As I was reading today’s
newspaper “The Tribune” An article by Mr. Krishna Gopal on the Himachal Road
Transport Corporation struck my attention. He beautifully narrated drivers and conductors
in Himachal Buses help people in need and how travelling in a HRTC bus is a
delightful experience. That article reminded me several instances and experiences that I have seen in all these years during my travel in buses.
At some desolate wayside spot, a
hand was projected from the sidewalk and the bus halted. A woman moved in and
finding no seat vacant reconciled to travel standing. A young man quietly
vacated his seat for her. At another point, an old man boarded and likewise
another young man gave up his comfortable seat for him. One can often see even
women giving up their comfortable seats to elders in bus. At yet another point,
a man handed over to the driver a sum of Rs 10,000 to be delivered to a person
at some other village en route. At still another point a girl waiting by the roadside,
advanced towards the driver’s door and handed over a lunchbox for her father
serving at a station en route. I am sure many of you have seen such instances
in your travel time here. Such is the beauty of this place that No matter at
what place you are in , be it mandi,
kangra, Shimla, solan or manali, such scenes are everywhere to see. There is a
very cordial relationship between passengers and drivers- conductors in
himachal.
It’s been 6 years that I am
continuously using bus services, earlier for college and now to job and in these
entire years one thing that didn’t change is this hostile relationship btw
fellow passenger and drivers- conductors, after initial greetings people get
indulge in talking about general family cultures, politics and cricket. One can
hardly think of them as strangers. It more likes a family atmosphere during
travel. I have observed various times how our conductor is always ready to
forgo his seat for some needy passenger. In the sweltering heat, if someone
asks for water, the driver hands over his own water bottle. Even if a passenger
requests the conductor to help hi, in bringing down his baggage from the
rooftop, he conveniently agrees. I see all this almost daily and thinking
about it always put a smile on my face
and that’s why I often say travelling in
Himachal is blissful, learning and more
of like a family affair.
Though I have travelled a lot in
other state buses too but never seen or had any such beautiful instance during
those travels. Even once had a brawl with a conductor who misbehaved with an
old women coming from Chandigarh in Haryana road transport corporation. She was
old and pleaded to driver to stop her mid station as it would take long for her
to come all the way from station to home. First, despite her several pleadings
he didn’t apply the brakes and when at last he did, he did it so forcefully
that old women fell in the bus. The HRTC buses, on the contrary have quite
smart crew members who do not compromise with reasonable speed and yet perform
all humane tasks with open heart.
I know there may be so many
states, villages, cities in India where such incidents can be seen or observed
but as far as Himachal is concerned I must say a journey by a local or HRTC bus
definitely corroborates its motto “Safe Service, Courteous Service”.
