Help comes at the most unexpected time from the most unexpected people. No one will agree with this adage more than Saravanan. This polio-affected man travels every day to his office in a manually-operated tri-cycle.
A resident of Choolaimedu, Saravanan takes the Nelson Manickam Road subway to reach his place of work in Nungambakkam. This is a less-than-500-metre ride, but one that requires Saravanan to navigate heavy traffic and also make a tremendous physical effort. Riding up the subway cannot be a pleasure trip for a polio-affected man operating a tri-cycle.
One fine day, while he was struggling to go up the under-pass, he sensed someone pushing his tri-cycle from behind. The helping hands were those of K. Thyagarajan, a traffic policeman who had seen Saravanan pass by regularly.
Without a word, the cop left him on the top and returned back to his post inside the subway. This happened some five months ago, and ever since Thygarajan has been helping Saravanan in this manner every morning. “I would see him panting while climbing up the subway.
He would rest for 10 minutes after reaching the top, exhausted from the exercise. But, he never sought help from anyone.
A few days later, when he was heading for his work, I left my post and went ahead and helped him by pushing the tri-cycle up the road. And I continued to do so,” says Thygarajan, an SSI attached to the Nungambakkam Traffic Police who has been manning the subway for over two years.
Beyond their silent meeting every day at 10.30 a.m. the two had not shared any conversation with each other. Unable to meet Saravanan the first time I set out to interview him, I asked Thyagarajan if he could give me the name of the former. The traffic inspector said he knew nothing about the person he was helping. On my request, the next day he asked for his name and contact details. “How does it matter what his name is or what he does? He needed help, so I gave it. Moreover, the traffic is maddening during the morning I can not spend time talking to people,” says Thyagaraja.
The only exchange they have had until today is a thanks from Saravanan every day.
“I know the traffic policeman’s name because of his batch. He is so busy in the morning and he rushes back to his work after helping me. That there are still people who help out others without being asked to is great to know. I am very thankful to the inspector,” says Saravanan, who has to rely on himself while returning home in the evening.
