Champ

Before coming to Australia, I was working on a project to make a documentary on the life of truckers. I travelled from Delhi to Mumbai hitch-hiking with truckers to write an article for Hindustan Times.

Though I had a fair bit of idea about their lives but sharing days and nights with them was a totally enlightening experience.

Those ten days were one the most moving period of my life.

If you thought sales, TV news or call-centres were the high-pressure jobs, try exploring trucker’s world.

You are racing against time to meet a sharp delivery deadline with a loaded truck on one of the most trying highways. Everyone driving along you thinks you are a drunkard rash driver who is responsible for every accident on the highway.

There are cops, road-tax officials and ubiquitous pooja-pandals (religious processions) who are waiting like vultures to extract some money from your pocket. And if you resist, you get a thrashing in the middle of the road.

In such harassed, over-worked, environment, these entertainment starved truckers keep going back to sex-workers…and I don’t blame them. Probably, they are the only one who talks them nicely.

A girl in Delhi did attempt a documentary on the life of truckers. I think it was called “Rock stars of India”. It was commendable attempt by the very fact that that young girl dared to spend time with someone who are considered outcaste, criminal, drunkards etc. (she also travelled with them for days.)

Even I was exploring the funding options when I had to move to Australia…and the project went into a cold-storage. Today, I saw a news item about two guys who have found funding for exactly similar project at CANES!!

To tell you the truth, I felt a bit jealous…not because they got funding…but because they got the funding for the same project. Isn’t it natural?

But at the same time…I’m really proud of Harry and Rishi…especially what they have achieved at the Canes platform. Great job guys! I’m also happy that this topic will be dealt professionally now.

I’m looking forward to see their work…I personally have huge expectations from you…so do a fabulous job…best of luck.