Meet a David who faces many invisible Goliaths—but he continues his journey undeterred, putting up a brave face in this unforgiving metropolis—and has a value system that our ‘leaders’ would do well to follow
R Vijayaraghavan
A schoolmate of mine settled abroad after finishing his post-graduate studies in India. After a long time, he visited India with his wife to spend some time with his relatives.
He sent me an email about an auto-rickshaw trip in Mumbai. Doesn't sound very exciting, does it? But read on patiently and I promise you a heart-moving experience.
Here goes the text of the email: "One Sunday, my wife, 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 backrest. I looked in front and there was a small TV. The driver had put on the Doordarshan channel.
"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 my driver also 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 to 9 years; he had lost his job when his employer's plastic-goods 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 me in baith ke TV dekh kar kya faida? Do paisa income karega toh future mein kaama ayega. (What is the point in sitting at home and watching TV? If I earn a few paise, then I can make some use of it in the future)."
"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 toothbrushes, toothpastes, soap, hair oil, and other items of daily use.
"He pointed out to a painted message below the meter that read: '25% discount on metered fare for the handicapped. Free rides for blind passengers up to Rs50.'
"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. Forty-five 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."
Yes, my videshi friend, the man is a hero in a little way. But there are hundreds of millions of 'small' men like him who are also heroes.
Every day they have to battle invisible Goliaths; in the form of avaricious policemen who will rip away earnings; in the form vote-seeking politicians who will grab his home and donate it to one of his followers; in the form and mullah-maddened jihadis who will rip his guts out with a bomb, leaving his children orphaned.
But then, why wish him ill? We should wish him the best of luck and pray that he does not have to face these invisible Goliaths.
(R Vijayaraghavan has been a professional journalist for more than four decades, specialising in finance, business and politics. He conceived and helped to launch Business Line, the financial daily of The Hindu group. He can be contacted at [email protected]).