A former bus conductor, now photojournalist, has channelled his passion for Durban’s buses by writing a book that depicts the colourful history of the Indian bus industry.
On Sunday, Zainul Aberdeen Dawood, will officially launch “Indian buses – The history, the memories, the personalities”, at the Bus Old Boy’s Club in Cato Manor.
The book is picture heavy and is an anecdotal tribute to the owners, drivers, passengers, tours, bus ranks, rank managers and mechanics who all played a role in the industry.
This year, the Indian bus industry celebrates 92 years of service, and Sunday’s gathering will be a reunion of former and current employers of the Durban privately-owned bus services.
Dawood, 33, said the oldest bus in the country, an overhead passenger single OPS 4/5 1963 model will also be on display.
Two years ago, Dawood, who worked in the bus industry for nine years before pursuing a career in journalism, decided to collect photographs from drivers and owners and compile the book.
In the introduction to his book, Dawood writes: “This book is a tribute to the thousands of men and women who have been passionately involved in the bus industry since 1919. They have become forgotten personalities with many untold stories. Their efforts need to be recalled and recognised for the contributions and sacrifices they made.”
Dawood said he spent the past two years meeting with bus owners and drivers, collecting and scanning their photographs. “I only had about 10 photos of my own, but now there are about 3 500 in the series,” he said.
He said many British tourists who came to Durban in the 1950s and ’60s were fascinated with Durban’s buses because of their vibrant colours and interesting names.
Dawood spent his weekends speaking to drivers and bus owners.
“I sacrificed time away from my two children to get this done, and I also spent money on a computer and a scanner, and about R35 000 on printing, but my time was not wasted,” he said.
One picture that stands out for Dawood is of a bus driver who had celebrated his daughter’s birthday on his bus.
“That really touched me, because when I worked in the industry, I hardly saw my children,” he said.
Dawood worked as a conductor in 1995 with Mayville Coach Lines, and then became an inspector and rank manager. While he was working, he studied to become a journalist. He was retrenched in 2003 and became a freelance photographer.
He now plans to work on a second book with a further series of photographs.
“The role played by those in the bus industry has never been fully explored,” said Dawood. “I want people to reflect on these bus workers and the 92 years they have been of service.”
“Indian buses”will be on sale in bookshops and on eBooks for between R200 and R250.
The Bus Old Boy’s Club gathering will take place on Sunday from 2pm to 5pm at the Umkumbaan Hall in Cato Manor. Call 084 502 1905 or 084 574 4436.