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Journalism of Courage
Rahul Rupani, product leader at Lenskart, recently flagged the story of an autorickshaw driver in Mumbai who reportedly makes Rs 5 to 8 lakh per month and has also built a successful business, all without actually driving his vehicle. The business addresses an often-ignored but common problem: where can visa applicants keep their belongings when bags are strictly prohibited inside the US Consulate and no official storage facility is available nearby?
“Thousands visit the consulate every day,” Rupani wrote in his now-viral shared post on LinkedIn. “I was outside the US Consulate this week for my visa appointment when security told me I couldn’t carry my bag inside. No lockers. No suggestions.” While he stood confused on the sidewalk, an autorickshaw driver waved him over and said, “Sir, bag de do. Safe rakhunga, mera roz ka hai. Rs 1,000 charge hai” (Sir, give me the bag. I’ll keep it safe. I do this daily. Just Rs 1,000).
Though it may seem expensive, Rupani pointed out that for someone at risk of missing a crucial visa interview, it’s a small price to pay. The driver explained that he waits outside the consulate every day and offers bag storage services to 20–30 people. That means a daily income of Rs 20,000 to Rs 30,000.
Rupani also shared that the autorickshaw driver has created a reliable operational system, reportedly in collaboration with a local police officer who provides access to secure locker facilities. The autorickshaw itself functions as a “point of contact” to build trust. Once that’s established, the bags are safely moved to designated lockers.
“He has created a model built entirely on trust,” Rupani said. “With no app, no office, and no MBA degree, he earns with just his street smartness and a deep understanding of people.” He said, “This is entrepreneurship in its rawest and most powerful form.”
See the post here:
The post quickly gained traction, triggering a conversation, with one user commenting, “Your post has busted his business, income, identity, reg. no…. besides celebrating a jugaad, IT evasion, and exposes an unholy nexus.” Another user wrote, “Exactly experienced the same last week in Delhi US Embassy where they are using their best of mind to solve a Big problem out and charging hefty from the applicants. Still at the end of they come as saviours.”
