Three years ago, Shiva Kumar left his home in Tirupati to begin a unique journey – of wandering along the highways to collect iron scrap for a living.
“I hurt none, I live my life in my own way,” says the 65-year-old who was headed to Vijayawada from Hyderabad on the NH-65, when this correspondent chanced upon him at Narketpally in Nalgonda.
Reasons of health
He had begun collecting scrap along highways in 2007 as his health would not permit him to continue his earlier profession, of painting houses. In these eight years, he has walked thousands of kilometres. His present journey began from home in Tirupati, to Visakhapatnam three years ago.
From Visakhapatnam, Mr. Shiva Kumar walked to Samalkota, and then to Kakinada. From Kakinada, he said he walked to Hyderabad. He then set up another journey to Vijayawada from Hyderabad.
His own contraption
In the meanwhile, he had created his own scrap-iron picker with a magnet which was attached to a wooden rod at the end. He would rummage the sides of the highways to find iron pieces.
When asked why he chose highways, Mr. Shiva Kumar said the vehicular traffic was high on the highways and the possibility of cars, buses and trucks losing nuts and bolts were high.
Since he could carry only a maximum of 7 kg, he said he would sell them on any of roadside shops where it would be bought at Rs.20 a kg.
“I would earn a maximum of Rs.200 and a minimum of Rs.50 on each day,” says Mr. Kumar, who walks 40 km a day between 6 a.m. and 5.30 p.m.
None to call family
But did he not leave behind family and friends?
“I am an orphan and never married, but I used to stay with a family at Jeevakona area in Tirupati since childhood,” he said.
He said eats at hotels along the highways and takes shelter in temples during the nights. “I always carry two pairs of clothes, a towel, soap and few other things,” he said.
What would he do if he ever fell sick? “I never fell sick during these years since I have been walking every day.”
I hurt none, I live my life in my own way
- Shiva Kumar
Scrap-picker