Origins of Truck Shayaree in Pakistan...

Salam All,

Well, if you live, lived or have been to Pakistan for a longish period of time, you would have noticed the Poetry which is written behind the trucks on the highways. Not just poetry, but there are also paintings and other adornments which kind of make the truck into an exhibit of sorts.

Some of the most popular catch lines are “maan ki dua, jannat ki hawa”, “jalney waley ka munh kala” etc.

I wanted to ask if someone knew when this started? I have asked around and it appears that it was there in the mid 60s as well, so it must have started of in the 47-65 period. This is assuming that it started of after the creation of Pakistan. Perhaps it didnt, and perhaps the poetry on trucks started off before partition.

If someone knows, does India also have truck adonments and poetry on the back? Or is it specific to Pakistan? (Iran and other countries do it too, but not in Urdu)

Also, if anyone has any idea about the origin of this fad, it will be great to know.

Regards,
Nasir M. Khan

this has been a tradition of the subcontinent pre independence
its still a common practice in north india

^^ that's what my Indian friend was telling me too...that it's popular in india as well...

interesting topic,it always was a great time pass reading the poetry & looking at the big pictures of ghulabs & parendey(roses & birds) painted on the trucks...very artistic.

^ main ne to anjuman aur deegar filmi adakaaraon ki fotos (can’t call them caricatures…asal main shaid woh aise he hoti hoon :halo: ) bhi dekhi hain..trackon ke peechay.

Akhir truck driveron ka bhi to dil hota hai na :k:

can someone share some shairee from some indian trucks/autos/taxis?