It was just another morning. In the bustling T. Nagar area of Chennai, cleaning was underway. Amidst the dust, papers, and trash strewn on the street, a woman was absorbed in her work. Her name - Padma. Her profession - a sanitation worker of the local municipal corporation. Her life - limited means, a rented house, family responsibilities. But that morning, fate presented Padma with a test that made her integrity a beacon for the entire nation.
While cleaning, Padma noticed a bag lying by the roadside. Typically, people either ignore such bags or consider them junk. But something seemed unusual to Padma. She paused her broom, picked up the bag, and peeked inside. As soon as the bag opened, she was stunned. Inside were gold ornaments - necklaces, bangles, bracelets... shining so bright, they could outshine the sun.
For a moment, Padma’s hands stopped. The thought crossed her mind - so much gold? Who could it belong to? Later, it was estimated that the jewelry amounted to about 45 sovereigns, valued at approximately 45 lakh rupees. A sum significant enough to transform lives. But this is where Padma’s story becomes extraordinary.
Source: aajtak
Without hesitation or seeking advice, Padma closed the bag and headed straight to the Pondy Bazaar police station. She informed the police that she found this bag while cleaning the street.
The police were also taken aback. When the bag was opened and the jewelry counted, it weighed 45 sovereigns, valued around 45 lakh rupees. The police reviewed their records and quickly discovered that Ramesh from Nanganallur had reported losing a bag filled with gold sometime earlier.
After thorough investigation, Ramesh was called to the station. Upon identification and verification, the same bag was handed back to Ramesh. With tears of relief in Ramesh’s eyes, everyone present at the police station gazed admiringly at Padma— a woman who, had she wished, could have changed everything, but instead chose integrity.
Padma… One Name, Two Tales
This wasn’t the first time Padma and her family set an example of honesty. The police revealed that during the COVID lockdown, Padma’s husband, Subramani, found 1.5 lakh rupees in cash near Marina Beach. Even then, without a hint of greed, they handed over the money to the police.
Padma and Subramani reside in a rented house. They have a son and a daughter. Running a family on a limited income isn’t easy, but as a couple, they set an exemplary standard.
When Integrity Was Honored
Padma’s act of honesty spread quickly across Chennai. From media to social media, everywhere, one question resonated - Are there still people like this in today’s world?
Source: aajtak
The news reached Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister, M. K. Stalin. He decided to honor Padma. The Chief Minister presented Padma with a certificate of appreciation and gifted her a cash prize of one lakh rupees, stating that women like Padma are the real strength of society.
Renowned Lalitha Jewelry’s owner also praised Padma’s honesty. They invited Padma and her husband to their home and recognized them with honors.
Padma believes that had she kept the gold, it might have brought temporary happiness, but it would have also burdened her conscience for life. Padma holds that the greatest legacy for their children is honesty, not gold or money.
People say that today, Padma is among the few whose stories truly reflect society. As conversations frequently swirl around greed, corruption, and deceit, women like Padma inspire hope that humanity still prevails. When people walk past that street in Chennai, they perhaps remember—this is where Padma found 45 lakh worth of gold…and chose integrity over everything else.
