The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : A rickshaw ride on country roads

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Oct 17, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

A rickshaw ride on country roads

Special Correspondent

Nijam has been travelling across India for almost 10 years on his tricycle rickshaw that bears the number plate "AP 7 - Mother India"

SPECIAL WHEELS: Nijam on his Mother India cycle rickshaw in Bangalore. — Photo: K. Murali Kumar

BANGALORE: He likes to call himself Nijam as he feels there is too much dishonesty around him. Born in Kerala, he was brought up in Andhra Pradesh, and life led him to settle down in Kollipara in Guntur district.

"Settled" is a misnomer, for Nijam has been travelling across south India for close to 10 years now.

And that on his tricycle rickshaw that bears the proud number plate "AP 7 - Mother India."

Prized possessions

A change of clothes, a file of newspaper clippings and a logbook signed and stamped at assorted police stations along the way are all that he takes along with him.

Nijam does not have any lofty ideals to preach. All he wants is more probity in public life and for people to love and help each other.

"I will not give a ride to those who smoke or drink; if I see destitute elderly persons on the road, I'll take him or her anywhere for free."

He does not let his passengers bargain with him for too long; if they offer Rs. 10, he will settle for half that. Not exactly what one would call business acumen, but it keeps Nijam happy.

But consider the fact that Nijam has survived the highways of peninsular India for almost a decade, braving not just the elements but also roaming criminals and sundry other risks of travelling alone in strange places.

"People have helped me all along, and I have helped some on the way. That is enough for me," he says. By early next month he hopes to be back in his hometown in Andhra Pradesh. After that it will be a trip to Sabarimala. He will escort people from his town on the pilgrimage as he knows Malayalam, he says.

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