55-yr-old driver in Indore self-advertises on streets for a job

Meet this 55-year-old driver roaming on the streets of Indore on a cycle with a tin placard hanging on his back. His aim? To earn a living.

Updated on: Jan 14, 2016, 18:47:15 IST

Hindustan Times | By Ritesh Mishra, Indore

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Meet this 55-year-old driver roaming on the streets of Indore on a cycle with a tin placard hanging on his back. His aim? To earn a living.

Suresh Tiwari uses a placard and roams the streets of Indore to advertise his driving services. (Shankar Mourya/HT photo)

Ramesh Tiwari — who can drive all kinds of four-wheelers- has worked as a professional driver for the most part of his life to make ends meet.

However, he was soon out of work due to his age.

With no job or money, Tiwari has taken to the streets to advertise about his driving services which fetch him around Rs 100-200 on most days

Tiwari’s brother was injured in a dispute in 2014 following which he became the sole bread earner for the extended family. Tiwari got married in the 1980s but within a few months, he got divorced and started living alone in Meghdoot Nagar in Indore. Since then, he has been supporting his brother.

While some have started hiring him for one-time services as a driver, many find this man interesting and stop him to inquire about his peculiar activity and to take selfies. He silently moves away after being clicked and resumes roaming around different places in the city.

“I was kicked out from many places because I am getting old. Also, when I started demanding a separate room during outdoor trips they (the owners) refused. Hence, I left driving in 2012. But things changed in 2015 and I needed a job to meet my expenses,” said Tiwari.

“I have some contacts, but they avoid me because of my age and the conditions that I put up. So I decided to self-advertise after getting an idea from a Hindi film and started roaming in the city with a placard on my back,” he added.

Tiwari has been working as driver since 1982 and holds a professional driving license. “I have travelled across the country and I have perfect driving skills but people are skeptical,” he said.

“I am yet to get a stable job from this self-advertisement but I have earned Rs 100-200 daily in last one week. Today only, a retired army officer called me to pick up his daughter from the airport. He gave me Rs 100,” Tiwari said.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ritesh Mishra
Ritesh Mishra is the State Correspondent for Chhattisgarh with Hindustan Times. He reports on Maoism, internal security, politics, mining, governance, and major developments shaping the state. Based in Raipur, he has covered Chhattisgarh since 2016, reporting extensively from the Bastar region and other conflict-affected areas. With nearly two decades of experience in journalism, Ritesh has built a reputation for ground reporting from some of India's most challenging terrains. His coverage spans Left-Wing Extremism, counter-insurgency operations, elections, tribal affairs, environmental issues, infrastructure, mining, and socio-economic developments. He has reported on major security operations, policy initiatives, wildlife crime, and the changing dynamics of conflict and development in Central India. Before moving to Chhattisgarh, Ritesh spent eight years reporting from Madhya Pradesh, covering politics, administration, crime, development, and social issues. Throughout his career, he has reported on various forms of extremism in Central India, combining field reporting with in-depth analysis to produce accurate, balanced, and impactful journalism. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Ritesh worked with The Pioneer and The Free Press Journal, where he covered a wide range of beats and honed his skills in political, investigative, and field reporting. His reporting is marked by exclusive stories, extensive fieldwork, and a commitment to factual, on-the-ground journalism that brings complex issues to a wider audience.Read More

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