Recently I have been to Thimphu for some work of the personal nature
and I have had the pleasure of coming across the taxi drivers that ply the
Indian highways. They are the dreaded Bolero drivers that ply between
Phuntsholing, Gelephu, and Samdrup Jongkhar. I even had the frightening
experience of traveling in one.
Of course the road is wide and straight, and the speedometer can climb
up to 120 smoothly, but there are also other vehicles plying on the road…
container trucks, 16 wheeled, 10 wheeled trucks, jumbo trucks loaded with loads
and loads of loads, and other vehicles… and in the roadside settlements, the
famous three-wheeled cycle rickshaws, cycles and of course…the animal
population. But the Bolero driver is oblivious to all… he just toots the horn
and floors the gas.
Another kind is the Coaster drivers that ply between Thimphu,
Phuntsholing and Paro.
Yes… Toyota Coasters offer lesser jerks, more comfort and smoother
rides but that doesn't mean the drivers should fly along the highway. My heart
missed many beats along the route… many a times I secretly prayed to god that
the mechanics of the bus wouldn't fail. However perfect the driver is, the
vehicle is after all a machine, prone to fail.
Then there are the dreaded Gypsum drivers… those who ply the Samdrup
Jongkhar – Pemagatshel highway (especially between Deothang and Tshelingkhor,
thus termed the gypsum road, appropriately named since this stretch is
dominated by the gypsum truckers.) If you ever ply this road you'll know how
fast they are, speeding down the narrow curves fully loaded with 16-18 tonnes
of gypsum. They are young and full of 'josh'. The drivers become younger by the
year while the trucks become more powerful. From Tata 1210 to 1613 to Terra 16
… from trucks with wooden bodies to steel bodied-tippers … from normal engines
to powerful ones – the gypsum road has seen all the changes.
The most recent change is the road. Before, it was just a narrow strip
of tarmaic. Now it is a wide, pot-holed, muddy track… thanks to the
road-widening process. And this has added to the plight of the two-wheelers
like me.
The gypsum drivers don't even slow down whether they are racing up
towards Pemagatshel for their gypsum load or speeding down fully loaded with
gypsum. And they always travel in packs. Show your displeasure to one and you
will be targeted by the others. If he is alone he will boast of having friends.
If they are in a pack all will stop. Seems they have a code they live by… or
drive by.
Woe be to any driver that has crossed swords with them. In my case if I
am alone I always respect these huge trucks when they suddenly loom in front me
from around the corner. I smile at them and they appreciate my ride. Knowingly,
we smile at each other. I am promoting GNH.
Thus many now know me. They may not know me personally but they know my
ride. So I always carry a smile in my pocket for them.
I don't want my cell to end up 'not reachable' or 'not responding' by
some cliff or in the bushes.
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