Delhi's Most Beautiful Rickshaw Driver

Kengonetoindia

I stayed at "Prince Palace" (not) in the market near Connaught Place in New Delhi in 2006, and again in 2007. A week or so each visit.

Every morning, about 7:30, I would sit on the curb outside the "Palace" having a chai from a one man chai stand who arrives nice and early. I'm waiting for the restaurant to open.

The first time I sat there I watched a rickshaw driver feeding four dogs boiled eggs he had bought from the chai guy. I am a huge dog lover and so I asked the chai guy what was going on here.

He told me that this fellow does this every morning, every day of the year. Two egss each for four dogs. Thats about 30 rupes or so ... a day. I also found out later that two of them sleep in his Rickshaw at night ... but he cleans it to perfection every morning after feeding the dogs.

And so I approached the fellow, told him I loved him a lot and that he was a great human being for doing this. I offered him 100 rupes and he outright refused to take it, saying this was his offering to the dogs. Wow. Bow Wow Wow.

In late November I hired the fellow for the day (10 - 4) to do some serious running around. Computer stuff unfortunately. At the end of the day I asked how much. "As you please" he said. Now we all know what that means. "How much can I possbily get off you, and how stupid are you" is what it usually means.

But not in this case. Knowing he had refused my earlier offer of 100 rupes I asked him ... "As I please, are you serious"? Yes he responded. I asked him what typically one day of running around would cost and he said around 500. Fine then, I am pleased to give you 1000. But again, I had to plead with him to take it. It took about ten minutes of chasing him for him to accept the tip.

This is the kindest, most honest man I've run into in dogs age. He loves them, he's a great driver (not crazy fast, not much horn) and speaks English very well.

I carry a kit with me to treat sick and injured dogs. It contains antibiotics, mange medicine, worm medicine, disifectant spray and treats to put them in. He watched me use this a couple of times and then asked me to write the names of the medicines down so he could buy a kit for himself.

Now he's treating dogs all over Delhi. God do I love this guy. So much that I forced him to take my cell phone knowing this would drive his business way up - because once you have had him as a driver, you want him ... and only him.

Now busier and running around Delhi more often, he's able to treat the dogs he sees that are suffering. Isn't this just great?

So, for you folks in Delhi that want to meet the best driver in India (and the most honest) you can simply call him at 9311743424. His name is Sanjeep. Tell him Ken sent you. The only thing is Sanjeep might stop now and then to treat a suffering animal. How sweet it is. And oh yes, congratulate him if you think of it ... his lovely wife is expecting their first child in a couple of months.

Mod Note... phone number changed as requested in post #27

anar

wow, what a heart-warming story!

Nick-H

Brilliant!

It's great to hear about someone like this, when so many people react to dogs by throwing a stone.

Thanks for a heart-warming post.

I hope this guy gets lots of IM customers!

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nadreg

A great story. Can't wait to meet him when I'm there next.

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dzibead

steven_ber

My god, feed a dog and then it's OK to rip off tourists.

Feed a child AND a dog, then it's OK to help yourself to my wife.

I was with another guy, we asked an auto driver a few kms outside of Bikaner how much it would cost to take us to, then around Bikaner for the day, then take us to a palace 30kms away, then wait for a couple of hours and take us back to Bikaner, as he had a brand new, slightly larger auto, I expected to be quoted silly prices.

He said Rs300, we didn't even try to bargain.

He was true to his word, done everything asked of him, never tried to take us to any shops, only asked if it was OK to pick his daughter up from school, although he was probibly the craziest auto driver I've ever met, his auto was very fast and he drove far too fast, but that's India.

He didn't feed a dog though.

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Nick-H

500 would be ok for a day here in Chennai, in fact they're more likely to ask much more!

dzibead

If 300 is OK in the boonies of Bikaner, 500 would seem to be reasonable in high-priced Delhi for what is essentially all day. I mean, it cost me, what?, 200 Rs at the official pre-paid taxi stand to get from the airport to north Delhi when I was there 3 years ago - for about a 45 minute ride. So 500 for 6 hours doesn't sound like ripping off the tourists to me.

karthik_mitta

Touching..

I was looking for "Basanti from Ramghad" pictures based on title of the thread

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KM

In the process of gaining our rightful place, we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds - Martin Luther King Jr.

madan80

wow... its nice to come across such stories. There are great drivers and its good to spread the word about them...

MellowD

That's a great story, as I have a soft spot in my heart for the brave stray dogs of India...When I stayed in Delhi, I used to do drawings of them -and I used to drive with autos every day, so I really appreciate your story! Will definately go and find that guy next time I'm in Delhi (next autumn, most likely).

shashank.aggarwal

Besides being a dog lover this guys seems to be a good professional !! but yeas..even though they are an infamous lot, however it is not rare for me to stumble on some drivers as well who run by meter..and I not mind leaving change as a tip to them !!

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PRIYA

It's not often you get all warm 'n' fuzzy - but Ken's story certainly does all that. Hats off to you, Ken, for giving Sanjeep your phone and hats off to Sanjeep for being so caring. I hope a lot of business goes his way - he deserves it.

There are nice people out there, after all!!!

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crvlvr

As Ken and Steven have indicated not all autodrivers are rip pff artists. Consider this before you start bargaining with them.

My personal story is not as moving. When I was getting dropped off at the airport we approched, what later turned out to be, a No Entry street the auto driver was not sure if he could enter. There were no signs and I told him to go on ahead. Sure enough, got pulled over by the cops and the driver was fined Rs 100 for entering a "No Entry" street. Logical reasoning with the cops was futile.

Knowing that the fine would pretty wipe out the entire fare, I wanted to pay the driver extra at the end of the trip. He refused to accept any extra payment.

Mehndi Masala

THANK YOU!! It was a wonderful story and I will be sure to keep that number!!! I would now never use anyone but Amin in Mumbai, but when I was in Delhi, this number would have been SOOO handy! I am hoping to make my next trip within a year, so I will hopefully be able to use his services!

There are many wonderful drivers out there I am sure, but I like the surity of KNOWING my driver is gonna rock. So I really hope others post about the excellent drivers that they have had and get numbers. The crud drivers make for great stories, but the numbers of the good guys is good for us and good for them!

I would love to give my $$ to the doggy saint! Now I have a driver that helps orphan and troubled/homeless children and one that helps orphan and troubled/homeless pups! Works for me....

Steven - did you get the number of the honest nutty driver?? I think I can ask him to slow down and he sounds nice and honest!


Kim

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