FOR almost four decades, 61-year-old Vijay Chand has touched the lives of many as a kindhearted bus driver.
Fondly known as mama, the Hindi word for uncle in the Hindi language, he is the third youngest of 12 siblings and hails from Vunimoli, Labasa.
He is a proud northerner through and through!
It was through a recent post which went viral on social media (by Nirmal Cheema) that Vijay’s humble duty was publically acknowledged. .
In an interview with The Sunday Times, Vijay shared details of his journey and how he came to be the friendly face behind the wheel.
Despite losing his mother at a young age, it was his father’s daily hustle as a bus driver that steered Vijay’s amazing journey.
While dad worked, Vijay and his siblings pitched in to help around in the house. One of his favourite jobs was cleaning his dad’s bus.
“I would help wash and clean the bus, “he said.
“That was how I came to know and learn about bus driving.”
The former Vunimoli Islamia College student said observing his father, he slowly learned how to maintain and manoeuvre buses.
“That was where my interest grew.”
Vijay first worked for Dwarka Buses Ltd, which serviced where his family stayed.
“I worked there for a few months.
“I started doing short trips which would usually be from Suva to Nausori and back.
“That time, there was not much traffic and no tarsealed road, it was all gravel ..this back in 1985.
Vijay laughed when he explained how buses were operated back in the day.
“I was short and slimmer then and the gear system was like a long handle.
“It used to be tough changing gears and sometimes I had to use both hands,” he said.
There were challenges that he had to encounter. These were his stepping stones to the top of his game.
“We got used to the bad weather. During certain trips, we would spend the night on the bus.”
He later joined Vishnu Holdings Ltd and started doing longer trips. He worked there for about 10 years.
He served the Visoqo Macuata route before doing the Savusavu-Labasa round trip and the Savusavu and Natewa Bay routes.
“We were the first few drivers to drive on that road and would spend the night in some of the villagers during those trips.”
After Vishnu Holding Vijay joined Waiqele Buses and took the Labasa and Savusavu trips.
“So, I was driving to Labasa and Savusavu for quite some time. Those were my last few trips before I moved to Suva.”
In the capital he drove for Pacific Transport and Patterson Brothers’ Fiji Searoad Service.
Vijay said bus driving was a very public job and required mingling with the grassroots. He often had to juggle being a driver and a community worker.
“Times were very hard at time, I would try and help people, especially those who farmed and planted root crops and vegetables,” he said.
“There were times when some would not be able to pay their fares. I wouldn’t stop them from catching my bus.”
Being able to help the rural people through simple acts of kindness brought him a sense of fulfillment.
Sometimes passengers who got on his bus for free would later pay by supplying him with rootcrops. The barter system of sorts made him a very popular figure across many districts and provinces.
“Sometimes during the return trips from Labasa and Savusavu, a few villagers would ask if I could get them a few items from town such as bread or sugar. I wouldn’t hesitate to help.
“Then on other days they (villagers) would give vegetables, root crops and seafood for me and my family.
“I never encountered any problems or robberies during my time as a public servant driver.”
Before the e-ticketing card system was introduced, bus fares were paid in cash.
“We had a box with compartments to keep all the money, but we were never robbed or harmed no matter where we (bus drivers) stayed.”
He said villagers respected bus drivers which made work enjoyable.
“We developed special bonds with village elders.
“In Dogotuki, a landowner and village elder allowed me to visit him and shoot pigeons with a cousin brother, on his piece of land. He told everyone in the village I was his son.”
“It was like we were a big family.”
Vijay also had interesting and humorous experiences out on the road.
One was during an overnight trip in Cakaudrove back in 1988, where passengers left their root crops and vegetables in the bus.
“I was sleeping on the last seat because it was longer and during the night a boar got on the bus!
“So, when I saw the boar, I was scared at first, but I decided to use my blanket to try and chase it off the bus and it managed to work”.
Sometimes parents would get off and forget they came on the bus with their children.
Vijay came across an interesting incident that took place in Seqaqa around the 1990s.
“It was a special trip from Savusavu to Bua for a wedding, everyone was excited for the celebration.
“Once we arrived at the village, we went from house to house until we reached a large shed.
“It wasn’t until we arrived at that shed that they realised the wedding was scheduled for the following week!
“And while this was happening, the bride was busy catching prawns in a nearby river!
Even after moving to Suva in 2006 while working at Inter Cities Company Ltd Vijay’s tale of interesting stories continued.
“This happened on the last day of December last year during a trip to Lautoka,” he shared.
“We were nearing Ra, and the passengers were calling out.
“The bus was full, and I heard a commotion at the back. They were saying ‘driver fast! fast!’ because a lady at the back was about to give birth.’
“The checker went to see what was going on.”
The heavily pregnant woman was just about to give birth.
“Luckily there was a retired nurse who told the men to move to the front of the bus and she sorted out what was needed for the delivery.
“I decided to head to Rakiraki hospital instead of the bus stand so the mum could be assisted straight away.
“I was driving over the speed limit and the speedometer was beeping but I needed to get to the hospital.
The passengers did not complain and his boss thanked him afterwards.
He said the hospital staff also cleaned and sanitised the bus before he drove it back to the Rakiraki bus stand.
Experiences such as these are what makes Vijay ticks.
“I enjoy driving, meeting and helping people.
“It has made me more passionate about my job, it has also been rewarding as well.”
Vijay’s wife, Aruna Chand and his daughter Priya Chand are the bus driver’s biggest fans.
They are also proud to have someone kind and compassionate in their lives.
Apart from spending hours on the road, Vijay also enjoys planting and gardening at his home in Suva.
With years of experience behind him, he advises road users and drivers to follow the road rules and most importantly — “to always be kind”.
If there’s something we can learn from Vijay’s story, it is the fact that kindness and compassion surely goes a long way….
Through his kindness – we learn that nothing done with a good heart goes unnoticed and that we will always reap the good deeds we sow.
