re: First learning and/or driving licence experience & anecdotes We neither had 2 wheeler nor 4 wheeler till I was 30 years. My father had a suvega but it was scrapped and sold to metal scrap yard when I was 17 years. However, All I had was a strong desire to hold a license in the pocket and show off to friends.
The way I got learning license for 2 wheeler was uneventful. I just went to RTO with documentary evidences of age and address proof and got LL. (There was no test for LL during those days). However, when I wanted to go for DL for 2 wheeler, I did not have a vehicle to drive. With LL for 12 months (1st six months new LL and next six months renewal), I had learnt bike riding theoretically from my friends. I started asking for bike from my friends but could not get one. None of my relatives had faith in my driving and hence could not get vehicle from them as well. I struggled for almost a month but in vain.
I had observed my Engineering drawing lecturer riding an old bajaj 150 scooter(3 gears). He liked me because of my sincerity and honesty in his class. I never used to bunk his classes, used to complete all assessments very regularly. One day, when I was in engineering drawing class in college, I just went and whispered in my lecturer's ear, that I wanted to talk to him personally. He asked me to meet him after the class. I met him and expressed my struggle. He looked at me for 2mins and just asked me when was my test. I had no appointment for test but with some blind confidence, I said a date after 12 days. He said, he will give me the scooter with a condition that, if I fail, I have to fill the tank. If I pass, it's free ride for me. I know for sure, he would not have asked me to fill the tank in any case.
I agreed and then went to RTO with a confidence that I will get appointment for the date agreed with lecturer. But, to my bad luck, I did not get the appointment for that date but for a later date.
Now, I was not sure, if my lecturer would agree to give the scooter on revised date. But, still I went ahead and fixed the appointment. Next day, I went to lecturer and told him about the revised date of test. Luckily, he just smiled at me and said ok. I was the most happiest person in the world at that moment.
On the day of test, the risks that I had to face was,
1. I had only theoretical knowledge of riding gear scooter.
2. I had never ever touched the lecturer's old bajaj 150 in my life. It was like a unknown beast for me.
3. I was told that RTO never passes the candidates first time. If the candidate is going for test without bribes, he is sure shot failure.
With all the above risks, I took the keys at 8 AM near college and started riding - NO, actually started learning the scooter by taking multiple rounds, different routes from Bangalore institute of technology (near KR Market) till Jayanagar RTO. I should definitely remember his help, he had filled full tank and handed over the key to me.
After 2-3 hours of continuous ride, I got confidence to take the test. At 11 AM, I went to RTO and took the test. Theory test was a cake walk since I had mastered all the sections, laws, mandatory and cautionary signs.
In Practical test, inspector came and sat behind in pillion seat and asked me to drive. I took him for a ride in the specified path. He suddenly asked me to stop at a place. I stopped confidently with all hand signs. He got down and asked me to get down. I started sensing some fishy situation. I did not get down but just looked around the place. There was a no parking board. I caught the issue. I said, I can not get down and insisted him get on the seat and drove back to the end point.
Now the argument started
Inspector: I can not pass you since you stopped at no parking.
Me: I did not get down from the scooter. The sign was NOPARKING and not NO STOPPING. hence I did not do any mistake.
Inspector: I still can't pass you. You need some more practice
Me: I have already taken 1 year to complete my learning with one renewal. Have been riding this scooter for complete 1 year every day for 45 mins(big lie). I really think I don't need any more training
Finally he got fed-up and came to business. "How much will you pay"
I did not budge. I said, I am a rank student in 10th(I had got 82nd rank for the state), I got merit engineering seat without donation(this was also true). I don't have money to pay (this was true as well)
He just thought for a minute and said, "COME AND COLLECT YOUR DL ON MONDAY EVENING 3PM"
I could not believe that he is passing me in first attempt without bribe. Just thanked him and left the place.
This is my story in 1989, a 18 years engineering student, who had not driven the gear scooter even once, did not have any vehicle to take the test, did not have money to fill the fuel or pay for bribe, passing the DL test in first attempt.
I cherish these memories and say to myself Poverty teaches life. Money buys things
Last edited by gkveda : 27th October 2021 at 21:51.
|