No matter how
long you are on the road, you will be excited to see colorful truckers in India
roads.
The truckers in
India looks like a kaleidoscope of colors, slogans, and intricately painted patterns
as shrewd business sense.
In India, these
truckers seems to be not only a transportation but also an inspiration for
creativity reflecting the character of its driver -- and a brilliant beacon for
new customers. According to Shantanu Suman, graphic designer and filmmaker behind 2013 documentary "Horn Please," shared his opinions after exploring India's spectacular truck art
tradition.
"A better
looking truck attracts more business. Imagine the
truck is like a moving billboard. It travels from one side of the country to
the other, carrying the message of the truck driver and owner."
Home on wheels
India is a nation spreading almost 4 million square
kilometers. Therefore, truckers are literally the primary transporation on
every corner of this countries, even
to rural parts of the country inaccessible by railway.
The truck drivers have to live long months on the road and these
heavy vehicles
transformed
into mobile homes away from home, equipped with bunk beds and some other
furnitures. Their vehicle is used to considering as their second home.
"Since
they're missing their kids and wives, they like to decorate their trucks with
ornaments to remind them of home," explained Suman.
"They
might adorn the cabin with bangles -- things that remind them of their
wives."
Spectacular symbolism
There are no limits in the symbolism
with a colorfulpainted patterns such as images of gods and goddesses, Bollywood stars, and political
logos to show the driver characteristics.
"Depending on which region they're from, you'll
see Hindi, Muslim, Sikh, and Christian iconography," said photographer Dan Eckstein, who traveled over
10,000kms of the country for his book "Horn Please: The Decorated Trucks of
India."
"There's also a lot of decoration that has to do
with luck on the road and warning away bad omens. There's a little demon face
they put on the front of the truck, or they might tie shoes to the bottom which
is meant to keep away the evil eye."
Horn Please
This words
“Horn Please” emblazoned across the back is a concept close to the trucker
drivers in Indian. It can be see easily at the luminous rear end of one of
these trucks.
This words mean
a remind for other drivers to honk their horns when overtaking the truck; a
long-standing tradition on Indian roads.
"Truck
painting is now undergoing a transformation. A lot of things that were once
hand painted are now being replaced by stickers," explained Suman.
"Some of
these truck artists who have been carrying forward this profession for
generations, now don't want their kids to do it because they realize the
hardship. They say: 'I want my kids to go to collage and work in an
air-conditioned office, rather than be here in the sun painting trucks all
day.'"
Many truck
artists spends a lot of hours to blow a new soul into these old trucks. It is outstanding
on the India roads that will not only transport goods but also the hope for a
safe trip for all drivers. These trucks also make the drivers proud of their
job and love their job much more.
Whether the
tradition art for truck will continue in the future is less certain. But we can
not deny that the colorful trucks creates the unique in culture of Indian.
If these trucks will go to the end, it is so
hurt to kill both the spirit of artist and driver. But the answer is waiting
ahead.
From BBC
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