God’s own Taxi

Today, when I got into this taxi, I saw an old man approach the same cab. I thought he wanted this cab, but boss I was in no mood to let it go. However, I was mistaken, the old uncle wanted to talk to the cabbie. He praised the cabbie, that very nicely he has kept all the gods in the front row. And that is when I spotted the whole collection of God idols very nicely decorated with flowers.

So Rajendra Yadav, who now is 52-year old is the one who owns this cab and every morning spends some time in performing the Puja before he starts his cab to ferry people. Out of curiosity I happened to ask him, why he has so many idols, and what was his fixation with God. He simply answered me, he loves the idols and hence they are in front of him.

Obviously unsatisfied with this reply, I asked him can he tell me something more. So he came up with his theory, and said, “God sent every human being down with an assurance that he will never forget him. But because I am always on the go and cannot visit temple so I got all of them here. Now they are always with me. For many these could be mere idols but for me they are God.”

Yadav who has been driving the taxi for nearly 25-years claims that we all owe everything to the almighty. But by just remembering God no one can attain the ultimate peace (Nirvana).

‘What is the use of taking God’s name if you are not kind to your parents and other human beings. God won’t give you a place with him if you visit a temple everyday, but abuse your parents, or be rude to your neighbours and others.’ Said Yadav.

Meanwhile, for Yadav one way of showing his generosity and being nice is that he doesn’t say no to fares immaterial how far or short distance they are. And for people in Mumbai they obviously understand how ‘kind' this could be of a taxi driver.