There is a common belief that proficiency in English is only exclusive to the educated and professionals. This stereotype was challenged by a recent video circulating on social media. The clip shows Ashraf, an auto driver in Kerala, displaying remarkable fluency in English. The video gained traction after UK vlogger Zakky shared it while travelling in India. In the clip, Zakky asked the auto driver for nearby ATMs, and Ashraf responded fluently, even pointing out one that was not working. The auto driver’s response in fluent English left the traveller impressed.
During the conversation, the driver even offered to take Zakky sightseeing, however the traveller refused. Further, Ashraf invited him for a complimentary ride to the nearest ATM. Zakky, appreciating the driver’s honesty, shared the encounter and now the post is garnering admiration.
Sharing his experience, the content creator shared, “I was really struggling with the midday heat when an auto driver called out to me on the road in India. The problem was that the hotel I’d booked, card machine stopped working so they told me to go to an ATM. I had no idea where the ATM was so I embarked on the main road that leads to Fort Kochi but I really wasn’t in the best condition for it. Ashraf noticed me and called out asking if I needed a ride. At first, I was hesitant but after a brief conversation I realized he was friendly. Since I knew he had local knowledge, it made sense to just go with it though I was uneasy about being told the ATM wasn’t working. It might have been true that it wasn’t working but I’m aware enough that sometimes there are tricks at play.”
Zakky went on to explain that during the drive, they passed by a State Bank of India (SBI) ATM that looked busy. Despite his observation, the auto driver insisted that the ATM didn’t work. Later in the day, Zakky found that the ATM was operational. However, the traveller was impressed by Ashraf’s English speaking skills, which stood out compared to other auto drivers in India. He claimed that language barriers previously caused difficulties in the past, leading him to prefer using Uber.
Further appreciating the auto driver’s nature, the traveller concluded the post writing, “He is clearly a hardworking man and generally was very honest. I asked him not to wait for me outside the ATM even though he clearly wanted to take me sightseeing and he fully honoured my request, when I left the ATM, he had gone.”
Reacting to the post, a user wrote, “Ashraf isn’t lying, SBI ATM mostly won’t work.”
Another shared, “This is how Educated People Treat you.”
“Kerala where even the auto guys speak English. Wow,” a comment read.
