BANGALORE: Autorickshaw drivers in Bangalore are much reviled but there is one who deserves praise for serving the poor.
GC Shivakumar of Bangalore, known as Auto Shivu, has been driving an autorickshaw for 17 years. Shivakumar, who belongs to a 18-member joint family of Dasarahalli on Magadi Road, studied till Class IX before lack of finances ended his academic dreams.
He has now started the Gurukul Seva Trust to help poor, meritorious students.
Shivakumar believes society is a representation of the student-teacher relationship.
The teacher, he feels, should always be ready to teach and student should always respect the teacher. “To spread this message, I have written short poems and printed posters that talk of the teacherstudent relationship. I have distributed posters to over 1,500 government and private schools,” he said. The posters carry photos of Shivakumara Swamiji of Siddaganga Mutt, Balagangadaranatha Swamiji, Subash Chandra Bose and Swami Vivekananda, his role models. These are also available in smaller sizes, which the trust is selling at the rate of Rs 20 for three posters.
“The money collected will be utilised for the education of poor students.” Shivakumar, who has collections of more than 1,500, is now bringing his own cassette.
He also plans to make a telefilm on slum children and direct a Kannada film.
One can contact him at 92422 33270.