Rama Krishna Sangem
Bhukya Hanjya, 50, popular as Auto Anji, to one and all in Mahabubabad district headquarter in Telangana is well known in the town not just for his auto services, but also for his green cause. Looks younger to his actual age, Anji, plies auto-rickshaw in and around Mahabubabad is from a nearby Darga Thanda of Edula Poosapalli village, has become a talking point for his love for greenery. He is driving auto for the last 15 years.
Anji turned his auto top into a green patch where sprouts of paddy and some flower plants were grown. This is to give some coolness to his customers besides propagating the cause of growing trees. Of course, Mahabubabad is known for his heat temperate most of the year. This is for the last three years. “Earlier, I fixed four small fans for the sake of my passengers, but it appeared not enough,” said Anji, while talking to Excel India on phone on February 11, Sunday.
First he put some jute bags on top of auto and raised a crop by wetting paddy and other cereals for a week or so. The n the grown sprouts and saplings provided relief from heat to the passengers inside. “Now, my auto carries not less than 70kg of crop of paddy and other plants. This maybe an extra weight, but I take a passenger lesser than my auto capacity – only up to 4, unlike other auto drivers who take 5-6 persons,” said Anji.
Anji has a family of two daughters and a son and they all got married. He owns a 3 acres of land in his village and raises paddy and chilli. For a long time, he has developed interest in gardening and tree plantation. What made him popular is a post on X by BRS Rajya Sabha MP and Green India Challenge founder J Santosh Kumar last week about the saga of Auto Anji.
“After that many media persons came to me and wrote about my efforts. I am happy to get this attention from one and all. I am also very impressed about Santosh Sir for his efforts through Green India. I heard he (Santosh) loves nature and birds and posts photos every Sunday. I want to meet personally Santosh Sir and offer a garland to him,” said Anji. But, he is not sure when and how he can meet MP Santosh.
We, from Excel India, hope that Santosh will facilitate a meeting with him for Auto Anji soon!
