An auto driver hits the radio road in Bangalore

Six awards from the police commissioner for honesty and bravery; a few citations for outstanding social work; recognition for services to the community; many grateful and loyal clients. Autorickshaw driver Shivkumar, however, is not willing to rest on his laurels. He’s raring to do more, and not surprisingly has bagged an unusual first – he has turned radio jockey for a special radio show for autorickshaw drivers.

Radio Active (CR 90.4 MHz), Bangalore’s first community radio station, hosts this live show every Saturday, between 9am and 10am. “This is the first time in the country that there is a radio show dedicated to auto drivers, hosted and produced by an auto driver,” says Pinky Chandran, head, Radio Active.

It is a community radio station that airs programmes in Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu and other languages across a 15km radius in the city. The focus is on creating awareness and empowering the community, she says.

The idea came about quite by accident. One day, Chandran was rushing to work and hailed Shivkumar’s autorickshaw. En route she was surprised by the various citations plastered all over the vehicle. Curious, she began to quiz him about them and Shivkumar told her his story: How he returned various amounts of money hasty travellers had left behind in his auto; had found a bag containing jewellery worth Rs4 lakh; saved a woman from being raped; rescued an accident victim and even donated blood to save his life. The authorities rewarded him for his honesty, bravery, and commitment to society.

Impressed, Chandran invited him for an interview on radio. Shivkumar spoke extremely well, and had quite a few ideas for her. She thought he would make a good radio jockey and suggested this to him. Shivkumar was enthused and promptly came up with several plans the next day. The show went on air on May 1.

“A lot of people complain about how rude auto drivers are, or about tampered meters. We have no idea about the inside stories, the working conditions, health issues, or other problems that the drivers face. This show will sensitise the listeners about various issues, and will also have information for drivers and travellers,” Chandran says.

Shivkumar plans to interview achievers from different fields, on the show. “RTO, police commissioners, autorickshaw union leaders, and others who have valuable information to share will also be invited to the show,” he says. He also runs an NGO — Gurukula Seva Samastha — and is involved with students’ welfare in rural areas. The NGO conducts medical camps and donates books and uniforms to needy students.

He is also a poet. He scribbles down lines while on the road, and goes home and improves on them. He says he has written almost 700 poems. His next big plan is to direct a movie. “I have got a script together and am looking for producers. I have many dreams. I want to do a lot more, grow high like the Mount Everest,” he says.

How does he manage time for it all? “I start early. I hit the road at eight in the morning, and will be working past midnight,” he says. There are miles to go before he sleeps, literally.