Photo for representational purpose.
Credit: iStock photo
An unforgettable person for me is Appu, better known as Appu Driver, a short-statured, large-hearted man who was an epitome of good mountain manners. He used to drive an old Bedford bus in the 1950s and 1960s from O’Valley estates in Gudalur to Ooty in the Nilgiris.
Wearing a khaki uniform, a coat, a muffler around the neck, and a cap gave him the looks of a disciplined soldier. He courteously greeted everyone entering the bus. He taught me valuable lessons—without his knowledge, of course—in discipline and courtesy. The bus was always steaming and fuming while climbing the steep hills, having 13 hairpin bends in between, but he remained cool all the way. Maintaining a cool composure at all times was the third lesson.
His sole aid to face the dangers of the road was an air horn on his vehicle, which made a loud ‘pow-pow’ sound when the rubber ball was squeezed. It was succeeded by electrical horns making “beep beep or pee pee” noises, blowing away air horns to antiquity. The good old air horn was musical
in contrast to the modern harsh honking tones.
When a vehicle was crossing from the opposite side, he would press the horn twice as a polite gesture of gratitude, which was reciprocated. This etiquette is still prevalent in the Nilgiris, though the air horns are bygones now. The polite gesture of gratitude was the fourth lesson Appu taught me.
Wayside sign posting read, “Down Going Vehicles, Give Way to Upcoming,” and in compliance, Appu driver would pull his bus to the side and patiently wait for the upcoming to cross. Going down a staircase once, I stood aside to let a lady go up, and seeing her a bit dazed, I had to briefly tell her about Appu’s mountain manners. Thanking me, she walked up with a smile. Patience was the fifth lesson.
Values exhibited by Appu driver, a man hailing from the plains of Palghat who served the people of the mountains, speak volumes about his uniqueness. Such manners are missing in our midst today; I wish that they would come back soon. This writing is a tribute to that unassuming man who ran the race well for others.
Gone are the days of the pow-pow air horns, but we are duty bound to prove our existence. A man’s worth is not measured by what he has but by what “is he in others”.