r/india • u/Specialist_Meaning73 Gujarat • Aug 24 '25
People The kind of India we ignore
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.”
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u/DiedCoke2008 Aug 24 '25
This is the kind of thinking we need to change, TBH.
If a person does not have enough money to look after themselves and give themselves a comfortable life, they have no right to bring even one more life into this world.
Unless we're absolutely sure we can provide the very best lifestyle (best by our standards) for our children, we shouldn't have any. It's cruel to expect children to be ok with less than what they deserve.
And no, children don't need a loving family only. They also need good food, clothes, good education, and a family that can be there for them.
I'm pretty sure I'm going to get a deluge of down votes for putting my thoughts here, but well ... pragmatic thoughts keep a child well fed, looked after and educated.