Recently, on my personal family trip to Gujarat, I came across a young, dedicated driver named Shankar. This is his story. Shankar Yadav, 33, drives a 20-seater Tempo Traveller with a calm confidence that only comes from experience not just behind the wheel, but deep under the bonnet of vehicles he once repaired. Today he drives even other vehicles like Eicher, for Om Sai Travels, trusted for his patience, steady control, and the way he treats every passenger like a responsibility more than a job.
But Shankar’s journey to driving began long before he got his commercial licence. When he first arrived in Mumbai in 2008 from his village in Madhubani, Bihar, he joined Om Sai Travels as a mechanic. Grease-stained hands, long hours, and unpredictable payments defined those early years. He could fix clutches, bearings, mechanical issues almost anything that kept a vehicle from moving; but money was not enough to support his young family. Still, he stayed, learning the soul of a machine piece by piece.
Life, however, tested him hard. A property dispute took him back to his village, where an unfortunate bike accident injured his leg severely. Treatment cost around ₹15 lakh; money he didn’t have. He sold his property just to walk again. Recovery was slow and painful, and for a moment, it seemed like life had stopped on a broken road.
But he returned to Mumbai with renewed courage, and the gates of his old workplace opened gladly. Mechanic work continued, but Shankar knew it was time for more. With responsibility growing; two young children studying in Bihar, a home to run; he obtained his commercial vehicle licence and stepped into driving, a decision that changed everything.
Shankar loves the road. He speaks about highways like they’re old friends. Rajasthan and Gujarat are his favourite; wide stretches, smooth surfaces, and space to breathe. He can comfortably cover 800 km when required, but what stands out is his discipline. Every morning begins with checking tyres, brakes, oil, cleanliness.
On trips he ensures proper food stops, comfortable breaks for seniors, patient handling of kids, and gentle driving that lets passengers nap without a jolt. His mechanical background means breakdowns don’t scare him; he listens to a vehicle like someone listening to a heartbeat. Safety comes first, always.
His family in Bihar is happy today. In the evenings after long journeys, he watches videos on his phone, calls home, and listens to the laughter of his son and daughter; his daughter is 10, his son 5. They study in Bihar, and every festival; Chhath, Diwali; he visits them. His family is proud. He is earning well, driving with dignity.
Sometimes he thinks of the leg that once nearly stopped his journey; and smiles. The same leg now presses the accelerator, taking him places he never imagined. From a mechanic’s bench to long highways, Shankar kept moving; and maybe that’s his real story, no matter how hard the road got, he never stopped driving forward.
