Humanity on autopilot

If Mumbai has its cabbies, Pune has its autorickshaw drivers. The ones who signal right and turn left, that is if they signal at all; the on...

If Mumbai has its cabbies, Pune has its autorickshaw drivers. The ones who signal right and turn left, that is if they signal at all; the ones who you are convinced have a meter running far faster than P.T. Usha; the ones who never seem to be wanting to go where you want to go.

But they are also the ones who form an indispensable part of the city8217;s life and experiences. For they are also the ones who have returned bags full of cash and jewellery left behind in their autos to the rightful owner; the ones who despite the fact that they cram schoolkids like sardines into their rickshaws are lovingly called 8220;kaka8221; by them all; the ones who have their road sense in the wrong places but their hearts in the right ones.

Like Ram Jadhav, whose auto I took when going for an assignment to Dighi, on Pune8217;s outskirts. After driving through a desolate road and labyrinthine lanes, we reached a suspicious looking house where I was to meet my contact. It was already dark and seeing little hope of finding a rickshaw to go back, I asked the driver if he would be willing to wait.

8220;So did you think I would leave you here in this kind of place by yourself?8221; he shot back. Not only did he wait, he even translated many of the answers in chaste Marathi that I received to my queries. Finally, when he did drop me home, it was with a chiding, 8220;Next time don8217;t go to such places alone, understood?8221; Understood.

Then there was the one autorickshawallah who asked me the minute I sat down, whether I wanted to go to the Osho Commune. This was simply because I happened to be wearing a maroon dress. On my answering in the negative, he smiled benignly, 8220;It8217;s okay you don8217;t have to feel shy about it!8221;

Another advised me just the other day, 8220;Such a bad throat you have. Take Corex.8221; One driver kept giving me details about his family. But what worried me was that8212;because he thought that it would be rude to turn his back on me while talking8212;kept swivelling round to face me every now and then!

But there was no one to beat the one who used to park at the auto stand below my office. On observing that I would generally leave office by 7pm and take an auto back to Aundh, he asked me if this was my daily routine. 8220;I rarely get a passenger to Aundh in the evening and since I stay there I really need one going that side at that hour. So if you go there everyday, why don8217;t you take my rickshaw every time?8221; I agreed, seeing no harm in the arrangement.

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The next day he was promptly there waiting for me as I left my office and happily drove me all the way home. I got off and as my mother-in-law and husband opened the door for me, our man waved back to me cheerily, shouting, 8220;Okay, then, see you tomorrow again at seven!8221;

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