Head over wheels

Here's an autodriver whose auto is a vehicle to spread the Kannadiga spirit: Pithy sayings, classic hits and discounts to travellers on Rajyotsava. He also offers chocolates to children taking a ride and free drops to pregnant women

His auto speaks a thousand words. All in Kannada. That's why Raja's called Kannadiga Auto Raja.

"There are 3,684 letters on my autorickshaw inside and outside all related to the Kannada language," says Raja whose been driving an auto for over 20 years now.

But they are unlike the 'vulgar' words he's seen behind the seats of many autodrivers phrases like Yen bulbul maathadakilva? (Hey chick, won't you talk to me?), Ene figure, hai sweetie/neenu hoon andare eegale Ooty (Hey figure, hi sweetie, if you say yes, right away to Ooty) etc.

"I strongly condemn them and have got a few drivers to remove those words,"u00a0 he said.

He himself is a walking advertisement for Kannada. "I have seven sets of khaki uniforms, each with a different set of words like Kannadada Kanda (Kannada's child), Kecchedeya Kannadiga (brave-heart Kannadiga),
Kannadamanna Suputra (Good son of Mother Kannada) and Kannadigara Abhimani (Admirer of Kannadigas)...
And see, I have tricolour rings on my middle finger and yellow and red (the state's colours) rings on my ring finger," he adds. He also plays old Kannada songs which passengers love and compliment him on.

Rajyotsava special

He's such a diehard Kanandiga that on Rajyotsava, he charges only the amount above the minimum fare of Rs 14. "So, if the meter shows Rs 20, I take only Rs 6. I also distribute sweets to every passenger on the day," said Raja.

It's not just Kannadigas Auto Raja has won over. Children love him too since they get a chocolateu00a0 every time they ride in his auto. There's also a 50 per cent discount for disabled passengers.

"I don't charge a single pie for pregnant women on their way to the hospital for delivery. In my area (Kempegowda Nagar), many people call me even in the middle of the night to take patients to hospital," he says.

Raja is a stickler for rules. "I never say no to any passenger and go wherever they want without charging extra. I charge one-and-a-half only after 10 pm," he says, adding that he's never once violated traffic rules.
"My request to all autodrivers is not to cheat or harass passengers. Help people instead," he says.

Cops on his side

No wonder, he's a favourite among the police too.u00a0 "When I go to pre-paid counters at railway stations and bus stands, I get special treatment. I don't have to get into the queue and the police inform the people at the counter to give me a long-distance passenger. Whenever, the K G Nagar police inspector spots me, he gets off his official vehicle and travels in my vehicle instead," he adds.

And he doesn't have a problem when he takes his much-decorated vehicle to the RTO for a fitness certificate either.

Wisdom on wheels
We translate some of Auto Raja's grafitti for you:

> This is a chariot in Kempe Gowda's city. Mount it with courtesy.
> Come as a stranger, sit as an acquaintance, go as a friend. May you fare well.
> O jasmine! Sit gently, tell me softly where you want to go.
> Ask for coffee, I'll buy you some, ask for compassion, I'll give you some, for Kannada I'll give my life, but ask for Cauvery, and I'll drive you out!

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