai, because he did not get any jobs in Karnataka.
Fed up, he moved to Mumbai to look for a job and got one in a reputed Powai college where he worked for the next 20 years.
At 60, he retired and returned to Karnataka.
"Teachers do not get paid well. The maximum you can earn is Rs 10,000-15,000, and since it was a private
At 60, he retired and returned to Karnataka.
"Teachers do not get paid well. The maximum you can earn is Rs 10,000-15,000, and since it was a private
institution, I don't have pension.
By driving a rickshaw, I get at least Rs 700-1500 a day, which is enough for me and my girlfriend", he laughed.
When I laughed too, he said, "She is my wife but I call her my girlfriend because you must always treat them as equal.
By driving a rickshaw, I get at least Rs 700-1500 a day, which is enough for me and my girlfriend", he laughed.
When I laughed too, he said, "She is my wife but I call her my girlfriend because you must always treat them as equal.
The minute you say wife, husbands think she is a slave who must serve. But my wife is in no way inferior to me, in fact she is superior to me sometimes.
She is 72 and takes care of the house while I work for 9-10 hours a day. We live in a 1 BHK in Kadugodi, where my son helps
She is 72 and takes care of the house while I work for 9-10 hours a day. We live in a 1 BHK in Kadugodi, where my son helps
pay the rent of Rs 12,000, but beyond that, we are not dependent on our children.
They live their life and we live ours happily. Now I am the Raja of my road. I can take my auto out any time I want and work when I want."
Not one complaint about life.
Not one regret.
They live their life and we live ours happily. Now I am the Raja of my road. I can take my auto out any time I want and work when I want."
Not one complaint about life.
Not one regret.
So much to learn from these hidden heroes.
My morning was made.
-- Shared by Ma Nikita Iyer on LinkedIn,
Reposted as received on WhatsApp…
My morning was made.
-- Shared by Ma Nikita Iyer on LinkedIn,
Reposted as received on WhatsApp…
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