I’ve learnt dozens of songs, thanks to mean rickshawallahs and cabbies. Let me explain.

A few years ago, I had what I call a ‘Mumbai moment.’ I was in a rickshaw in heavy traffic, and every time the signal turned red, the rickshaw driver pulled out a book from under his bum, muttered to himself, and put the book back when the light turned green. I asked him what he was doing. “Madam, main English seekh raha hoon,” (Madam, I’m learning English), he replied. I was so impressed! This man had taken one of the city’s worst daily nightmares—being stuck in traffic—and turned it on its head. Every time his rickshaw stopped, he learnt a new word or phrase in English. I was dazzled at his resourcefulness in creating an opportunity from adversity.