Just Gossip

 

In my relatives circle, I am considered as a fastidious person not given to impulse buying. I generally indulge in a lot of desktop research before any purchase, be it a washing machine or a mobile phone or even a simple door handle. In the days when computers and internet facility were not available, news paper ads, interaction  with previous users regarding their experience, discussions with dealers in the market were fully explored  for arriving at best options. Generally I prefer to try new and untried things, if my research endorses them to be good.

In the days when one preferred either Royal Enfield Bullet or Jawa(Yezdi) motor cycle and didn't wish to touch Rajdoot with a barge-pole, I put my hand on it because the company had strated to use Mikuni Carburettor in its bike (considered as leap jump in carburettor technology in the late 70s) Similarly, in 1987 I changed to Kinetic Honda (one of the first gearless two wheelers) when Bajaj (with its flagship brand, Chetak) was engaged in seriously running down gearless scooters, fearing a severe hit to its market share. Recently, my niece shot down of my suggestion to go for an EV scooter when she sought my advice. But she preferred a petrol driven Honda Activa ( a tried and trusted brand) I have now purchased an Electric Vehicle (scooter)

My job as a Medical Representative in 1972 in Guntur required me to meet practicing doctors. It meant that I had to move from clinic to clinic or hospital to hospital to meet doctors. Initially I used to engage cycle rickshaws for my movements. Eventually, I had to choose a vehicle to move with ease and comfort while doing my job. Those days, two wheelers like Motor Cycles or Scooters were preferred by medreps for moving from place to place. But I wondered why no one considered any other mode of transport particularly environment friendly ones. I seriously thought about horse as a good alternative. I thought it would be a novel idea and environment friendly too. It would also give me an exclusive image as a medrep - most important factor in registering me and my products in the minds of doctors. The idea was too radical to think and all my friends including my colleagues ( within my own company) were too shocked when I told them about my idea. No one had any logical argument for opposing my thought. But no one also thought it was a good idea to move on a horse's back in town for work. My outstation work in Prakasam District for a fortnight every month was another hindrance for my choice. As I was a bachelor, during my absence in Guntur (when I go on my tour) there would be no one to take care of the animal. Probably my idea was too radical and ahead of time!

I later learnt about a true story of an RTC driver with the Jammalamadugu depot (in Kadapa district) some 4-5 decades back. He lived in an inaccessible hamlet at a considerable distance from Jammulamadugu. His hamlet folks used to visit the town on foot trekking a narrow dirt path. 

He owned a pony, a family hierloom from his father who was a poor horse trainer, and came to the bus depot riding it. On reaching the depot, he left it to graze the wild grass growing in the open ground in  the depot. Off and on, it strayed into the lawn developed in a rectangular patch by the Depot Manager. With repeated warnings and a memo to the driver having gone in vain, the annoyed DM later cordoned off the lawn with a wire mesh standing 6-foot high.

It is nice to learn about the RTC driver whose mind also worked like mine (time line also almost matching) He rode to work on a live Horse (Power) & while at work drove a Bus with Engine Horse Power. It surely proves that you are never alone to think radically....there are always other cranky thinkers like you in this beautiful world.

Suddenly I remember that the Depot Manager in the story could have been a distant relative of mine  (my eldest brother-in-law's paternal cousin) His name is Nageswara Rao who rose to be a Director in APSRTC before retiring from service a few years ago. He served in J'madugu in 70s.