In this sweltering heat, the autorickshaw of M.Kubendiran would give you a lot of respite. The many plants in the auto are a refresher for the travellers and have amassed praise from all corners of the city – from DGP C.Shailendra Babu to Rotary clubs.
Kubendiran’s journey started in 2018, when he purchased his auto. Till that time, he was driving a share auto but had to discontinue due to his leg injury. “That day I realised how important it is to wear a helmet. I picked my son up from school and didn’t wear a helmet while going home, despite my son cautioning me. I had kept the helmet on my bike, and at a turning, my helmet fell and while trying to balance, I fell and the bike fell on me. The injury rendered me unable to drive the share auto and thus I bought my own autorickshaw. Lesson learnt: Always WEAR helmet,” explains Kubendiran.
Kubendiran was introduced to plants through G.Lekha, a resident of Kasturba Nagar. A gardening enthusiast, Lekha, was a known acquaintance of Kubendiran and had employed him on one of her trips to the nursery. “I was amazed at the variety of plants at the nursery and was enticed to own some of them. Thus started my greening journey,” he narrates.
Soon, he purchased some plants for his home and also his newly purchased autorickshaw. The plants were however soon vandalised by miscreants in the night. But this didn’t discourage him from trying again. “Later some plants died because of lack of water or insufficient maintenance. So each time I improved my selection of plants, also taking into consideration that they shouldn’t be edible for cows / goats. Finally, I shortlisted the croton varieties,” says Kubendiran as he shows around his plants that are also barricaded by a mesh. Of the nearly 10 plants that he has in his auto, the most prized is the one gifted to him by DGP C.Sylendra Babu.
Greening is not the only aspect that Kubendiran is passionate about. He has hung on his auto, his organ donor card. “Inspired by actor Kamala Hassan, I have pledged my organs for donation,” he says as he also explains the various types of donation and shows the various posters around his auto on the topic. He adds, “I want people who see the card to be curious about it, get inspired by it and also decide to pledge their organs. Even if I can impact 10% of people to do organ donation, my objective is fulfilled.”
Since his injury, Kubendiran has also vowed to donate a share of his earnings to charitable institutions for the aged and disabled for which he also has a donation box in his autorickshaw.
As one gets into the auto, eyes fall on a book of former Indian President APJ Abdul Kalam and the Thirukkural. “Nowadays, travellers are engrossed in their phones. As soon as they sit, they start meddling with the phone. I thus kept some books for the travellers as a distraction for them from the phone. These books by stalwarts were ideal. I also want to keep some books for children, but I don’t have space,” explains Kubendiran.
How has been the reaction of fellow auto-drivers and travellers and riders, I ask, and he says, “My colleagues encourage me and they too want to have plants in their autos but are unable to own due to many restraints like vandalism, maintenance etc. There have been times when people in cars have rolled their windows down and complimented me. But it is my interaction with curious people that makes me happy. It gives me hope that they will learn from something here and take action.”
Kubendiran is a resident of Kottivakkam and is associated with the auto stand near Rathnagiriswarar temple, Besant Nagar. He can be reached at 97100 52971.
