Baldev Raj Sharma is one of the countless faces of the new India, where every month 4.5 million new cell phone users are added, and where Internet connectivity is becoming a reality for many people.
I met Mr. Sharma, 72 years old, a couple of months ago when I was visiting New Delhi, and he drove me around the city. The first thing he did when I got into his cab was give me his business card. I also spotted a familiar looking black mobile phone peeping from his shirt pocket. I struck up a conversation with him and listened to him talk about the new and changing India, how he uses his cell phone, and how his children send emails on his behalf, and how he is very happy with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's government.
Mr. Sharma migrated to India in 1947 after the partition of the country and says he has seen New Delhi grow into a sprawling metropolis. He lives with his four children and his grand-children. He owns a cell phone that he uses to keep in touch with his clients. He confessed that he hits the green button to talk and other than that has no idea how to use the phone.
The only regret that he has is that he does not own a home. However, he is confident that one of his children will end up buying a home.
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