I will start a Travel Agency

Today's trip back from office was a surprise. I was waiting for an auto when a taxi came in. Waiting for a negative response I told I would pay Rs.100/- - the auto rate. Surprise, Surprise, he agreed. And then I started. Here is his story.

He appeared to be in his mid 30s. But then he's been driving for 24 years now. He looks much younger than he is.

I am Balu. I've been driving since '84. I have driven all kinds of vehicles. I am doing an Ambassador now.

I am uneducated. I am extremely conscious of this and with a vengeance I have tried to be better. Because I am uneducated I have no bad habits. Perhaps that is reason you feel I appear younger that what I actually am.

I have two sons. The eldest one is 22. He works for a Bank. ICICI - Nungambakkam. He is in charge of marketing. He finishes his job by afternoon and later he does insurance work for Bajaj. He is always in meetings and returns home only after 1 am. He always wanted to work for a bank. He gets enough money. He has a power steering car. He drives it himself to work. He is a good boxer. He builds his body and he has lots and lots of medals. The house is filled with cups and medals. He studies very well. I was able to educate him till 10th and after that he did everything over correspondence. He is always the first or second. Third is ok but he gets tensed if he is not within the first three. What is life if you are not at the top.

The younger one is zero is studies. He is studying for cinema direction. He always keeps watching movies. He does not allow anyone to sleep peacefully. He watches a lot of english movies and says this is the angle from which it should have been shot. I have allowed him to follow his dreams.

Both of them have grown with their own efforts. I am nothing.

I cooked my lunch today as I do everyday. My wife is ill. She is a mental case. She wants buildings and houses. For what I earn we can afford to eat peacefully three times a day and that is enough for me but not for her. But I take care of her.

I will open a travel agency very soon. I will have three cars - Indica, Ford Ikon and a Mitsubishi Lancer. All AC.

Life Goes On

Talk with auto drivers in Mumbai and Chennai during December 2007 and early 2008.

Mumbai December 2007

Suresh drives an own auto. In mid 20s he is excited with his vehicle and leads a care free life.

He is from a village near Sangli. He and his family shifted to Mumbai a long time ago. He bought an auto a couple of years ago. Since they lived in a shanty without ration card – he had to go in for a auto loan from a private money lender and not a bank. He took about Rs.60,000.00 as loan and repaying Rs.5,000.00 a month for three years. However, he is not displeased.

He spends all the extra money he gets on the auto. He has bought a cassette player a year ago with woofer and two speakers costing him Rs.5,500.00. This makes it difficult to find space for some luggage at the rear of the passenger seat, but music is more important for him. He brings out a new cassette almost daily. He is proud but says his next idea is to replace the cassette player with a CD player.

His is not yet married and his parents are unhappy with him because he spends a lot on the auto.He leads a hand to mouth existence living in deplorable conditions. After paying for the loan and the cassette he has anything hardly left to eke out a living. The airport is expanding the authorities have already issued notice for vacating the shanty. They would be provided with an accommodation outside the city.

Suresh is happy with himself.