Chandrashekar

DiscoverBangalore is pleased to feature Shri. Chandrshekar, an Auto rickshaw driver who owns and runs a High Tech auto with all the possible gadgets and facilities that can be fitted to make every ride the most pleasant and memorable one for all his passengers. An Auto Rickshaw ride which would indeed be an unforgetable one. Veena Shekar spoke with this gentleman to find out more about the person and his Hitech Auto.

Have you frequently had a rough ride in an auto rickshaw? Have you been charged unreasonably? Perhaps you have stood endlessly waiting for an auto or waving frantically to one which just zipped past you ignorantly. Or maybe you have received the bored expression and a ‘not interested shake in going your way’ more than often. Right?

Don’t worry! This is a typical Bangalore scenario and all Bangaloreans will vouch for it.

But wait! You have not met our auto rickshaw driver Chandrashekar. I bet you will change your opinion once you get into his auto rickshaw. He became my face in the crowd for discoverbangalore.com once I took a ride and a long one too in his high tech auto.

In times when auto rickshaws rides are uncomfortable and just a necessary stop gap mode of transport Chandrashekar’s auto is completely service oriented. Incredible but true. What makes Chandrashekar and his auto unique? Well, his auto is equipped with a telephone, a magazine stand with latest filmy magazines, a computerized monitor that gives train and flight timings and a candy machine for kids (yet to be fitted) and a driver that avers “My customers comfort, time and safety are the most important”

Chandrashekar runs his auto only on bookings. Customers call him and fix up a time and place and pay Rs.10 extra as service charge. He has nearly 10 bookings a day and a calendar showing these bookings hang near the dash board in front if him.

For the 46 year old man, the profession started 9 years ago when he left his hometown in Andhra Pradesh against the wishes of his father. He was at that time also leaving behind a job as mechanical assistant, his wife and children. His only ambition was to become an auto driver. Angered by his son’s stubbornness his father vowed never to speak to him again but still parted with Rs.10,000/- for the purchase of an auto.

However deep the urge to become an auto driver remained in Chandrashekar, the fact to be faced was that he never knew how to drive one.

With the 10,000/- he reached Bangalore and got friendly with some good people who helped him buy an auto. Once this was done he spent the next nine hours learning the ropes of auto driving. The following one and a half month was a real trial period when he had to eat and sleep inside his auto. He however survived and people began to trust him enough to book in advance for their everyday trips. Thus began Chandrashekar’s journey as an auto driver in Bangalore.

Chandrashekar now has two assistants who also work on bookings. He works from 3 A.M. to 11.P.M and feels bad that there are only 24 hours in a day. He handles all emergencies and has even carried a dead person in his auto. He has been featured in many English dailies and has been interviewed on NDTV. Speaking English fairly well he remembered how his father saw him on ETV and reconciled with him. His family lives with him now and they enjoy a comfortable lifestyle. He can be contacted on these numbers 9880252087(Harish) for a safe and joyful ride.

Veena Shekar

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