Very inspiring! Such actions of people need wide circulation and deserve accolades!
2009/8/7 Vamshi. G <[email protected]> > Hi friends > > I received this mail from one of my friends. I thought of posting > this to the list as there is something, in fact a lot for our > governments to learn when it comes to giving concessions to disabled. > > 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. 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 around 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 TV dekh kar > kya faida? Do paisa income karega toh future mein kaam aayega." (Sir, > what's the use of simply sitting at home and watching TV? If I earn > some income, then it will be useful 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 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 Rs50". He > also said that his auto was mentioned on Radio Mirchi twice by the > station RJs. > > > The Marathi press in Mumbai know about him and have written a few > pieces on him and his vehicle. > > My wife and I were struck with awe. The man was a HERO! A hero who > deserves all our respect. I know that my son, once he grows up, will > realise that we have met a genuine hero. He has put questions to me > such as why should we help other people? I will try to keep this > incident alive in his memory. > > > 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. > > > > -- > G. Vamshi > PH Res : +91 877-2243861 > Mobile: +91 9949349497 > E-mail ID: > [email protected] > Skype: gvamshi81 > > God helps those who help themselves > > > > To unsubscribe send a message to [email protected] > the subject unsubscribe. > > To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, > please visit the list home page at > http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in > -- Warm regards, Subhash Chandra Vashishth Mobile: +91 (11) 9811125521 Please don't print this e-mail unless you really need to. Consider environment! To unsubscribe send a message to [email protected] with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in
