Two Rickshaw pullers

This will tell you about two rickshaw pullers of NOIDA.

1. I was going somewhere from sector 12-22 bus stand, where I met this rickshaw-puller. I cant remember exactly how the conversation started. I asked him how much he makes for a day? He replied that he is able to make somewhere around 140-150 a day after spending for his food. The conversation started from here and then it went on. He told me that he is from some village in central UP and that he lives here with his family. He had one boy n a girl. He told me that he used to work in some factory before starting rickshaw. I asked him why he left that job n decided to pull a rickshaw instaed, as that would have been a more guaranteed source of steady income. He said that he dint wanted to hear the abuse of supervisors n feel always fear of loosing job, as used to happen. He told me that work there was more tiresome with abusive behavior of overseers and then stop it a sense of job insecurity. It was then that he decided that he will better pull a rickshaw and feel independent. Somehow there was a sense of pride in him which I also liked. Then I asked him whether he sends his children to school or not? As I feared that he may be spending his moeny in liqour n rest. Then came the answer which moved n shoked me. He said to me that he sends his children to an english medium school, obviouslynot so big but that is an english medium school! This answer left me speechless for a moment. I was here witnessing a man who was doing everything to educate his children and that also in english medium. he understood the importance of education n moreover of studying in an english medium school. I was moved. I asked him ho he manages to pull his chores n family with that. He told me that he has a piece of agricultural land back at home(his village), which he has put on rent. some other family there ploughs his land and he gets a share of that. This way he is able to do this all. This system of "plogh-on-rent" (i dont know the exact term) is prevalent in India at large.
He really left me amused and I thought of enquiring as to how much was he speaking the truth. I was late and I couldnt offer hima nything but just said that keep up thwe good work and may be if sometime I will meet you again, I will see to that how much true you are in this. He nodded in positive and then I went away.

The most striking about this was that he was sending her girl to the same school as his boy. This was a relief to me as in India, today also we se female foeticide. He was poor yet he wanted education for his child be it boy or girl. I still see n hear coutless stories from some affluent regions of India where girl child are seen with a humiliation. In Rajasthan, parts of MP, affluent people of well to do family still want just a boy. Its still prevalent in many villages of India.

I do hope someday, the spirit that rickshaw puller had, spreads to many more like him who will understand the value of education n value of a girl child.

I want to be alive n young to see that India!

2. The secodn is a bit short story. I was returning some day from sector 21 when I hired a rickshaw. As I reached my destination, which was a red light crossing. He asked me can I get down here, instead of crossing the red light as "mujhe right jaana hai". I said ok. At the same moment, the light went green and he moved his rickshwa to cross the light. As I crossed the light on rickshaw and get off it, he smiled and said "Dont mind". I was stuck! He is speaking english! I was paying him and asked where he learnt that english? He again smiled and said "Good night" and went away.