Debt-ridden auto driver returns Guitar Processor to its owner

Bangalore Mirror

Bangalore, 06 October 2011:

Chand Pasha struggles to make ends meet and was pressed by family members to sell a costly electronic item left behind in his auto. But he stuck to the straight and narrow, and returned the Korg guitar processor to its owner

 

Sometimes it is more meaningful to start a story with the postscript. That is to say, the innate honesty of this story’s hero cannot be measured by the sums of money mentioned here.

 

Auto driver Chand Pasha heeded his conscience when he could have easily sold the music gadget left behind in his vehicle and repaid part of the loan he had taken to fund the treatment of his wife.

 

On Sunday afternoon, October 2, Regina Paul travelled in Pasha’s auto from Kacharkanahalli to head home after attending church service. Along with her three kids, she had the additional responsibility of taking along an AX3000G Korg guitar processor, which is used in the Kings Embassy church she attends. After she alighted at her house in Benson Town, she forgot to take the processor, which is worth Rs 15,500.

 

Five minutes after Pasha left, she realised the processor had been left behind in the auto. 

 

Around 4 pm, Pasha found the processor Regina had left behind in the auto. He immediately realised it must be worth thousands and headed back to where she had disembarked. He tried his best to find her house but lost his way.

 

When the 49-year-old showed the processor at his house in Old Bagalur Layout, Lingarajpuram, his family suggested that he sell the item and use the money to pay off the loan he had taken for the treatment of his 42-year-old wife Hasina Begum, whose leg was crushed in an accident in City Market one-and-a-half years ago. 

 

Pasha had taken a loan of Rs 45,000 at a rather exorbitantly high rate of interest. Till today, he has been paying only the interest of Rs 4,500 every month — a huge burden for someone who barely makes Rs 6,000 a month, from which he has to pay his house rent of Rs 2,000.

 

Pasha’s other expenses include paying for his wife’s treatment and taking care of his youngest daughter, a divorcee who is a mother of two kids and is pregnant with her third child. Pasha, who drives an auto that is not his own, must also pay for the education of his two grandchildren. Pasha’s 22-year-old son chips in with Rs 1,000 every month by doing hand embroidery. Considering all these factors, it is not surprising that his family wanted him to sell the processor left behind in his vehicle.

If something does not belong to me, I should not keep it. For me religion is not important. People are important.   — Auto driver Chand Pasha  Badge No: 1022, Auto No: KA02 ab 1272

But Pasha wanted to do what is right. On Monday, he headed to the Kings Embassy church. When he found the church closed, he left his number at a nearby shop. But the shop owner failed to pass on the number to church leaders. Pasha waited till 9 pm on Monday to hear from Regina.

 

Meanwhile, one of his family members took the instrument to R T Nagar to enquire about its worth. When Pasha got to know this, he sternly told the family member to bring the equipment home immediately. The owner of Pasha’s auto too asked to see the processor, but Pasha was adamant on returning the instrument to its owner.

 

On Tuesday morning, he set out again to find Regina’s house. This time he found the way. He met her and told her that he had the processor. He then took her to his house and handed over the processor before driving her back. At her residence, over a cup of tea, Pasha told his story with tears in his eyes.

 

On why he returned the gadget, a modest Pasha said, “If something does not belong to me, I should not keep it. For me religion is not important. People are important.” Incidentally, this is not the first time he has returned items left behind in his auto.

The guitar processor which Pasha returned is worth Rs 15,500

In gratitude for his honesty, Regina gave him some money as a reward. Pasha said, “With this money, the first thing I will do is buy spectacles.”

 

Regina said, “This is nothing but a miracle. There are nearly two lakh auto drivers in the city. I didn’t know which auto driver had the processor. And what are the chances of getting back the item from an autowallah? I’m glad that honest people still exist.”

 

Regina’s son David said, “I prayed for two days that the auto driver would return the processor.” His prayer was answered through Chand Pasha.