I am no stranger to Pune, now living here for years
together. This is nice place, for sure. Every city has special characteristics.
The people, places, habits, climate, the food all add up to give a unique
flavor.
One of the enduring surprises is the behavior of the auto-rickshaw
drivers. Particularly in Pune! It never fails to catch you off the guard. And I
have heard many stories of auto-rickshaw drivers, experienced a few quirks as
well. I have heard some of them are highly educated. They are equally infamous &
notorious, in few cases. They charge extra money and so on.
So the other day, I did some shopping on the famous Lakshmi
Road, in central Pune. Then got on an auto-rickshaw to go back home.
And! The driver all of a sudden, out of the blue, started
talking to me. It is quite normal, although I did not anticipate a lecture on
spirituality!! It was a longish conversation – he went on & on. As it
turned out it was more of a ‘pravachan’ – according to him – for me – a lowly
common man.
He seemed a good chap. Like an elderly sadhu – all grown up
hair & beard, and those clothes. I recalled he was reading a spiritual book,
when idle, waiting for a passenger.
He began by saying that – we all are running. I wondered we
were in auto-rickshaw – why would we run?!
Then he explained we are running towards our materialistic goals,
to earn money, to earn all the luxuries. And this all is futile – we all will
die one day. (Sure I agree to last sentence.) On the second thought I wondered if
he was drunk & driving. But he looked sober.
He continued – we human beings, have ignored the presence of
god in our lives. We ignored our duty to be spiritual and humble. He was
talking endlessly.
I wasn't in the mood of talking – as it is I talk very less,
by nature. Specifically at that point, I wasn't listening to him, was least
bothered, and started ignoring. At least in the beginning!
However he kept going on his sermon. And he claimed that ‘I’
am not at a highly spiritual level, you know, to counter him or to interject
even. It is still a mystery – how he concluded that I am very common man, with only
money-oriented aspirations. (I remember – one of my best friends – who know me
from last 20 years, had said famously that – I am like a fakir/sage – the monies,
the extravagances, and the gold etc. are immaterial and irrelevant to me!)
Even if I wanted to say anything, in this case, there was
simply no way I would talk in between! He was speaking loud and clear – with a speed like that of Aranb Goswami.
I was so flabbergasted.
I mean I know the word ‘Puneri’ has a unique meaning. You have
to have opinion on almost everything under the sun and you have to put your
point across, forcefully. Irrespective of your standing, your knowledge,
education, manners, or income, you should opine & preach!
It took almost 25 minutes to reach my home – got out of the
auto-rickshaw & gave him the fare.
I don’t ever take things seriously – mainly what people
think of me.
This was memorable, nonetheless!
