Meet Sumit Prajapati, the 22-YO Rickshaw Driver Incomes Lakhs By Social Media

On a damp afternoon in Muzaffarnagar, 22-year-old Sumit Prajapati adjusts his cellphone mount on the deal with of his e-rickshaw. It’s not only a journey — it’s a set, a stage, and a platform for his rising viewers of 80,000 Instagram followers.

Simply two months in the past, Sumit by no means imagined he’d be behind the wheel of a rickshaw. His dream was to turn into a software program engineer. Life, nevertheless, has a manner of rewriting scripts with out permission.

The turning level got here when tragedy struck dwelling. One night time, after getting back from his generator service job, Sumit’s father tried to gentle the fuel range for dinner. A worn-out pipe gave manner, flames erupted, and he suffered extreme burns to his chest and neck.

The household of seven abruptly discovered themselves not solely in emotional shock but in addition below the heavy weight of dwelling and rickshaw mortgage EMIs. Out of sheer necessity, Sumit took up his father’s rickshaw. It was by no means a part of his plan. “We weren’t financially steady, however I felt I needed to step in,” he remembers.

A childhood of interrupted goals

As a toddler, Sumit labored within the fields, washed vehicles, repaired automobiles, bought greens, and manned garment outlets — all to maintain his education alive. By Class 7, his mother and father may not afford his schooling. He persevered regardless, taking up odd jobs and ultimately finishing a bachelor’s diploma in arts.

Over time, his curiosity in social media grew. He taught himself content material creation and commenced producing movies on Instagram. His abilities helped him land a job as a social media account supervisor for an area influencer. However the expertise turned bitter.

“I used to be promised a wage of Rs 60,000 a month, most of it to be ‘saved’ and given later. He was an aged man, so I assumed I may belief him. As an alternative, I used to be paid solely Rs 12,000, humiliated, and even accused of theft. That have shattered my belief in jobs fully. I made a decision I’d by no means work for another person once more,” Sumit says.

An thought on three wheels

When his father’s accident compelled him to drive a rickshaw, Sumit drew on his one useful ability — social media. He observed that whereas others created content material round vehicles and bikes, nobody was making movies about rickshaws.

“I assumed, why not make my rickshaw the star?” he says.

His first viral second got here when he recorded his household heading to a marriage. Inside two days, the video had crossed one million views. The net applause didn’t instantly erase the offline mockery, although.

“After I wore a clear shirt and set out, neighbours would ask the place I used to be headed. After I instructed them to drive a rickshaw, they laughed at me,” remembers Sumit.

However the laughter light as his movies gained traction.

Even his father was sceptical at first. “He warned me that there was ‘no respect’ within the job. Commuters usually hurl abuse at drivers. That day, I made a decision I’d remodel this work into one thing admirable,” Sumit says.

Steering in direction of stardom

In between rides and model shoots, he now creates motivational movies from his rickshaw, reminding viewers that no work is small. He even plans to launch a sequence on “The best way to Earn Lakhs Driving a Rickshaw.”

On common, Sumit earns about Rs 25,000 working simply two days every week for a few hours. He receives 4 to 5 promotion requests day by day. Final month alone, he earned as much as Rs 1.5 lakh by model promotions.

With these earnings, Sumit has cleared a part of his household’s debt, purchased a high-quality cellphone for content material creation, and even given his sister pocket cash. “Essentially the most emotional milestone was taking my mom, who had by no means been to a restaurant, out for a meal,” he says.

“These are small wins, however one in every of my largest targets is to purchase again the home we as soon as needed to promote for half its worth,” he provides.

Sumit sees this work as a stepping stone to his larger dream. “I do know I can not proceed driving a rickshaw without end. I need to use social media to realize my dream of changing into an actor and getting into Bollywood,” he says.

His recommendation to others his age is easy however hard-earned: “Take into consideration your future first, then your loved ones and society. Construct one thing of your individual, regardless of how small — promote greens, run a meals stall, or drive your individual rickshaw. Be the grasp of your individual work. Even incomes much less might be higher if it brings you satisfaction and peace.”

Edited by Vidya Gowri; all photographs courtesy: Sumit Prajapati Instagram.