It was another hectic working day in the city and I had just taken my first smoking break from office. As I was savouring a cup of hot tea, a blind girl standing on the other side of the road caught my attention. She was very much in need of help amidst the heavy traffic in that crowded street. People were passing by, many ladies and gentlemen but none cared to spare a little time to help the girl. A few moments through the scene, I decided to cross the busy road since I was sure that she was not going to get help anytime soon. Suddenly I saw a hand reaching for her. It was an auto rickshaw driver in his mid fifties. He just left his auto and went to her quietly. I saw him asking her something. Then he carefully walked her down the street and ensured that she reached her destination safely.

When many so called white collar people ignored the girl, the Autowala just left his workspace to give her a helping hand. Good Humans are a rare breed and many Autowalas like the aforementioned undoubtedly makes it to the list. People or articles are never short of words when it comes to blaming the Autowalas and their menace to the society. Their ruthless behaviour, their unfair prices, their wily ways of altering routes to get extra meter charges, what not, they are perhaps the most blamed category of workers panned with utmost prejudice. Now, I have this simple question for you. Have you ever imagined a day in the city without a single Autowala? Think of it and you will understand the hardships you must undergo to reach your desired destinations in time at ease. One day without them is an absolute hitch.

Now don’t take me for a person who has never come across uncouth and unfair Autowalas. I have equally seen the bad ones as I have seen the good. But judging the Auto Drivers community because of a few unruly drivers will be like judging a book by its cover. In either case you never know the fine character that lies beneath. Being a journalist, I always found it interesting to mingle with strangers in my journeys. On one such trip, I met Velayudhan, a Rickshaw driver who was 64 years old. He lost four fingers of his right leg in an accident. He had a son who left home when he was 26 and never heard of since. He has a daughter-in-law and a granddaughter and he is the sole breadwinner of the family. Wow! Absolute fighter. And he dropped without an extra penny over the meter. I still remember another autowala who took me all the way to my relative’s place when I was new to Bangalore. He came out from the auto into a narrow boulevard along with me and ensured that I reached the place safe since he knew that I was new to town.

My question is what if these men ask for a few extra bucks on a trip? We all spend enough on things we never even care about. What is it that makes us fight or have dirty arguments with them in order to save a few bucks which we may simply spend on the next shopping mall. On an unprejudiced world, autowalas are also men with feelings and emotions. They too work hard for their money; in fact they get more harassed in the course than we all do. I have seen autowalas who just leave their vehicle amidst the traffic to help taxi drivers push their broke down cars. Many of them ride us home even at night safely without any extra charge. Frankly I don’t mind giving them something above the meter charge for these night trips. Just think of this as their job’s regular shift gone way over time which they dutifully do to earn something extra for those who wait for them at home. When I do this, my wallet becomes all the more flexible.

They may look ruffians, but we never know the family man inside them. Girls are all the more sceptical when they board an auto run by a young man. Think of his sister at home, for whom he took the job. There are well educated men among them, men of wisdom and men with refined character. I always greet them with a smile and almost always got one back. After all, they always run for our convenience. So I hope next time when you board an auto, you will do away with your prejudices and enjoy the trip.