In an unexpected turn of events, a Microsoft engineer in Bengaluru has taken up driving an auto-rickshaw on weekends to combat loneliness, prompting widespread discussion about social isolation in the tech industry.
The story emerged through a social media post by Venkatesh Gupta, who encountered the 35-year-old staff software engineer driving a Namma Yatri auto-rickshaw in Koramangala. Gupta’s post on X, formerly known as Twitter, showed the engineer wearing a Microsoft hoodie behind the wheel and revealed that he took up the weekend job to cope with his feelings of isolation.
“Met a 35-year-old staff software engineer at Microsoft in Koramangala driving Namma Yatri to combat loneliness on weekends,” Gupta wrote.
The post quickly went viral, resonating with many and sparking conversations about the importance of social connections, even in high-pressure environments like the tech industry. Reactions on social media were varied, with some users empathizing with the engineer’s loneliness and others expressing surprise at his unconventional method of dealing with it.
One user noted, “As the tech industry grows, so does the phenomenon of loneliness among professionals. A hidden truth: sometimes, the most advanced technology can’t replace human interaction.”
Another user commented, “That’s great; he knows how important mental health is. Changing subjects is rest. An engineer at my office works as a bartender to get relaxed.”
A third user shared a broader perspective, saying, “If it’s true, it’s really cool! It’s absolutely fine to be riding autos/driving taxis. I’ve met really good folks abroad who run successful businesses yet drive Uber whenever free. The reason being, they simply like driving, meeting new people, and they do not do it for the money.”
However, not all reactions were positive. A fourth user remarked, “Not the first time I hear people doing this part-time job, and why not if it relieves them in any way. But considering the traffic madness, it may not give relaxation to the mind. Forgetting the money part.”
A fifth user reflected on the broader implications, saying, “This makes me question the deep dark side of technology that has connected everything and yet made the world so lonely.”
This unexpected revelation has not only highlighted the engineer’s unique approach to combating loneliness but has also sparked a broader dialogue on mental health and the importance of human connections in the increasingly digital world.
