Read on Twitter
I’ve refrained from saying anything about the Tik Tok ban because mere tweets se ghanta farak padta hai, but I’d like to share the story of Guleshji and Tik Tok. https://twitter.com/theeconomist/status/1279599357927530496
We interviewed Gulesh Chauhan, India’s first female 5 star rated Uber driver in Gurgaon for @WILPodcast, ep 15 in Dec 2019. Her story from ghoongat to her success as an Uber driver was inspiring to say the least. (Have a listen if you want) https://www.womeninlabour.com/podcast-feed/episode/a5743d15/episode-15-in-the-drivers-seat
When the season of the show was ending we did a follow up interview with her over the phone, May 2020. She recounted how she found out about the lockdown, her income has been affected, the bills and interest on debt is piling up.
It was gut wrenching to hear her formerly cheery voice soaked in despair. She talked about how she had taken her car out one day, in the hope of getting some fare. She drove around for 2 hours, then realised that the cost of the fuel she was using to look for fares was now higher
than the opportunity cost. In front of one of the glitzier DLF malls she parked the car, and cried.
“Im so sorry for this Guleshji” I said. She sighed and then said-“phir maine do tik tok banaya wahin pe, aur mood accha ho gaya”
“Im so sorry for this Guleshji” I said. She sighed and then said-“phir maine do tik tok banaya wahin pe, aur mood accha ho gaya”
There was a record scratch in my head.
“Aap Tik Tok par hai?” I asked stupidly.
“Haan, bahut maza aata hai. Meri bahu mere liye camera chalati hai, aur main gaane gaati hoon, jaake dekhiye. Hum donon roz subah khidki ke saamne Tik Tok banate hai kyoonki light acchi aati hai”
“Aap Tik Tok par hai?” I asked stupidly.
“Haan, bahut maza aata hai. Meri bahu mere liye camera chalati hai, aur main gaane gaati hoon, jaake dekhiye. Hum donon roz subah khidki ke saamne Tik Tok banate hai kyoonki light acchi aati hai”
We ended up in a 20 min discussion about her fav songs, her fav Tik Tok stars & how her son is affectionately fed up at his wife and mother bonding over making these videos during lockdown.I followed her on TT immediately after the call, she looked like she was having a blast.
Till a week ago,I was watching Guleshji’s Tik Tok’s along w/ her 16,000 followers.I hope Roposo or other platforms that have emerged as alternatives to it will take off and Guleshji& her bahu can put the the morning sunlight by the window to use to cheer themselves up soon.
