It is part of my job to verify the genuineness of activities of charitable trusts. Occasionally I come across people who are motivated to do something good for society and are engaged in doing charitable activities but story of Mr. Murukan S moved me.
I first met him when he came to my office to submit some documents. He introduced himself as General Secretary of an organization named 'Theruvoram'. He was looking very simple for a general secretary and little confused about all procedures. Yet his face was beaming with confidence to overcome all government procedures. My one colleague informed me that he is awarded by the President of India for social service. I decided to visit his organization next day.
Next morning, we started together to his office. We started with talking about traffic on streets of Kochi. A church passed by. Two persons were lying on footpath asking for alms from devotees. He gave them a glance and paused for a second or two before saying anything. Then he picked a pamphlet about his organization and gave it to me. It was in Malayalam having his pictures of rescuing people from streets. In one picture he was carrying an old man, in another he was applying medicine to a person's wounds and in one, he was shaving a person's head. But this one surprised me.
He drives an auto rickshaw for living. I had never came across Secretary of any trust doing some other activity for living. Most of them make their living from trust only. That too handsomely. I asked him to tell more.
He told me that he was born at a tea plantation in Idukki district. His father and mother were plantation workers. After completing 4th standard, he came to Kochi. He started living in slums of kochi and started doing menial jobs for living. After that he was adopted by an orphanage which trained him to become a mason. He also distributed newspapers to increase his income. Then he started driving autorickshaw.
He initially started with rescuing children from streets. 'I worked with Child line', he said. Whenever he saw a child in distress he would drive her to an orphanage. Then he felt there are adults also who are in distress. The very sight of people lying on footpaths or under over-bridges moved him. He started rescuing old-aged, physically or mentally challenged, alcoholics and all sort of people who are dire in need. He will then find their family members or relocate them to other place like orphanage or old age home. Soon, he realized he need more resources. He was not only rescuing people but providing food, shelter, medicine etc. till another organization stepped up. To meet the expenses, he started driving auto rickshaw in night also.
How many hours do you sleep?, I asked. He laughed and said, sir I have blessings from God, 4-5 hours is enough for me. We reached his rescue home. Its building is owned by Government of Kerala, he informed. 14-15 people were inside. There was a big hall with beds, two rooms for mentally challenged people and two rooms for old-aged. An old lady came near me and smiled. Her name is Lakshmi, he said. She was a rag picker before he spotted her. She said something to me in Malayalam and giggled. 'She want to dye her hair black', Murukan translated. I smiled. Innocence has nothing to do with age. 'She is feeling free after coming here and is full of life now', Murukan said as he showed me her pictures while rescuing. I was able to feel satisfaction on his face. Another person came. He is mentally challenged. He extended his hand to me. We shook hands. He became happy. I felt joy. Another lady came with coffee. She was sentenced to jail for some crime. She was abandoned by her family after her release from jail. She is staying there. 'Nobody is born criminal, conditions in slums can force any person to commit crime. Some of my friends from slum are habitual criminals now', Murukan said to me. He blamed this to poverty, lack of education and alcohol.
I saw many photographs of him receiving awards. 'You are famous now', I said. He smiled. He showed me a photograph of him receiving National Award from President Shri Pranab Mukherjee. I could see pride in his eyes.He said he has struggled a lot but he never felt demotivated. Few articles have been written on him in newspapers. He is implementing a project with Government of Kerala. I asked him how do you feel now? He told Government grants are not sufficient. Although people do help but now responsibilities have increased. Earlier my scope of work was limited to only one district but now I get requests from all parts of Kerala. Work has increased and so have expenses.
Now, every morning he work for society and in night drives auto to meet expenses. His wife, who has completed MBA, earns to run household. He drives auto rikshaw to fund his charitable activities. He loves photography and had written a book. I was done with my verification. I felt like thanking him for providing me job satisfaction.
I clicked a photo. He told he is on facebook. I asked how will I find you, he said search 'Auto Murukan' on google, you will find me :).
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