'Rs 1,200 a day, 3 children and suicidal thoughts': Uber driver's story leaves passenger shaken

A Bengaluru resident's post about an Uber driver has gone viral after it revealed the personal struggles behind the man's daily routine. His words about earning for his family, living under constant financial pressure, and battling suicidal thoughts have sparked a wide discussion on X.Sharing the experience, Siddharth Simharaju wrote that the 32-year-old driver is married, has three children, supports his mother, and is the only earning member in the family.“My stress and problems felt insignificant today. I spoke to my Uber driver. He is 32, has three kids, and married the love of his life 11 years ago. He is the sole earner for his family and also takes care of his mom.”

From doing every job to driving an Uber

Siddharth said the driver had worked across different jobs before becoming an Uber driver.

He now earns around Rs 1,200 a day and looks forward to taking his family out for biryani once every month.

The discussion later shifted to the driver's mental health.“He has thought about committing suicide multiple times but couldn't because of his family. The stress of taking care of his family is eating him alive, yet he continued to smile and talk about it.”

Internet shares mixed views

The post drew a range of reactions.“Perspective is everything in life!” one user wrote.

Another commented, “When you zoom out, you see everyone's struggling to survive, even the people who live in so-called developed economies.”Some users also questioned the decisions that had added to the driver's financial burden.“Yeah...a lot of men bear this burden silently! He could have had only one kid or asked his wife to work too. He is partly responsible for his situation, too. Suicide is not a solution.”Another user wrote, “1200 per day is quite enough if he had 1 kid. But how do they expect us to sympathize while keeping producing kids after kids?”Disclaimer: This report is based on a social media post and public reactions. The Times of India has not independently verified the claims made in the post, including those related to the individual's mental health.If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts, please seek help from a trusted person or a qualified mental health professional.Thumb image: Canva (for representative purposes only)