Kolkata’s hand-painted buses

Kolkata seems to be full of pilots. At least if one follows the inscriptions on its public buses. On the driver’s side door, the word“Pilot”  is often painted in bold letters, while the opposite side prominently bears the designation“Emergency Gate.”

No two of these meticulously crafted inscriptions are alike. Each is hand-painted, frequently embellished with floral motifs or other decorative elements. These vivid and highly individual bus letterings are a distinctive feature of the city and contribute to the visual character of the so-called“City of Joy”.