Shubham Kumar, New Delhi, India,
New Delhi in June is not the most pleasant place to be a traveler. The summer monsoon is settling in, and the temperatures can soar to over 115 degrees F. This summer I found myself roaming these hot and humid streets on a layover awaiting a flight into the Himalayas.
My favorite sites in Delhi are all in the Old Quarter, with its wood frame Mughal architecture, open markets, and rich vibe of history and happenings. In front of the iconic old Red Fort I came to meet a young pedal rickshaw driver named Shubham Kumar. His pitch on taking me for a rickshaw tour sounded pretty good given the oppressive heat.
For the next half hour I came to know Shubham. “My name is closely associated with the powers of Lord Shiva,” he informs me. “Very auspicious. My parents must have been very proud.” I became fascinated with this inside view Shubham was offering of a young man making his way in the tumultuous and changing world of urban India. I asked Shubham of his hopes and aspirations—his dreams. “One day I will marry, and buy my parents a house. That would make me very happy. Which is the point of a good life. No?”
While slowly winding through the narrow alleys of the Old Quarter, swaying to the rhythms of Shubham’s pedaling, I was reminded of how everyone has a story to tell. I have worked with large corporations and small non-profits, prominent individuals and aspiring students, and each person I meet is creating a story. It is part of our humanity: to add one small stroke onto the larger canvas of life’s unfolding…