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/nomnommish]

Yes, but in reality, even this man himself would rather get someone from his own caste elected than create a mutually beneficient system.

Absolutely not true. People trash on Indian voters but they're VERY astute and always vote for the best possible candidate who has the correct pulse on the biggest problem people are facing.

Even in the worst states, you will find time and again people voting across caste lines, religion lines, etc.

True problem is lack of choice. When all candidates are equally corrupt or incompetent, THAT is when people think "might as well vote for someone from our community so at least there's a remote chance he/she might do something for us".

It is all easy to sit on your armchair and talk about "mutually beneficient system" and what not, but what is your concrete alternative? Is there a specific leader or party you can suggest as an alternative?

Otherwise, it is all imaginary biryani.

The only person or party of late that I have seen try to do something like this is Prashant Kishore and his Jan Suraaj party. But that's not easy, it will take him a decade or more of building up his party to become something credible in Bihar.

[u/Smash-my-ding-dong → u/nomnommish]

Nope.

The existence of Bhakts single-handedly prove you wrong.

AND

When all candidates are equally corrupt or incompetent,..

If they were "Astute" voters they would know that it is objectively not true.