DHARWAD : Can parents in these modern times prefer a tanga over an autorickshaw, van or bus to send their children to school? It appears so in Dharwad where Babu Dada Sheikh alias Babu Tangawala’s horse-driven cart tugs at nostalgia and heartstrings.
Babu’s “horse-powered” vehicle has been ferrying students to school for the past five decades. Never once has the 65-year-old thought of shifting to other modes of transport despite some well-wishers offering to help. Children from well-to-do families too use his tanga to go to school.
The tanga, once the sole mode of transport in Dharwad, has ceased to exist and Babu's may be the only one left in the city. It is also the only means of survival for him and his family. But he is not perturbed even though his sons have little interest in pursuing his profession.
As he takes utmost care of children, parents still prefer him and even school authorities have no objection.
Children studying in St Joseph’s School and Rotary School are his regular customers. He never fixes a fare for children and charges them depending on the economic status of the parents.
“It is all the grace of God. I am lucky that I’ve been given a chance to serve children,” he said. Apart from ferrying children to school, he also runs the tanga on hire near the Old Bus Terminus.
Rajanikanth Pawar, a parent, said, “We can afford an auto but we cannot get a person like Babu. We never feel insecure about our children when he is there. We asked Babu to get a cellphone and even offered to buy one for him but he refused saying he doesn’t need it.”
Babu’s day begins by picking up children of St Joseph's School by 9.30 am and dropping them back by 4.30pm. He only takes children of classes 1 to 8.
“Babu has been with us since the inception of the school. He has earned goodwill among parents and children with his kind nature and prompt service. In some cases, parents opt to send their children to the school where he offers tanga service,” said Nirmala Katti, a Rotary School teacher.
Hussen Kazi, who recently completed a civil engineering course, has fond memories of the tanga and Babu.
“Babu Tangawala would never shout at us when we were children. My friends and I continue to meet him often,” said Kazi.