For nearly 40 years, 61-year-old Vijay Chand has made a significant impact on the lives of many as a compassionate bus driver. Known affectionately as “mama,” which means uncle in Hindi, he is the third youngest of 12 siblings from Vunimoli, Labasa, and takes pride in his northern roots.
Vijay’s humble contributions were recently highlighted in a viral social media post by Nirmal Cheema. In an interview with The Sunday Times, he discussed his journey to becoming the friendly figure behind the wheel.
Despite experiencing the loss of his mother at a young age, his father’s dedication as a bus driver inspired Vijay. As his father worked, Vijay and his siblings helped out at home, with one of Vijay’s favorite tasks being to clean his father’s bus.
“I would help wash and clean the bus,” he recalled. “That was how I came to know and learn about bus driving.”
Growing up, he observed his father and gradually learned to operate and maintain buses, which sparked his interest in the profession. He began his career at Dwarka Buses Ltd, serving routes from Suva to Nausori, back when roads were unpaved and traffic was minimal.
Vijay reminisced about the challenges he faced. “During certain trips, we would spend the night on the bus,” he noted, sharing stories of working through tough weather conditions. After a few months, he moved to Vishnu Holdings Ltd for about a decade, driving on longer routes, including Visoqo Macuata and Savusavu-Labasa trips.
Vijay later transferred to Waiqele Buses and continued driving routes between Labasa and Savusavu. He eventually moved to Suva, where he drove for Pacific Transport and Patterson Brothers’ Fiji Searoad Service.
Emphasizing the public nature of bus driving, Vijay mentioned his dual role as both a driver and community worker. “Times were very hard at the time, I would try to help people, especially those who farmed and planted root crops and vegetables,” he said. He often let passengers who couldn’t pay their fares ride for free.
His simple acts of kindness brought him fulfillment, as some passengers later compensated him with fresh produce in a barter system that made him beloved in many communities. He recounted how villagers would ask for small items from town during return trips and how they reciprocated with vegetables and seafood for his family.
Vijay expressed gratitude for the respect he received from villagers, which made his daily work enjoyable. He formed special bonds with local elders and shared memories of family-like connections in the communities he served.
He also had his share of humorous experiences while on the road. One funny incident occurred in 1988 when a wild boar entered his bus during an overnight trip, and another involved passengers mistakenly arriving at a wedding a week early.
Even after relocating to Suva in 2006 and working for Inter Cities Company Ltd, Vijay’s knack for encountering interesting situations continued. He recalled a memorable trip where a pregnant passenger was about to give birth, prompting him to rush her to the nearest hospital.
“I was driving over the speed limit, but I needed to get to the hospital,” he said, relieved when the hospital staff cleaned and sanitized the bus afterward.
Vijay expressed his love for driving and meeting people, which has fueled his passion for his job. His wife, Aruna Chand, and daughter, Priya Chand, are his biggest supporters, taking pride in his kindness and compassion.
Besides his time on the road, Vijay enjoys gardening at his home in Suva. With years of experience, he advises fellow drivers and road users to adhere to traffic rules and, most importantly, to always be kind.
Vijay’s story serves as a reminder that acts of kindness and compassion leave a lasting impact and that good deeds often return in unexpected ways.