A morning in an auto

This happened when I was staying in Bangalore. I was travelling in an auto from my home to my place of work at 7.30 am. I am quite an early starter so I usually go to work by that time and most of the time I travel in an auto, as the bus connectivity is very less (one bus in half an hour and always crowded due to less frequency) and autos were much cheaper in Bangalore compared to Hyderabad or Chennai (atleast at that time 2003-2004) The auto driver was almost the age of my father (may be above 55 or so). Generally I avoid any conversation with the auto drivers, just becoz I feel it unnecessary. This person, who was almost the age of my father, knew the company I was heading to (as there is only one S/W company in that area) and so he asked me what kind of work people do in software industries. And here is how the conversation goes further:

AutoDriver: what kind of work do you people do in software companies ?
Myself: (No response, as I wasnt sure how much this old person knows about a computer or if he has seen one the how much he knew anything about software)
AutoDriver: Do you work with Computers there ?
Myself: Yes sir ( I felt like giving him the due respect for his age, coz he could be my father who earlier didnt knew anything about computers, even though now he can create a web page and host it :) all by himself)
AutoDriver: What kind of work?
Myself: We do coding sir
AutoDriver: How do you work?
Myself: Sorry sir, I didnt get you!
AutoDriver: Well, see I am an auto driver, so I work by driving my auto all the time and I have to sit all through my work. How is it with yours?
Myself: Well even it is the same with us. Even we sit all the time while we work.
AutoDriver: But you apply more of your brain rather than your physical strength isnt! Is it possible for you to stand and work or walk and work ?
[This question interested me coz he was trying to relate to his work and understand how people inside that huge building do work]
Myself: No sir we have no option other than to sit and work
AutoDriver: Are you allowed breaks in between or is it full work and no break ?
Myself: No, we do have breaks, we have coffee breaks, lunch break etc.. except that the timing is not that strict.
AutoDriver: How is it with the timings ?
Myself: Not too strict either. If the work is done, then it is ok to leave early (atleast in our company)
AutoDriver: Is it true that people get paid 50000Rs in software industry ?
[This is one myth that everyone has, or may be that is how it has been projected by parents/relatives of software professionals to show how much money their son/daughter/relative is making]
Myself: Not necessarily, because there are various levels and each level will be paid based on their qualifications and experience.
AutoDriver: One of my relative was saying that his son has joined software company and is earning 50k that is why I asked you. But do you people do any kind of physical activity at all to keep your health in a good state.. Atleast for me, if I feel cramped or tired of driving my auto for long, I can stretch myself and relax a while and then proceed for any savari. What about you people.
Myself: They allow us to take breaks to break our monotony. But it is upto us to take care that we don't suffer from the hours of sitting and working with the computer.
AutoDriver: I know that software people visit hospitals more often than any person working in other sectors. Mostly they suffer with problems related to eyes, obesity, piles etc etc Also being in A/C will cause sinus also isnt.
Myself: Yes sir, that is why they pay more coz they know that with such an environment you are bound to be sick often.
AutoDriver: Then what is the point in paying so much so that 1/3rd of it goes to the hospitals ? and you are always worried about your health? Do you people do yoga?
Myself: It is upto the individuals to do it & take care of it. At times company might conduct some programs for it, but we have to take care.
[By this time I reached my destination]
AutoDriver: You take care of your health and do yoga. Because that is the best way to keep yourself healthy.

I thanked him and went to my work. But I felt so happy to have spoken to him early in the morning. Because I have met auto drivers of different kind in Bangalore and here is one who didnt bring up any politics or for that matter any stupid thing to talk about but rather was interested about the people in a s/w company.

Mostly if the auto drivers find that you are heading to a software company, they either ask for more or they will tamper the meter to show more reading. Or if you resist paying more or complain that the meter is tampered, you end up on the road somewhere in between where you will find it difficult to get an auto. [There are lot of exceptions , but I have mostly encountered such people only]

Long ago, I had once got an SMS or a mail forward stating the following [I dont remember the exact words, but this is what I had remembered of it]
Some people in your life are for a reason, some for a season and some for a lifetime.

During the time I had this conversation with the person, I had been with bad health and had just started with my regular yoga exercises to keep myself fit and healthy. May be this incident lived with me because I felt that this person has come to tell me to keep myself healthy always coz we are bound to all sorts of health problems in this industry too. This incident might sound stupid or silly, but it did have an impact on me, I wonder why.

Spanish Title ???

I wanted to have the title in a different language and Spanish is one international language which I love to hear (even though I know only a few words in Spanish) and here it is. Hope you understand what the title means. If not, you have Google Translator tool doing the job for you.

Apprécier & Tiene un gran día por delante

Blogging

I am not much of a blogger or a person who can share my thoughts with others. But suddenly I felt, why not try it and here I am :)

Currently I am lost on what to write about and what not. So I guess I would take my time and do it at my own leisure.

Till then, keep waiting :D

Great day.