Delhiwale: Half a farmer

Glimpsing into a citizen's life with two roots

His three children are go-getters. Abhiraj, in Class 11, is focusing on becoming an engineer. Suraj, in Class 10, wants to become an IAS officer. Rakhi, in Class 9, wants to be a doctor.

Subhash started his career in the megapolis two decades ago as an auto rickshaw driver.

Yet, “sometimes it is all looks so difficult”, murmurs Subhash Yadav. “But if my children are really prepared to work hard…,” he trails off. Next moment, he keeps his hand on his heart. “See, I have worked hard.”

Subhash started his career in the megapolis two decades ago as an auto rickshaw driver. He initially set his base in Gurugram for a few years, before moving towards the other extremity of Delhi-NCR — Burari.

By now, he says, he has reached a point in life where “I thrive in the city, and I also thrive in my village.”

He explains that he owns a few acres of ancestral land at his home in Jharkhand. That inheritance, along with a pair of cows, help him “ earn not only as an auto walla but also as a kisan”.

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All through the year, Subhash commutes between the village and the city. He goes to Jharkhand after every two-three months, either to prepare the land for the next batch of crops, or to harvest the standing crop. He doesn’t let his family help him in the farming. “No agriculture for my children.” He pauses. “I never let Parmila (his wife) work in the fields either… she looks after our home.”

In Burari, Subhash shares a single room with two other auto drivers. The village life is far simpler, he agrees, but he is dismissive of that simplicity. He feels it is borne out from a lack of opportunities. Besides, “my monthly earning as an auto driver in Dilli is equal to my two-month earnings as a farmer in the village.” Naturally, he foresees his children’s future in the city, not in the village.

Next month, with the start of the rainy season, Subhash will again board the Puroshottam Express, for home, “and I’ll stay in the village for 10-12 days, preparing the land for dhaan (crop).” Suddenly a phone tune interrupts the chat: He takes out the mobile from his pocket. It is one of those handphones that were in wide use before the arrival of smart phones. The caller is his daughter.