"A driver's home away from home"
In India, the emotional connect to a truck is as deep as the one people have with their pets and farm fields for a primary reason that it is the biggest asset and the bread-earner for the truck drivers. I have always wondered why we Indians like to include religious and cultural traits even in lifeless machines or objects.
At Dasshera, we worship all the lifeless things and thank God for the progress that it gives, we decorate cows in the native and worship her, women worship trees and pray for a longer life to their husbands. Maybe it is a way to gather faith and strength to tackle hardships just as the truck drivers need courage to live a tenuous life.The trucks making a long journey through the dusty highways of the country are decorated and adorned with articles that remind them of their hometowns and families.
Just like we nickname our bikes and address them as our companions through a rocky-road, the trucks in India are analogous to humongous beautifully dressed women. Living a rough life miles away from home keeps them deprived of the homely atmosphere for years making their truck journey the most treasured part.The truck drivers are observed to care and love their trucks which is evident in every region. They are observed to be loud and vibrant in the northern parts of the country, slightly different in the western parts. To keep a reminder of the place where they come from and create their own identity, the corners are laced with colorful fabrics found in the Punjab region or tiny mirror articles from Rajasthan, our national colors, even famous movie actors and famous politicians make it at the rear similar to the ones we paste it in our houses.
Some decorations however have a significance, for instance,
1. Black tassels and articles are hanging off the hazardous parts to ward off evil eyes.
2. Dull fuel tanks are demarcated by painting it with vibrant color.
3. Strange and sometimes warm text with a peculiar language suggesting instructions so as to avoid accidents like ' Use a dipper at night',' Do not Overtake' among others like
'Save water', ' Mother's blessings' and other philosophical adages.
4. Loud paintings near the tail lights to increase the visibility and the brightness of the lamp.
The technology and subtle models for the components like the fuel tanks, a smaller steering wheel, cabins are now found to be dull and colorful. The vibrant and neon trucks with a variety of articles hanging off and humorous but important messages at the rear of the truck are a seldom sight on the highways nowadays. Lets hope that the industry comes up with vehicles that are interesting to look at which we so miss now while we are dinning at a Dhaaba, listening to Punjabi songs and suddenly pulls in a huge truck with its long, musical and typical Punjabi Horn!
We will be glad to hear other peculiar observations and features of an Indian trucks from you.
Corporate Communications Team,
Ghatge Patil Transports Pvt. Ltd
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