“I Am Also Someone’s Father and Brother..”: A Small Message in a Pune Auto-Rickshaw Wins Hearts Across the Country
"I Am Also Someone’s Father and Brother..": A Small Message in a Pune Auto-Rickshaw Wins Hearts Across the Country
Something as ordinary as a short auto-rickshaw ride rarely leaves a lasting impression. Yet in Pune, a single handwritten sentence inside one vehicle managed to do just that—softly, without trying to stand out.
“I am also someone’s father and brother. Your safety is important to me. Sit down without any worries.”
For content creator Unnati Devaliya, the message didn’t immediately register. She had been visiting relatives in Kharadi and, after a regular outing, booked an auto from Yerawada with her group. The ride felt routine, no different from countless others. It was only at the very end, just before stepping out, that the line caught her eye.
“We noticed it right at the end,” she shared in an interview. “It just felt very genuine.”
They recorded a quick video and went about their day, not expecting anything more to come from it. But the simplicity of the words lingered.
Hours later, the thought returned to her. There was something honest and deeply human about the message—something that didn’t rely on grand gestures, yet carried quiet reassurance.
When Unnati eventually shared the clip online, people connected with it almost instantly. The response wasn’t driven by spectacle or novelty, but by a feeling many commuters rarely experience—a sense of safety offered without being asked for.
As the video gained traction, Unnati found herself increasingly curious about the person behind those words. For her, the story wasn’t about the post anymore.
“The real credit belongs to the person who wrote that line,” she said.
Initially, she had no way of identifying the driver. There was no name, no contact—just a brief, easily forgettable interaction. Determined to find him, she reached out to Rapido on Instagram, asking for help in tracing the individual.
Her efforts paid off. She was eventually connected to Datta Rumale, the auto driver behind the message.
“When I spoke to him, he sounded genuinely happy,” she recalled.
Interestingly, Rumale isn’t active on social media. It was his wife—who creates content online—who came across the viral video and helped connect the dots.
Wanting to meet him in person, Unnati and her companions later visited his home, bringing along a cake as a small token of appreciation. They found a modest household, where Rumale lives with his wife and their two children. The visit felt warm and unpretentious, much like the message that had started it all.
“They were very humble and kind,” she said.
During their conversation, the family spoke openly about their daily routine. Work, they explained, can be unpredictable. Some days begin with driving several kilometres just to find the first passenger. There was no sense of complaint—just a straightforward reflection of everyday life.
On their return journey, Rumale dropped them at a bus stand. They handed him ₹100 for the fare. He hesitated before accepting it, then stepped away briefly. Moments later, he returned—not just with the remaining change, but also with two bottles of water.
“It was unexpected,” Unnati said. “A very small gesture, but it stayed.”
Perhaps what makes this story resonate so deeply is its simplicity. There’s no drama, no deliberate attempt to go viral—just a line written with sincerity and actions that quietly reinforce it.
In a world where attention is often drawn to the loudest moments, this one stands out for the opposite reason. It reminds people that care, respect, and a sense of safety don’t always need to be announced—they can exist in the smallest, most ordinary interactions.
And sometimes, that quiet assurance is exactly what people remember the most.
