Pareekshith Shet
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (EP)

Udupi, Sep 8: In a remarkable gesture of honesty, an auto rickshaw driver returned a bag containing precious jewellery and valuable documents left behind accidentally by a woman who had hired his auto.

Krishnappa (65), an auto driver of Doddanagudde rickshaw stand, and a resident of Mosque Road, is the person whose exemplary act proved that honesty as a virtue still exists.

Sheetal (28) had gotten into his auto along with her two-year-old child at Krishnapparu Doddanagudde Adishakthi Temple and forgot to take her bag while getting down at Kadiyali.

The driver came to know of this only later, after he had moved ahead. He found that gold jewellery worth more than Rs 1 lac, credit card, child’s birth certificate, and other important documents were in the bag.

Without a second thought, Krishnappa immediately went looking for the lady passenger and found her at Kadiyali where she had got down. She was weeping over her loss, but when he returned her the bag with all its contents intact, she was so relieved and ecstatic that she offered him a reward, but Krishnappa refused to accept it.

Formerly an engine mechanic in a shipping company in Dubai, Krishnappa has been working as an auto driver in Udupi for the last eight years.

"One should not take money that belongs to others. Ill gotten wealth does not last for long. The passenger’s smile and happiness has made me happy, and that is enough for me," said Krishnappa when contacted.

Wise words, indeed. May his tribe increase.