Lucknow auto driver shares emotional story of pursuing teaching dream while working

A woman travelling in Lucknow came across an auto-rickshaw driver who was using every spare moment on the road to prepare for a teaching eligibility exam, hoping to build a different future for himself.

Mallika Agarwal Rupani, a lifestyle content creator who frequently shares short clips from her travels and visits across India on Instagram, shared the interaction online.

In the clip, Mallika turned her camera towards the auto-rickshaw driver and asked, “I noticed that you're preparing for something while driving, what is it?”

The camera then showed the driver using a phone stand to keep his smartphone upright while a study video played on the screen. He told her, “I'm preparing for Super TET.”

Super TET, or the Uttar Pradesh Super Teacher Eligibility Test, is a teacher recruitment eligibility exam associated with government teaching jobs in Uttar Pradesh.

The driver introduced himself as Suraj Tiwari and said he was from Amethi. He explained that he had moved to Lucknow in December and had been preparing for the exam since then.

His original plan had been to find work at a CBSE school, but when that did not work out, he began driving an auto-rickshaw to support himself because of financial difficulties at home.

Mallika then asked him how he managed to balance studying with driving an auto.

“I manage, I've got a very keen problem-solving mindset,” Suraj replied. He said he viewed challenges as opportunities to find solutions, adding, “The bigger the problem, the more I get to figure a way out of it.”

He then opened up about the dream he was working towards. “I have one dream in life, and that is to travel around the world on a bike. And I will show everyone that I can do it,” he said with a smile.

Sharing the video, Mallika described the encounter as an example of how inspiring stories can often be found in everyday life. She said the auto driver was balancing his daily work with preparations for the Super TET exam and hoped his journey would eventually take him towards the life he wanted.

“He’s helping people reach their destinations, he’s working towards reaching his own,” she wrote, wishing him luck for the exam and his future.

The interaction prompted viewers to praise Suraj for continuing his studies despite financial challenges. One user emphasised that hard work would help him move towards his goals, while another said his determination was visible in his eyes.

A third person described him as talented and wished him success, hoping that his efforts would help him build the future he was working towards.- Ends