Thrissur auto driver, an ITI student, waits to return laptop left behind by passenger

Thrissur: Like any student, Godwin dreams of owning his own laptop. But when a passenger accidentally left a laptop in his autorickshaw, he didn’t think twice about returning it. Guided by his mother’s advice and his own sense of honesty, the young driver chose to do the right thing.

Godwin, an ITI student and autorickshaw driver from Kottekkad, Thrissur, said his mother, Mercy, a tailor, told him to contact 'Mathrubhumi' about the lost laptop. “For my mother, 'Mathrubhumi' is another name for trust,” he said.

Following her words, Godwin went to the Mathrubhumi office in Thrissur and reported the incident. He then went to the East Police Station and handed over the laptop to the authorities.

According to Godwin, a young man hired his auto around 9 pm on Monday, saying he was heading to Kakkanad in Ernakulam. Before starting the long trip, the passenger paid the fare in advance and mentioned that he was from Idukki and worked in Bangkok. Godwin had taken a photo of the man’s identity card and hopes the police would be able to trace him through the details.

Beyond his honesty, Godwin has also become a role model for his hard work and independence. After learning to drive when he turned 18, he began driving an autorickshaw at night in Thrissur city to pay for his education and daily expenses.

A student at Victory ITI, Ollukara, Godwin finishes classes at 4 pm, changes into his khaki dress, and drives until late at night, often until 2 am. He rents the vehicle for ₹400 a day, and the earnings cover his costs, with some savings set aside for his mother.

Godwin has been working since his school days to support his parents, Mercy, a tailor, and Dixon, a painter. He first delivered newspapers and later helped with wedding decorations and other events.