One of the best things about traveling alone is that you get to meet and observe the humanity around you. And so on the eve of friendship day I was making my way to a hangout joint for a get together. The climate hinted possible rains so I decided to hail an auto rickshaw. I called out to the one passing and to find that the auto was already occupied I was about to move when he stopped me mid way saying, " You can pay half the price ! ".
And began the journey and the lady next to me was trying to make small talk with me. As she was going on about the crowded temples and how they were never able to get a proper glimpse of the lord, he turns around and says, "Amma ! Let me make a frank opinion. Are you not blessed with two of the most purest souls right at home? People these days act so weird. They don't wanna respect their parents but they go on to do expensive donations at temples and all these Abishekams. Am not an atheist neither am I religious. And am not against these people. But to think that the sins can be demolished by performing holy rites is not wisely. If you can learn to touch the feet of your parents and obtain their blessings, their is nothing which will stand in your way to success. "
I was dumbstruck for a while. For an auto rickshaw driver he had offered me a deep insight about life. Pondering on what he had just said I enquire about his name to which he promptly replied "Prabha" and I was teasing him about how he was having a female name to which again comes an answer which will leave you in deep contemplation. " Have you read the Bhagvad Geetha? Lord Krishna says, " Our souls are divided between the different bodies. Like how we wear new clothes abandoning the old ones, our soul too wears on new bodies as we get older. So our features, appearances, etc are just material things. As we move on in life what matters is how you are inside !" Pointing to a photo of A.P.J. Abdul Kalam he had pinned up in his vehicle he states, " Will anyone ever say he looked ugly? Right in everyone's eyes he was the most beautiful soul ever lived ". He recalls as a matter of fact, " In fact during those days I used to sell newspapers as well to pay for my brother's education. I don't regret the choices I made. It was his own way of saying (referring to god) that I was brought to this world to produce one more educated person into this world. "
I was so mindful of what he had just said that didn't know my place had arrived. We get down and the lady next to me started a feud saying he demanded more.
With a polite smile he adds, " I drive this vandi (vehicle) for handicapped persons and pregnant women for free. And I sometimes offer a ride for these rural kids to get to their schools. And am not charging you anything more than what is the required fare."
The lady refused to pay and she started walking away from the auto. I was shell shocked by this gesture. Here was guy who was contributing to the society in his own way and their was the lady.
As I made the payment I offered an extra 20 rupee note to which he declined politely saying, " Am working for a cause and not applause madam. I don't need that extra tip instead I would appreciate it very much if you would offer that to a homeless kid on the streets." And with that he made his way through the traffic on the T - Nagar roads.
I stood there getting drenched in the cold rains hardly aware of the curious glances being shot my way. I would say this day has changed me forever. We are the people constitute this world and we are the ones who destroy it too. If we could make small amends like him in our daily lives, we can surely "make this world a better place."
(MJ's heal the world plays in the background)
He may not be a famous person for his deeds but he is a great person in eyes of many of us and surely this inspiring story of Praba will inspire us to contribute our bit for the society. As we move along in this fast paced world, we are too obsessed with our own lives to be able to dwell in the happenings around us.
As H. Jackson Brown, Jr beautifully put it, "Today, give a stranger one of your smiles. It might be the only sunshine he sees all day".