For TRUCK ART Print
TRUCK
& Rickshaw ART – Truck, mini-dragon, notorious auto-rickshaw, rickshaw, taxi's and buses, old or new, add colors and gaiety to the Desi cities life. Although often
a menace and scary on the road, breathing free and smoke, and scattering all before whether
it is in Afghanistan's, Pakistan's or India’s. Though a menace, it is at the
same time disarming one, for it is also in its own way a work of art. A
truck embellished from bumper to bumper with paint and colorful, sculptured
metal. All the wealth, taste and status of the owner is reflected in
their appearance, as opposed to cars, whose drivers, rich or poor, are not
really very different from each other. . Flowers, in vases or bouquets, or
pretty little landscapes are the most common motifs. The lettering, whether
Urdu, India, Pashtu, Persian or English, is always ornate. The finest pure Victoriana!
Every part of the truck is decorated, flaps, under-carriage and hub. Front
fenders are chromium-plated steel (sometimes wood, in old cars in Afghanistan),
but with elaborate cut-work.
The best landscapes appear on the back of petrol or water
tankers. They are nearly always of picturesque lakes and mountains, with
winding roads. Little trucks go up and down, and rose-covered cottages complete
the picture. Scenes have great charm, oddly enough enhanced by the limitations
of the tanker's oval shape. The oval frame belongs to another era and
landscapes are right in tune with it.
Today Rickshaws’ a compact automobile design is
a mirror of our Desi culture. It remains as one of the most important modes of
transportation in South East Asia. A
rickshaw is a light two wheeled cart which is designed to carry one or two
people. The word is a derived from the Japanese jinriksha, which means “human powered vehicle.”
Rickshaws have been used in Asia for hundreds of years. These
lightweight, efficient modes of transport are used in many parts of the world,
especially in their native Asia. Everyone who have lived and traveled in
South East Asia region must at some point of their life experience traveling
in rickshaw. In cities with narrow, cramped streets, a rickshaw
can be a sigh of relief. It is an ideal mode of transportation when pressed for
time their annoying noise is overlooked when their
well to do snobbish cousin taxi is not available.Or when their daring devil,
overly painted friend bus is overly crowded. A rickshaw is a welcome
relief. Rickshaw drivers love using the back of the rickshaw
as their scrap book. It displays their favorite quotes
and poetries, puzzling questions; messages to other drivers. I don’t remember
seeing any rickshaw ever without anything written on its back side. Some of
these comments are a running commentary on our society’s social and economic
fabric.
Aik Baywafa Kay Kahtir Riksha Chala Raha Hoon
Chandni Raat Beeti Jaa Rahi Hai
Dekh Magar Pyar Se!
Horn Day Ker Paas Kerain
Dil Hai Ashiqana
