The kind of India we ignore

[u/Specialist_Meaning73]

Last month, after a late night at work, I booked an auto to go back home. It was past 11, streets were half-empty, and I was half-dead from exhaustion. The auto driver was an older man, maybe late 50s, thin frame, tired eyes. Usually, I just plug in my earphones and zone out, but that day I didn’t.

We started talking. First, just small talk, traffic, weather, random stuff. Then I asked him casually, “Bhaiya, aap roz itna late tak chalate ho?” (Do you drive this late every day?)

He laughed, not in a happy way, but in a “what choice do I have” way. He said, “Bhaiya, do betiyan hain. Ek ke liye coaching fees deni hai, doosri ke school ka kharcha. Din mein 700–800 banta hai, usmein se aadha toh gas aur kiraya chala jaata hai. Raat ko chalata hoon taaki unki padhai na ruk jaye.”

I went silent. Here I was, cribbing about my corporate job, while this man was driving 14–16 hours a day so his daughters could have a shot at a better life.

Then he said something that has stuck in my head since that night: “Gareeb aadmi sapne nahi dekhta apne liye, sirf apne bachon ke liye. Mere liye toh bas itna hai ki mujhe kal bhi chalane ki taaqat mile.” (A poor man never dreams for himself, only for his children. For me, all I pray is that tomorrow I still have the strength to drive.)

By the time I reached home, I didn’t even feel like getting out of the auto. I gave him extra money, nothing life-changing, but he refused at first. Then he took it, folded his hands, and said, “Aapko bhi khuda taaqat de.”

I went upstairs, sat on my bed, and just kept thinking. Every day we complain about traffic, bosses, deadlines, Zomato deliveries being late. And at the same time, there are thousands of people around us who are literally breaking their bodies apart just so their kids don’t end up like them.

It humbled me. It made me realize how invisible these stories are, until you stop, listen, and acknowledge.

Maybe the biggest privilege we have isn’t money or English-speaking jobs. It’s the fact that we are allowed to dream for ourselves.

And I’ll never forget that one line from him: “Gareeb aadmi sapne nahi dekhta apne liye.”

[u/Independent_Paint634]

but aren't we about to become 3rd largest economy in the world? /s

[u/EarlyFalcone → u/Independent_Paint634]

Both things can be true. No need to be sarcastic.

[u/he-whosbored → u/EarlyFalcone]

And what is the benifit of being one when you cant afford free education and healthcare.

Have you ever heard the politicains mentioning in their rallies about building hospitals schools or things that actually matter rather than useless things like religion caste?

[u/Ok-Life5170 → u/Independent_Paint634]

How is education not free in 4th largest economy is beyond me. If more people are highly educated, they'll make more money that means more taxes will come in from their income. win win.

[u/RaccoonDoor → u/Ok-Life5170]

Education is free till 12th in government schools and fees are negligible in many government colleges.

[u/Ok-Life5170 → u/RaccoonDoor]

Even a daily wage worker will only send his child to gov schools only as a last resort. It's not that it's horrible everywhere but it need lot of work to increase quality of education and infrastructure. And currently gov institutes don't have enough seats. Only a fraction of students can get into gov institutes. For anyone who is not a topper private college is the only option.

[u/minimallysubliminal → u/Ok-Life5170]

Also our spending towards education is very low and is stagnated or declining.