ASSAGAO: Once a hub for skilled
masons, painters, and rickshaw
drivers, Assagao has seen many of
these traditional professions fade
into oblivion. Sukdo Parsekar, now
72, remains the village’s only rickshaw
driver, a man whose life story
is marked by resilience, humility,
and joy in serving his village.
Coming from a Scheduled Caste
background, Sukdo grew up in
a poverty-stricken family in Assagao.
At just 16, he began working
alongside village elders as a
mason, learning the trade quickly.
Within two years, he was doing independent
masonry work, a skill
that took him to distant parts of
Goa, including Margao and Vasco.
“We had talented Goan masons
who were in great demand, so I
couldn’t say no to far-off assignments,”
Sukdo recalls. To travel
for work, he bought a Rajdoot
motorbike, a symbol of pride and
freedom in the 1970s. He
also became a motorcycle
pilot, offering rides to
people on weekends
and holidays. “I enjoyed
taking people to
their destinations safely,
and I still do,” he says.
For 20 years, Sukdo
served as a motorcycle
pilot, before transitioning
to being a rickshaw
driver. His first auto rickshaw,
a Bajaj, was bought
after years of savings, and
his dedication to his craft
earned him a loyal clientele
in Assagao and beyond. “My
villagers have a special bond
with me, and I always strive
to give them good service, sometimes
even offering concessions
to my village brethren,” he shares.
Despite his age, he remains the
last of the old guard, as many of his
contemporaries have passed away.
However, life has not been easy
for Sukdo. The rising cost of petrol,
spare parts, and competition from
rent-a-bike and rent-a-cab services
have made it difficult for traditional
rickshaw drivers to survive.
“There were times when I would
charge just Rs 10 for a ride from
Assagao to Mapusa. Today, I have
to factor in costs, but customers
still think it’s too much and end
up paying me less,” he says with a
resigned smile.
The physical toll of his job is
also evident. Having undergone
several surgeries, Sukdo struggles
with health issues but continues
to work, saying, “Rather than sitting
at home and feeling sorry for
myself, I prefer working till my last
breath. The rickshaw is my soul,
and this income has fed my family
and raised my children.” He has
been driving his current TVS rickshaw
for five years, after selling his
first one for scrap.
Despite 45 years of service—
first as a motorcycle pilot and
now as a rickshaw driver—Sukdo
says he has never benefited from
any government welfare schemes.
“Politicians and panchayat people
hijack schemes for their own people.
Genuine people like me are
left in the lurch,” he laments. He
also mentions the trouble
that is caused by the bad
roads, which damage
his vehicle and increase
repair costs, but he
continues to serve his
customers with a
smile. Reflecting
on his life, Sukdo
remains keen to
work, despite the
difficulties.
“My first rickshaw
cost Rs 50,000, and
the second one, Rs
2 lakh. Costs keep
rising, and the government
is strict with
us, but what do we get
in return? Reduced clientele
and bad roads,”
he says. But his determination
is unwavering.
“I will carry on as long as
my health and eyesight
permit me.”