In the present syndrome of ' I don't have
time' , some very ordinary folks teach us the lessons of compassion,
benevolence, kindness to stay our foot firmly on the ground. This needs
to be constantly reminded as our lives are proliferating with uncertainty in
the constant flux of cause and effect of our acts.
One such ordinary man is Bijender Singh
of Barabanki district of Uttar Pradesh. He proudly calls himself 'Rajput'.
Donning a spotless white safari dress, at first look you could
presume him as a chauffeur to a wealthy man's high-end car. But he is a
proud owner-cum-driver of a three-wheeler auto rickshaw and earns a handsome
income on the bustling Delhi roads.
Bijender is different in many ways from his peers. He doesn't drink which
ruins the lives of many labour-class
in India. He treats his vehicle as his child and keeps it always
neat and tidy.
The other day when I boarded his auto, I felt elated of his three-wheel queen
glowing as if it is bought a month back or so. My curiosity asked him how
old was his vehicle. His reply was crisp. ''Two years old sir''.
Elaborating how best he manages his time, he says that whenever he finds
time in between his sorties, he halts his vehicle at some place and rubs off
dust so that he could provide the best travel experience to the passengers
sitting in his auto. He even throws a challenge to you to show dust even in the
remotest part of the vehicle which reflects his confidence and dedication
to his profession.
When I spun him enough into conversation wheel, he opened up further of
how he saved the life of a young man of same profession who fell prey to Ganja
and alcohol and collapsed his health. When all his neighbours chose not
to rescue the near-dying young man, he took him to a private hospital and
administered treatment by spending Rs.10,000/-
from his pocket despite serious protest from his wife.
By the time, I got into his auto, he was coming back from the
hospital and the young man was slowly recovering from the
life-threatening condition. Bijener Singh is a satisfied-soul after
the young man with folded-hands expressed his gratitude and promised to
pay back the amount expended for his treatment.
He gave me enough sermon that all should come forward to help the needy irrespective of their social status.
He gave another instance of how he adopted an orphan boy 15 years
back when the boy with less than 4 years old was deserted on the
road and a rickshaw puller gave him to take care of that orphan.
After approaching Police and failing to get response from the TV ad given,
he took the boy to his home and became his guardian. Now that boy became a
young man of 18 years old and earning and giving him Rs.8000/- per month.
He says that he will do his best to settle these two men who came into his
life. By the time, he wraps up his story, my home came and I
pulled out Rs.100/- note from my wallet and asked him not to
return the balance Rs.50/- and use that money to provide a tumbler of
juice on my behalf to that hospitalized young man. I felt exuberant when
Bijender's beaming face acknowledged my gesture.
I climbed steps heading to my third floor home, ruminating the words of Dalai
Lama : Show kindness if possible; And I think it is always possible !
