A unique bilingual coffee table book titled ‘Bengaluru’s Bus Stories — Bengalurina Bussina Kathegalu’ was launched on Monday, celebrating the vibrant and emotional connection Bengaluru shares with its public bus system. This collaborative work brings together researchers from Utrecht University (Netherlands), the EQUIMOB project, the Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bengaluru Bus Prayanikara Vedike (BBPV), and the nonprofit Samvada.
At the launch event, several stories from the book were read aloud, emphasizing the emotional and social fabric tied to bus journeys. Bus activist Prajwal Nagesh called it “an attempt to bring the positive outlook of bus travel to the fore,” while Shaheen Shasa of BBPV added that buses are “deeply embedded in our way of life.”
The book compiles 23 stories, divided into seven themes, and draws on the lived experiences of both commuters and BMTC staff. To collect these narratives, researchers travelled alongside bus passengers and crew, conducting interviews and observations.
One highlight is a story from Manjula Shastri, a 65-year-old retired teacher, who reminisces about riding double-decker buses from Jayanagar to Majestic, calling it an Ambaari ride (like riding atop an elephant). Another moving tale tells how a bus conductor’s kindness helped a couple from different castes earn familial acceptance for their relationship, which began on a bus ride.
With its blend of nostalgia, sociology, and urban storytelling, the book pays tribute to Bengaluru’s iconic bus culture and the role it plays in building connections and community.
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