Giving it back

At first glance, the two autorickshaws are just like the scores on the road - small, compact, sans unnecessary frills and festoons. A clo...

At first glance, the two autorickshaws are just like the scores on the road 8211; small, compact, sans unnecessary frills and festoons. A closer glance, however, reveals a small line in white at the back of the three-seaters saying 8220;Free service for nuns.8221; A line not too conspicuous but clear enough for Sammy Frank Stephen 52 to carry on the task he voluntarily took upon himself 20 years ago, of serving the nuns of the city by taking them wherever they wanted to go free of charge. 8220;As a young boy, I used to always see the nuns walking long distances. Their modest allowances did not allow them the luxury of an autorickshaw. When I started driving a rickshaw, 20 years ago, I thought the least I could do for the ladies who had so selflessly given up their comforts was to provide them with this small service,8221; explains Stephen.

Initially, when Stephen drove someone else8217;s autorickshaw, he did not have the liberty of proclaiming the concession on the vehicle. 8220;I would refuse to take the money at the end of the ride from the nun,8221; he states. Ten years ago, when he was able to buy his own rickshaws, Stephen thought it fit to get the message written at the back. 8220;I did not really want to publicise it. But the writing made it easier for the nuns to spot my rickshaw. Also, I did not want to be misunderstood by any of them when I refused the fare. The line made a policy that I followed for all nuns.8221;

While Sammy drives one of his autorickshaw, the other one is driven by two of his four sons, Anthony and Joseph, both ex-Vincentians.

8220;The Bible says that 10 per cent of your earnings should be used in the name of religion. We cannot do that much but this is our small way of contributing toward our faith,8221; adds Pushpa Stephen, Sammy8217;s wife.

The Stephens are usually to be found in the vicinity of Fatima Nagar and St Patrick8217;s Church. They are well-known amongst the nuns and priests staying at the parish. Each manages to take four to five passengers from the parish every month to their destinations. Once Stephen even drove a nun from Fatima Nagar to Pimpri without charging a paisa. 8220;I will go anywhere they want to go till I have the money to put in the petrol ,8217; he says. In fact, so taken up was a British nun once that she insisted on taking his photograph and sending it abroad for publication.

8220;There are some people who tend to laugh at my gesture. Many don8217;t even know what a nun is 8211; but I feel satisfied with what I am doing for the people of God. Today, my boys are well-read and well-educated in schools because of these ladies. The blessings they give is better than any amount of money I may give up. I remember, three years ago, while returning home I was stopped by the police for a check. I was going through a bad phase financially and had not paid the tax . However, when my turn came instead of asking for the papers the policeman simply sat in m y rickshaw and proceeded to check the papers of the ones after me. After sometime he got off and asked me to drive off. It was like a miracle and because of some divine intervention,8221; avers the simple man driven by an uncommon missionary zeal.

Sunanda Mehta

Sunanda Mehta is the Resident Editor of The Indian Express in Pune. She is a distinguished journalist, columnist, and author with over three decades of experience in the media industry. Educational background: A merit-lister in her 12 th in CBSE (5th rank in Humanities) Sunanda stood first in History in the Board for which she was awarded the Dr Tarachand Gold Medal. She is a triple-graduate with a Bachelor of Arts (History Honours) from Lady Shri Ram College, New Delhi, Bachelor of Education, Delhi University (on scholarship) and Bachelor of Communication and Journalism, University of Pune. Professional Background Role: As Resident Editor, she oversees the Pune edition of The Indian Express, managing local news coverage, investigative features, and editorial direction for the city. Author: She is an accomplished author, known for her biographies. Her notable books include: The Extraordinary Life and Death of Sunanda Pushkar published by Pan Macmillan (2019). The book was long-listed for the Atta Galatta award for nonfiction and Auther award for best debut author. Majestic Musings - Translation of poems from 100 year old Badshaian from Punjabi to English (2023) Behind the Big Screen- the untold stories of child actors published by Bloomsbury India (2024) Focus Areas: While Sunanda has reported on various subjects from civic to political to investigative and crime, her forte remains long-form human-interest stories, heritage and gender issues. Core Column: "Against All Odds" Sunanda curates and writes a signature series titled "Against All Odds," which profiles individuals who have overcome significant personal, medical, or professional challenges. Recent notable articles (2025) The Story of Dr. Harinder Dhaliwal (July 2025): A Pune AFMC topper who became a neurologist in Canada despite becoming paraplegic. Jayoo Patwardhan’s Cancer Journey (Jan 2025): How the National Film Award-winning designer defeated cancer. Partha Iyengar’s Emergency mid-air (Aug 2025): The story of how Gartner’s India head survived a massive heart attack during a long-haul flight. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent reportage continues to explore deep personal narratives and Pune’s socio-environmental landscape: 1. Personal Narratives & Closure "'I grieved for him 10 years after his murder, found closure to unsolved case'" (Dec 14, 2025): A poignant feature on Vineet Alurkar, son of the late Pune music legend Suresh Alurkar, and how digitizing his father’s collection helped him heal. "A 40-day journey home: how Christopher Benninger's partner gave him the gift of memories" (Nov 23, 2025): A moving tribute to the late acclaimed architect Christopher Benninger and his final trip to the US. "'After 38 years I finally met my biological mother'" (Sept 28, 2025): Chronicling the journey of an adopted daughter from Zurich searching for her roots in Pune. 2. Civic & Heritage "'Vetal Tekdi belongs to common citizens'" (Oct 20, 2025): An interview with environmental activist Dr. Sushma Date on the community-led protection of Pune’s vital green lungs. "'Military village' Apshinge recalls living through war days" (Aug 12, 2025): A report from a village in Maharashtra where nearly every household has a member in the armed forces, focusing on their legacy and current anxieties. 3. High-Profile Commentary & Investigations "Malegaon blast acquittals: 'I was expecting this verdict'" (July 31, 2025): An interview with former special public prosecutor Rohini Salian following the controversial acquittals. "Grounded, license cancelled... she decided to soar higher" (March 30, 2025): The story of Dr. Harpreet A De Singh, Air India’s first woman pilot from 1988, and her transition to leadership and meditation. Signature Style Sunanda Mehta is known for her empathetic storytelling. Unlike standard news reporting, her features often read like narrative non-fiction, focusing on the psychological and emotional resilience of her subjects. One of her articles in The Indian Express titled 'The Quality of Mercy' was converted into a film Rubaru Roshini produced by actor Aamir Khan. She is a strong advocate for Pune's heritage and environment, frequently using her platform to amplify citizen-led movements. X (Twitter): @sunandamehta and @ExpressPune ... Read More