KOLKATA: It will be tough to find people who can resist honking on the roads for 18 minutes. But this man from Kolkata has done wonders.
Meet
Dipak Das, a city-based driver, who has not honked for 18 years. Seems incredible? His car even has this placard, '
Horn
is a Concept. I care for your heart.' Das has won awards for this unique and rare habit.
With this no-horn policy, Das wants to inspire others to follow the practice. Thus noise pollution can be reduced, he believes, saying if a driver follows this no-horn policy, she/he will become more alert while driving.
He dreams of making Kolkata a "no-honking city" someday.
The 52-year-old, who lives with his wife and daughter, has worked as a Metro Rail helper. Dipak got his driving licence in 1991.
He says, "One day, I dropped a passenger in Golf Green area. I was taking rest in front of a school, but was woken up rudely because of senseless honking of cars." On that day, he decided not to honk while driving. Das said, he was influenced by a poem of famous Bengali poet Jibanananda Das. Das's daughter rides bycycle, but like her father she also does not honk.
Earlier, people used to call him 'disturbed'. But today they respect Das's ideology. He was awarded in this year's Manush Mela. Eminent personalities who have travelled in Das's car also appreciate this.
"I went to various places with him. He is special. His patience, sensibility has amazed me" says famous percussionist and tabla player
Tanmoy Bose
.
Singer Sidhu
of the famous Cactus band also said, "I went to Mukutmanipur with Dipak. The guy has not honked for once. He is a rare talent." Seriously!
Read this story in Bengali