Resilience Unmatched

This anecdote is dedicated to my Cab Driver -Mr Zaheer (from TE Connectivity) who ferried me for 6 long years


This is also a dedication to numerous cab and bus drivers who ferry employees to their work place day in and night out (in Bangalore Traffic)

My days with the Cab drivers started from the day ,I started working. I remember the MICO-buses which used to ply us from Yelahanka to MICO-factory at Adugodi
This was some 12 years back.Those days were good for the people around and commuters in general.There was no traffic snarls.Life was usually pacy ,but roads were a delight.Not much crowd as well

The drivers were awesome.They had a wonderful way of greeting and entertaining each employee.Always enthusiastic and cheerful to the core

Day in and night out ,these bus drivers used to ferry us to and fro ,with exquisite delight.No harsh treatment at all. I simply loved the enthusiasm with which these drivers used to converse with each employee,without any demarcation between an operator,management staff and the ilks.

The MICO bus drivers day started early in the morning (4.30 am at Yelahanka) --1st shift and ended up at 11.30 pm (2nd shift end).The numerous trips they make each day,back and forth continuously for the six days at the least,reminisces the hard work
put by these folks.This amounted to 400-600 kms plying on an average per day.

I sometimes marvel at the patience,perseverance and resilience of these fantastic drivers,who make life of fellow employees and commuter's comfortable and joyous over the years ,taking everything into their strides.

The tit bits we used to share about office ,life in general and gupshups,still rankle as some thriving moments of my life.As we grow in the organisation and enjoy the benefits to the core,reflects the sacrifices these simple and hardworking drivers make for society in general.

I still remember the fantastic "Ayudha Pooja" festival,when the buses are decorated with banana trees and flowers. The drivers are given huge gifts from the money collected by fellow employees to mark a respect of gratitude to their service.

For all the 7 years (from 1998 - 2004),we have attended this "puja"on dussera without fail,each time going at 4.30 am in the morning and paying those wonderful moments with the bus drivers.The ferry would start at 6.00 am after full decoration of the bus and reach MICO-Bosch by 7.15 am. Pooja would culminate by 8.45 am.
Dussera Pooja is indeed a mark of celebration for "our drivers"who join us to take us forward to another year of prosperity open handedly

I really miss those moments of splendor to this day.

As the days progresses and lots of sectors opening up in Bangalore,there has been an influx of vehicles and cabs on the road.But the moments of traffic snarls never dampen the spirit of these drivers to the tee.

Complaining and moaning,stressing themselves with abuses are very few and far in between.The whole community has been very large hearted,with occasional binge of humor thrown in to lighten up their highly persevering role.

The joyrides we had,the occasional celebrations on the road,some embarrassing moments,the radio FM's and mirchis,the gupshups and non sensical talks, moments of splendor,grief and sorrow,high octane level of intruders,signing those "end of trip" sheets,running out of petrol/diesel once in a while,vehicle going kapput,abusing the proprietor for not sending the vehicle on time,tyre puncture,helping out people in distress,seeing and observing accidents on the way,horn noises at railway bypasses,traffic jams at crucial junctures,missing out employees at pick up points,laughing at ourselves on our foolishness at not getting down at our destinations (you fall asleep occasionally don't you?)and the likes ....


Emotions run through your blood anyways

I sometimes introspect the psyche of these drivers and get mesmerised wholeheartedly with which they go about performing this every day ,diligently.


Marvellous,Awesome,Fantastic ! that sums it up...

Salute you all,with all my honesty for making me what I am today .
Drivers zindabad !

Sd/-

Roohul Haq