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Monday Musings - Yet another slice of life
"Kamna
Prasad Tripathy from Azamgarh sir" he replied, in accented English as I
asked his name while entering the tariffed taxi service outside the Mumbai
airport the other night. Apart from the usage of the queen’s language it was
his confidence that announced that he was not an ordinary cab driver. In saying
his name and the manner in which he said it and adding the trivia about his
roots he was claiming his space inside the cab as an identity distinct and
perhaps superior to what his vocation lent him. I knew I had to talk to
him.
I asked
him how long he was in Mumbai. He announced dramatically - and I capture this
verbatim - “1969 was ending and 1970 was beginning - and in the space in
between, I landed in Mumbai"
I asked
him how has been his experience of working in Mumbai. He said “Mumbai offers a
secular opportunity to everyone to earn a livelihood with dignity. As long as
you are committed to your work, money will keep flowing. I fulfilled all my responsibilities
as a brother, as a son and as a father doing odd work here"
Immediately
he corrected himself and it was the correction that yet again announced that he
was not an ordinary taxi driver. He said “Actually I became an instrument to fulfill my
responsibilities".
Over the
next 30 minutes he sang Kabeer, Tulsidas and perhaps to connect with me better,
Nanak, along with description and elucidation of meaning of what he was singing.
Suddenly
a call comes on his phone and he asks in the broken English that speaks, to the
person on the other end " Sir if you can wait for 15 minutes...I can pick
you...you will reach your destination...and I will also earn some money...but
of course no pressure from my side"...Just awesome example of
influencing skills!! He cuts the phone and explains to me the merits of
transparency in dealing with customers.
A little
ahead on the road, he tells how at 62, his family does not like him driving and
working. But he is adamant - "While money is no longer as strong a driver
anymore, but I do not like the prospect of not earning any money too....One
must earn"
Then
comes the power punch when he talks about the four aims of human life, Arth,
Kama, Dharm and Moksh - "Why is Moksh number four and not number one -
Only Gaad (God) knows!!...In any case these four pursuits are for the men-battalion....women
battalion is exempt...they already do quite a lot you see...."
Finally
as I step out at my destination I say "It was nice talking to you" to
which he serves an ace...”Your company made me talk nice...credit goes to
you".
Mr. Kamna
Prasad tripathy from Azamgarh - we need more like you, if not on the streets,
then certainly in the parliament.
Guru
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