At first glance, 42-year-old Prabhat Pradhan may seem like your average rickshaw driver in Bhubaneswar, but a day in his life will tell you just how extraordinary he is. For the poor who can’t afford to ride in his auto, Prabhat has been nothing short of a saviour. In the last 20 years, he has offered a ride to over 7,000 people, completely free of cost!
“Work is god. Physically handicapped, elderly persons and accident victims can avail free transport in my vehicle” – this is what’s printed at the back of his auto, and Prabhat swears by it.
It all started 20 years ago, when Prabhat was on his way home one night and spotted a man who had just met with an accident, pleading for help. Although a crowd had gathered at the spot, no one came forward to help the man. But neither did Prabhat. When he later found out that the man had succumbed to his injuries, Prabhat was deeply impacted. Two decades later he is determined about the kind of help he wants to extend to the needy and has no regrets. Fuel expense too doesn’t bother him. If he’s lucky, a few generous people help him out with the financial support he needs. (Source)
Why I like this story?
It’s because this story proves that anyone can help anyone. Ok, we can’t help everyone, but everyone can help someone. Each and every one of us can find a someone out there to help. We can all do something, even if it is a small thing.
Remember that what goes around comes around! Research has shown that being kind to others increases our own levels of happiness as well as that of the recipient.
Also, it has a knock-on effect – kindness is contagious, so it makes a bigger impact on our surroundings than we might think.
If you found this piece of news heartening, and would like to take part in this blogfest, sign up in the WE ARE THE WORLD Blogfest Linky List HERE and please help spread the word on social media via the hashtag #WATWB.
This is a Blog Hop!
This is the seventh celebration of the WE ARE THE WORLD BLOGFEST #WATWB which is carried out every last Friday of the month, and which aims to spread love and positiveness in this vulnerable world. A celebration of heroes who can still restore our faith in humanity, especially in this period when our world seems to be full of endless series of horrible happenings.
Our generous co-hosts for this month are: Michelle Wallace, Emerald Barnes, Andrea Michaels, Peter Nana, and myself.
59 Responses
This is a wonderful example of putting the needs of others first, and treating them the way we hope to be treated. Sad that it took a tragedy to spur him into action years ago, but what a wonderful way to use that experience now.
Yes, Prabhat is a shining example of kindness and compassion. True, it didnt come naturally to him, but glad that he rectified his earlier failure!
Yay, Shilpa! Thanks for co-hosting us. This story not only gives a lift to those who most need it, but lifts our minds and spirits too. You are right, we can all help someone.
Thanks for all your support, Simon. Truly appreciate it. Yes, we need stories like these to inspire and uplift us!
Kindness is contagious. Shilpa, it is such beautiful stories that enruch our lives and fills our hearts with gratitude. Prabhat is doing a wonderful job, a service to society tbat benefits the needy. Kudos to him and his tribe. You are spreading positive messages and spreading cheer and inspiring thoughts. Thanks for the same.
Well said, we need more like him. Thanks, Sulekha, would love if you could join us for this blog hop every month as well and spread stories of positivity along with us!
What a kind heart!
Thank you Shilpa.
Yes, he is. Thanks for dropping by, Peter!
This is such a heartwarming tale and effort, Shilpa. Just goes to show that a kind heart overcomes all obstacles. Thank you for sharing this story with us.
Yes, all we need is a will to do something good, rest everything falls in place. Thanks for reading, Rachna!
Such a simple way to help other people. I’m sure that unconditional kindness given comes back to a person in just the right ways. Great story.
Yes, what goes around, comes around. Thanks for dropping by, Ally!
Wonderful post Shilpa .. a perfect example illustrating how we can always help in one way or the other. It may have taken Prabhat 20 years – and sometimes it does take an awfully long time before we realise that we can pay back …
Yes, we can always help someone. True, for some us the realization to do out bit for humanity kicks in pretty late. Thanks for dropping by, Susan. It’s been ages since I visited your blog. Must rectify that!
This is such an inspiring story – not only for the loving-kindness Prabhat is extending to those he helps, but also because it is such a clear reminder that each one of us can change at any time into becoming a better version of who we were. We have that opportunity in every moment. Each one of us CAN make a difference in someone’s life, and perhaps many lives.
Thanks for sharing this story, and for co-hosting this month.
I love your thought of becoming a better version of ourselves and we can do that any time and bring smiles and happiness in lives of those around us. Thanks for sharing that, Deborah!
Thank you for sharing this great and uplifting story. And thanks for being part of the WATWB!
Thank you for dropping by and reading this post for WATWB, Emerald!
You are right. No one can help everyone, but everyone can help someone. Thanks for sharing such a heartwarming tale, Shilpa.
Yes, we all can help someone and make a difference. Thanks for reading, Shantala!
Wonderful service that this man is providing! Can you imagine how great the world would be if each of us helped out just one other person per week? We would live in a world full of loving and caring humans. Thank you for this awesome story and for co-hosting Shilpa!
Oh yes, it would be one BIG happy place. If only we do just our bit and help someone….
Thanks for stopping by, taking the time to read, Emily! Appreciate it!
Good initiative by the autowala. Yes, everyone can help someone and kindness is contagious.
Absolutely. What Prabhat is doing, we all can do too in some or the other way.
Your are right – we must help in whatever way we can and however much we can!! Its a matter of having the intent to help rather than the magnitude of help!! Lovely post Shilpa – thanks for sharing!
Well said, Shalini. Even the smallest act of caring for another person is like a drop of water – it will make ripples throughout the entire pond!!
This is such a heart warming story! Each person can create a ripple effect in another person’s life. And one act of kindness can go out and create a change in another person’s perspective, too!
True that. Usually, we underestimate the power of small acts, but they are BOG on impact!
Thank you for sharing this, just shows that one doesn’t need much to give back.
Andrea
Oh yes, and we all can give back and help others.
I am always amazed at the large hearts people have . And I have experienced the kindness of strangers and am grateful that there are people like Prabhat around who put humanity above profit .
Yes, one need be rich to show kindness, all that is needed is the intention to help and support others. What Prabhat is doing is awe-inspiring!
This is a heart-warming story.
I firmly believe that: “If we all do one random act of kindness daily, we just might set the world in the right direction”!
Thank you for sharing.
#WATWB #InDarknessBeLight
I like the thought you have shared, Michelle. Yes, one act of kindness from every one, every day can make a huge difference in so many lives. Thanks for sharing that 🙂
What an inspiring story—thanks for sharing.
Thank you for reading, Heidi!
“Everyone can help someone.” I like that. I think I’ll tweet it with this link. Enjoyed the story!
Thank you for sharing, JoAnne. Appreciate it!
This man affirms the power of the individual to change the world. Thanks for posting! 🙂
True that. One voice can make a difference, but that many voices together can make a change!
It is great that he decided to reach out to people and not avoid people in need of aid. Many people are reticent to get involved but this shows how easily we can be of help.
Agree with you, Deborah! Helping others at his own cost is something that not many people would opt for. But here is a man, who does just that!
Hi Shilpa – what an amazing and generous man Prabhat is … I love that he offers help and advertises that on the back of his auto … to sick, injured, handicapped persons – they can be transported free … wonderful gestures and I’m sure all those 7,000 rides have been so gratefully accepted – taking away some of the stress of the needy … thanks so much for telling us about Prabhat – cheers Hilary
Agree completely. The people who have been helped by Prabhat must be so thankful and it must have changed them a bit too. Thanks or stopping by, taking the time to read, and leaving a great comment! I really appreciate it!
I’ve never really met a auto-driver I liked– so I’m so happy one like this exists. Thanks for sharing, Shilpa.
I know what you mean, Damyanti. Prabhat is a shining example of kindness and selfless service!
No one can help everyone, but everyone can help someone—loved that, Shilpa. If all of us did our part, just took care of our little corner of the world (and of the living beings in it), the level of suffering and despair everywhere would dwindle. Thank you so much for sharing this!
Guilie @ Quiet Laughter
Well said, Guilie. Wish we all do our bit everyday!!
Beautiful post Shilpa! A small act of kindness might not change the world but it makes a huge impact on the recipient. Prabhat is an excellent example to all of us. Thanks so much for sharing this and for being a part of #WATWB.
True that. Acts of kindness can change the recipient too.
Thanks for dropping by, Belinda. Happy to see you here!
Yes, we all can help someone. This is indeed a noble gesture, worthy of sharing. Road accidents are such a menace!
Oh, tell me about that! Our family friend lost their son in a road accident and he died on the road as no one helped him. 😐
Some incidents so leave a deep impact and so happy that Prabhat worked on it instead of lamenting. We need more like him. We all can help each other if we put our hearts to it.
Yes, may his tribe increase!
Sometimes in life, there are moments that change us for the better. This gentleman is one of those people who has taken it “to heart” and is living it daily. Thanks for sharing and for being a part of #WATWB
And that’s such a wonderful change! There arent too many like him!!May his tribe truly increase! Thanks for dropping by Lynn!
There are humans like Prabhat who are making a huge difference and while he cannot change the past but certainly help make the future better. Good of you to write about this commoner, Shilpa.
Yes, he rectified his mistake and how.
Thanks for reading, Vishal!
This is really to good idea and rally to good information blog thanks sharing this article about the auto rides help