Awesome Humans : Darshan Kumar – The Cab Driver

We found this conversation posted on facebook, originally said to be written by Dipesh Karki via The Analytical Indian. We felt this is a must share post. You will understand once you read the same.

Name : Darshan Kumar.
Age: 75
Occupation : Cab Driver.

“I, along with my friend, got down at Sion station and started looking for black and yellow cabs to IMAX Wadala to watch Avengers. But none of the cabs was ready to go. And then came this old man who agreed to take us along. As soon as I got in, I noticed that he was very old, shaky hands, stammering voice. I was really surprised to see how this old Grandpa was driving this black and yellow cab and why was he driving it? I couldn’t hold myself from getting into a conversation with him.

(He first took another unfamiliar road, so I immediately asked.)
Me:” Ji, why are we going this way? Isn’t Wadala the opposite way?”
He: I’m using a shortcut and if you think I should go by the other way, you can tell me.
Me: No, it’s okay.
(after a while…)
Me: “Ji, how old are you?”
He(Grandpa): “Beta (Son), I am 75.”

Me: “Why are you driving at THIS age? Is it because of your passion or compulsion?”
He: “Beta, I don’t have any helping hands. My children are good for nothing. I have to earn my living BUT begging is beyond my attitude. So, you may call it a compulsion but I am doing it for myself.”
(I was like “RESPECT YOU SIR” from inside, mute for a moment.)
Me: “How long have you been in this profession?”
He:”Since last 50 years.”
Kunal(My friend): “So can you see clearly?”
He:”You observe it yourself beta, I am driving smooth and like a gentleman.”
.
.
(All of us laughed at this.)
He:”Thanks to good Lord that unlike many old people of my age, I am physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually fit. I will continue with my service as long as I live. But I will never beg.”
Kunal:”Where are you originally from?”
He:”I am from Punjab.”
Me:”We both did our engineering from Kurukshetra, so we are quite acquainted with Haryana and Punjab.”

He:”My eldest son, he is in Panipat, doing some business of motor part and earning in crores. But he doesn’t want me. I have a daughter who is married to a rich guy in Delhi and they also have their own business. She doesn’t want me either. My youngest son is an officer in some good bank. He kept me with him for about three months, used to give me Rs. 1500/- as monthly expenses. But the other two didn’t like it and were constantly taunting him about this. I didn’t feel good about it so left them with their lives and came to Mumbai to earn my living.”

(We were speechless…)
Me:”So where is your wife?”
He:”She passed away.”
Me:”So you live alone here?”
He:”Yes beta, I live nearby Parle in a rented room. I pay Rs. 2500 as rent, have my own kitchen and cook my own food. I go home and wash this cloth immediately and wear it tomorrow AGAIN. During the day, I drive. That simply sums up my life here. But I am positive. I don’t count days, I work to make each day fruitful.”
Me:”I really appreciate your enthusiasm. In this country where there are beggars turned to billionaires, you are proudly struggling to earn your life. We are really inspired by your enthusiasm and we respect you for that.”

(He felt good about it and smiled back.)
By then we had reached IMax Wadala and surprisingly the fare was approximately Rs. 10/- less than my usual routes.
I gave him hundred rupees and said,” Sir, please keep the change. Consider it as a small token of respect from us for your honesty and positivity towards life.”
He really felt very happy and said “Thank you beta.”
I then asked him “Can I take a picture of you? I wish to share your thoughts and ideas on the Internet. Your work can inspire many people out there. Also, after seeing you, if any Mumbaikar noticed you on the internet and found you on road driving, they would ALWAYS choose your cab over others.
He,” Ha-ha, sure beta.”

I clicked his picture, shook hands with him and bid farewell. I really felt so glad to have met him.
Darshan Kumar’s story deserves a share, so please share this guy’s story and motivate the generation.”

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Credits and Courtesy : Dipesh Karki via The Analytical Indian

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Know : Irom Sharmila – The world’s longest hunger striker

This solitary hunger striker is about to cross 15 years without food!

“Iron Lady of Manipur” – Irom Sharmila (born 14 March 1972) is a civil rights activist, political activist, and poet from the Indian state of Manipur. On 2 November 2000, she began a hunger strike which is still ongoing.

On 2 November 2000, in Malom, a town in the Imphal Valley of Manipur, ten civilians were shot and killed while waiting at a bus stop. The incident, known as the “Malom Massacre”, was allegedly committed by the Assam Rifles, one of the Indian Paramilitary forces operating in the state.The victims included Leisangbam Ibetombi, a 62-year old woman, and 18-year old Sinam Chandramani, a 1988 National Bravery Award winner.

Sharmila, who was 28 at the time, began to fast in protest of the killing, taking neither food nor water. As her brother Irom Singhajit Singh recalled, “It was a Thursday. Sharmila used to fast on Thursdays since she was a child. That day she was fasting too. She has just continued with her fast.”

She has not met her mother since the start of the fast as seeing her mother’s anguish may break her resolve. She said “The day AFSPA is repealed I will eat rice from my mother’s hand.

The Manipur High Court has ordered Rs. 5 lakh compensation for each of the families of 10 people killed by the Assam Rifles in November 2000, in what was later alleged to be a fake encounter. But for the families of those who were killed 14 years ago, compensation is just the first step towards justice.

Three days after she began her strike, she was arrested by the police and charged with an “attempt to commit suicide”, which was unlawful under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) at that time, and was later transferred to judicial custody. However, Amnesty International and the World Medical Association both dispute that a hunger strike is equivalent to suicide as hunger strikers “generally hope and intend to survive”. Her health deteriorated rapidly, and nasogastric intubation was forced on her in order to keep her alive while under arrest.

And her hunger strike continues still…

The following documentary by IBN talks about her life and the politics around her.

The sad thing it is 15 years now. Will the Indian government answer her? This is the land of Mahatma Gandhi who remarkably contributed towards the Indian Freedom via non-violence! Will the government consider her request? What is their answer to her?

You can buy her book Fragrance of Peace here at Amazon

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Courtesy & Credits : IBM via Youtube, Wikipedia and Sakthivel

Story : A Dog called Capitán

This is certainly a remarkable story. Like the Hachiko.

For six years, a dog named  has stayed by his owner’s graveside in Villa Carlos Paz Cordoba, Argentina. Every day at 6pm, he lays by Miguel Guzmán’s headstone, on faithful vigil. The dog’s remarkable story of loyalty began on March 24, 2006, when Miguel, who was Capitán’s owner, passed away. As soon as Capitán realized Miguel was no longer at home, he left to search for him and miraculously managed to find Miguel’s grave in the nearby cemetery. Since then, the dog has stayed by his deceased owner’s side and refuses to return home.

Capitán was reportedly looked after by staff at the cemetery. Although he sometimes returned to his previous home for visits, he always came back to the cemetery to sleep by the grave of his owner.

The Case of Kawasi Himde : Why should we educate our children about her case?

Kawasi Himde is no celebrity or someone from a cosmopolitan city, she is a tribal woman. A few good media tried to cover her news still. Kudos to the ones who are holding the mic behind the screen to bring her story out. The rest of the NEWS media was busy in covering the IPL and Cinema gossips it seems. They may be right, audiences will show interest to watch a Salman Khan case that will help their TRP, which Kawasi cannot do.

She was acquitted after 7 years of imprisonment when a Dantewada (Chhattisgarh, India) court found her not guilty. Our judiciary system took JUST 7 years to find someone is innocent. At the age of 17, in 2008, Kawasi Himde was arrested for “being involved in the killing of 23 policemen”.

How our judiciary system is going to compensate everything she had lost? There are only loopholes but no law for this!

The real story is horrible even in our dreams. Colours of the Cage A blog covered her story exclusively in an attempt to expose the truth and to get her justice.

In January 2008 just after harvest, as in previous years, a fair was organised in Ramram, the nearby village. Kawasi accompanied her aunt and her other cousin sisters to the fair and to buy ribbons and choodis. There she joined a group of other tribals who were dancing and singing. Having danced vigorously, she soon became thirsty and approached the nearby hand-pump for water. But as soon as she held the pump, someone very forcefully grabbed her. She looked up angrily and was shocked to see Police personnel. They had surrounded her and began dragging her by her hair towards their vehicle parked outside the fair. With hands and feet tied, she was thrown on the floor of the truck and driven to the Police station. (click to continue reading) – Written by Sushmita Verma

Why should we educate our children about her case?

If you are reading this, you could be someone who works in a respectable position responsible for keeping the law, you could be an advocate, you could be a student, you could be an activist, you could be just a common civilian.. Whomsoever you are, as a human being we should have some introspection on ourselves as individuals and as a society.

What are we going behind? What are we supporting? How are we spending our time?

Thousands of cases like this are happening in our country which will not come to our attention. But at the end of the day, it is we all who make the society. Our children are going to become the lawyers, policeman, lawmakers, politicians, etc.

It is our responsibility to educate them the reality. So that they will understand everything and at least try to have some humanity and morality tomorrow. If not our generation at least coming generations may seek to live in the righteous way.

Please share this. Keep educating!

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Courtesy : The Hindu,  Colours of the Cage and Satwik Mishra

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Story : You don’t need feet to Dance

Sudha Chandran, a classical dancer from India, was cut off in the prime of her career – quite literally – when her right leg had to be amputated after a car accident. Though the incident brought her bright career to a halt, she didn’t give up. In the painful months that followed, she met a doctor who developed an artificial limb made from vulcanized rubber filled with sponge.

So intense was her desire that she decided to go back to dancing after she had been fitted with an artificial leg.

Sudha knew that she believed in herself and could fulfill her dream, she began her courageous journey back to the world of dancing – learning to balance, bend, stretch, walk, turn, twist, twirl and finally dance.

After every public recital, she would ask her Dad about her performance. ‘You still have a long way to go’ was the answer she use to get in return.

In January 1984, Sudha made a historic comeback by giving a public recital in Bombay. She performed in such a marvelous manner that it moved everyone to tears while catapulting her to the number one position again.

That evening when she asked the usual question her dad, he didn’t say anything. He just touched her feet as a tribute to a great artiste.

Sudha’s comeback was such heart-warming that a film producer was inspired to capture the incident into a celluloid box office hit, `Mayuri.’

When someone asked Sudha how she had managed to dance again, she said quite simply, ‘YOU DON’T NEED FEET TO DANCE.’

Nothing is impossible in this world. If you have the will to win, you can achieve anything.

Here is one of her performance