Why only celebrities and you & I dress up well and attract attention? Why not encourage our drivers too to do the same and help them come out of low esteem? Let's try out. What do you say?

1. The Khan Effect
&
The Importance of Being Pradipto Bhattacharya

3. Let’s begin at the beginning. Among these men – gentle or otherwise – who is the LEAST
presentable: the bearded and white-on-white? The light lemon yellow T-shirtwallah? Or the
red-and-blue one? Yes, all look serious and haggard.

4. By the way, did you ask who they are? … What their profession is? Hmmm… Drivers. Waiting
to pick up the cyber warriors working for Cognizant Technologies Solutions (CTS) at any hour
of the day/night . Lucky guys & gals. We are talking about C.W.s, not these drivers.

5. These Drivers are responding to some questions posed by Pradipto Bhattacharya. Who is
Pradipto? Well, PB works for Karmyog, a business enterprise that is specialising in teaching
soft skills to drivers community. What is ‘personal’ and ‘soft skill’? …

6. First question, first: Pradipto is asking them, “Why don’t you dress up well? Like Sharukh
Khan? Like Aamir Khan? Like Salman Khan? “ Neat and clean. Shaven chin or trimmed beard.
Combed hair. Washed and iron clothes. Now, on to second: Well, this is soft skill. How to dress
up? How to talk to customers? Etc.

7. Well, why is Pradipto getting this “personal”? Well, that is his business model. He earns his
bread by educating these ‘aam aadmi”s the basic etiquette. These drivers, like any of their
tribe, are school dropouts and did not ‘polish’ up personality capabilities. But they work for
big cats (MNCs) ferrying cyber warriors or executives (senior or junior) from home to
workplace and back – five days a week mostly. Yes, the elite. Can’t afford to be rude to their
passengers. Customer service, isn’t? Spot on.

8. So, on a working Wednesday in end-March, Pradipto – brought to Kolkota, courtesy KRK
Foundation (trying to improve the working and living conditions of drivers and their families
living in remote villages) – is in full flow outside Cognizant Technology Solutions, Bantala,
Kolkota – teaching these drivers the basic etiquettes. Today’s focus is on personality
devleopment and the first lesson is “look & feel”. Got it?

9. Going back to the original question of who is looking LEAST
presentable, yes, the red-and-blue T-shirt tops that chart.
Yadav, in his late twenties, is father of two kids from
Darbhanga, Bihar and been a driver helping CTS cyber
warriors to reach office or return home safely on a daily
basis. Somehow, looking good is not his priority….

10. The Nukkad Natak @ CTS, Bantala
over, the venue shifted to Sector 5
– another IT hub in Kolkota. Fresh
set of drivers. But the issue
addressed is same: personality
development. Pradipto is at it. All
over again.

11. Fresh batch of “students” play act whatever Pradipto asks them to do. “Shoot me
with your fingers pointed (at me) like a pistol,” he commands. They oblige.
Willingly. And joyfully What’s in store, they don’t know. But they are enjoying
every moment.
All these happening on roadside. No classroom sermons. No boring power point
slides.
Theatrical. Dramatic. Engaging. Interactive. Not a monologue, but dialogue.
Pradipto’s message: We blame others for all faults. But forget we do have our own
share.

12. Lessons in progress. In subtle ways. No blackboard. No chalk pieces.
All on the roadside where their vehicles are parked mile long and their
waiting game is on. When they will be called in to ferry cyber warriors
wherever they have to go.
Meanwhile, Pradipto engages them in a bit of fun: say, blow out
balloons quickly. Winner gets the loudest applause on roadside.
Passing cars stop curiously wanting to know what the hell is happening?

13. After the ‘Blow Out Balloon’ charade, now some serious teaching on road safety. ABC…
What is ABC?
Always Be Careful..
Look closely at the frame. A new character has joined the group: in red-and-blue T-shirt.
We could not recognise him until …

14. Approaching Pradipto, this man asks: “Can you recognise (me)?”
Pradipto can’t.
“You spoke about Salman Khan, Aamir Khan, Shah Rukh Khan this
morning. Right?”
Pradipto nods.
“It’s me at CTS, Bantala. … I wanted to look better, as you told. So, I
went to a saloon for a shave and …. Look, I also combed my hair!”
“I told you then, I did not have time for shave and combing. Wrong.
Actually, I found time for these things. I feel better now”.
Amazing experience. This Driver from Darbhanga deserves a full-
throated, “hip, hip, hurray!”
Pradipto orders one. The entire crowd at Sector 5 applauds him.
Thank you, Salman! Thank you, Shah Rukh! Thank you, Aamir!

15. The search for smart looking truck driver continues at IOC COCO outlet, Haldia. The winners
are crowned with ASDC caps amidst thunderous applauses.

16. The youngest driver-in-the-making is called to the stage with a request to blow out a balloon.
Participants egg him on since he is scared. But he does it finally. A senior logistics officer later
asks what is the relevance of balloon in safety issues. As one takes extra care while filling air
into the balloon so that it does not hurt if it bursts accidentally, similar cautious aproach while
driving is necessary. Crowned with an ASDC cap and an succulent orange to bite into by the
senior-most driver, the wannabe driver is in seventh heaven. Mr Logistics Manager, when was
the last time you brought smile to the face of drivers?

17. Deep Apartment, 52 Ward No. 1, Behind Punjab National Bank,
Mehrauli, New Delhi 110 030/India
ramesh@krkfoundation.org
IMPROVING Truck Drivers’ Working & Living Conditions