Our Drivers and Conductors

Public transport is an indispensable part of everyone’s lives. Though a considerable number of people commute in trains as part of their daily routine, the number of people who rely on buses is huge in India. For routine commuters, reaching the bus stop on time, getting themselves a proper ‘seat’, adjusting to claustrophobic conditions is part and parcel of their lives. We get angry when the buses are not on time when overloaded, breaks and down and for umpteen reasons. But there are men and women who take up the role of drivers and conductors who have so much to complain about but carry on with this service.

Every driver and conductor I have met have a unique style of doing his work. Every conductor uses his own methodology of carrying himself around. Though there are commonalities like the way they stand to the arrangement of rupee notes in their fists, each has a unique way of doing everything the other way. Some might never use the whistle using only their mouth; some have two pockets on their shirts for different sets of coins, some call out all the bus stops and have a conversation with all passengers while some rarely talk during the journey.

Drivers are a delight to watch when they change the gears. Few drivers have their first few buttons open with a kerchief around their neck, some patient to other vehicles who try to overtake them, few using a single hand to manoeuvre sharp turns and most of them slowing down for an outstretched arm away from bus stops.

Though most of them don’t express the problems with their work, they are one of the hardest serving people in our cities. They face issues from various domains. The chief problem is with the vehicle. I remember a driver saying that the brakes of the bus which he drives routinely haven’t been mended in spite of reporting. Most of us complain about the fares charged by our buses for the service they provide but rarely spare a thought for the men driving them.

Photo Courtesy: Glenna Barlow

The conductor has to deal with unmanageable crowds during peak hours every day. Getting ourselves into a cosy position is a difficult task in peak hours but the conductor has to wade through tight spaces and issue tickets to as many passengers as possible. Along with sub-standard vehicles, drivers face the problem of reaching the destinations on time. Heavy traffic situations and poor roads add to this misery.

As soon as we enter our houses following couple of hours of bus travel mid-day we can’t do without the fan. But these two men don’t have a choice to stop their services. They spend their time in the metal box throughout the day. It is beyond unbearable during mid-day under the scorching heat of the sun.

Beyond all these constraints the avoidable problems they face is the tussle with the passengers. I used a see a fight between the conductor and a passenger often when I commuted daily. It is mostly over a few rupee coins and in some cases harsh words are exchanged. It is the same with the driver too. Not a day passes without an angry stare at an irrational motorist.

All our lives are dotted with problems. One who works throughout the day is bound to have a clouded mind when he gets inside the bus. When we converse with them with issues in our mind we rarely talk nicely and it escalates into avoidable angry exchanges. Tired people who enter the bus are forgetting the fact that the conductor and the driver themselves are tired by redundant work throughout the day.

Photo Courtesy: Kirsten

These men have their own problems in life similar to all the passengers who get on the bus. They are concerned about their family, the bills to be paid and worried about the debt they have taken. I believe the help which a passenger can do is not to pick up irrational fights with these two men. Two rupees are far less important when compared with the peace of mind.

Light conversations are a better way to help these men and women. On conversing, we find that they share similar opinions with us on most topics, from cell phones, traffic, politics and inflation. Our drivers and conductors deserve a lot of praise for serving us under tough working conditions. They are among few professionals who serve a lot but lead humble lives. 

Photo Courtesy:
(1)https://www.flickr.com/photos/rose_des_vents/6795099355/in/faves-136384448@N03/
(2)https://www.flickr.com/photos/94801434@N00/4468618263/