The journey from yesterday's zeroes to today's heroes

Mumbai: That sometimes you can find inspiration in the most unlikeliest of places might be a cliche adage, but it does stand true. Once such inspirational story is that of a Sandeep Dobe. Sandeep, who was lost at Dadar station at the age of seven during his parents’ visit to Mumbai, is today a man of his own ever since he began providing driving services, under cab aggregators, in the city two years ago.

Mr Dobe comes off a little hesitant when he starts talking about his journey to what he calls a better life, but soon digs into his memories of a 7-year-old boy trying to survive in the city. “I don’t exactly remember the moment my parents lost me in the crowd at Dadar, but I remember the struggle that followed. I worked as a rag picker and sold the rags for scrap, to buy Wada pav from the money earned. This continued for a few months until one day some people from Don Bosco took me to their shelter,” said Mr Dobe.

Mr Dobe stayed at Don Bosco until the age of 18 and did odd jobs at hotels, worked as a mechanic and driver; switching between such jobs.

After almost two-years of struggle Mr Dobe today owns five cars and drives OLA too, of which he has leased three to his friends who are one of the few to address Mr Dobe as Sandy Victor, the name by which he was known at the orphanage.

Asif Hamid Syed (33) is another example of a sustained competitor. Mr Syed has been driving an app-based taxi since a year and says it is a dignified source of income for someone with his disability wherein his right arm has not grown to the normal length. “Since I had the disability and we (family) were from an economically weak background, I began working with my father in a fire extinguisher factory, which was very dangerous. So for me working as a driver is a very dignified and a safe job.”

On the other hand, Kanchi Shah (30), an engineering graduate said that her husband Punit Chadha had initially bought a car with the intent of hiring a driver but then after they couldn’t find one Ms Shah decided to go ahead and drive the vehicle herself. She says, “I work in event management and I am left with a lot of time after work, so I began driving the car and put it to use.”

Ms Shah feels that driving the taxi has been her way to financial freedom. When asked what was the most memorable moment so far while driving, she said, “I think the most funniest situation was when a man got into my cab, he didn’t say anything when he saw me at the wheel but after a few minutes he offered to drive the car instead.” Well, Ms Shah, Mr Syed and Mr Dobe have certainly broken free from the barriers of doubt and fear, gearing head-on into the world of liberation, bravery and perseverance.