We have seen it so many times on back of trucks but have we ever wondered what does it really mean ? It has piqued my curiosity and probed further and this is what i found out
There are actually many theories which surfaced.The one propagated by the truck drivers is :
In the early days, most of the trucks in India were manufactured by the TATA Group. During these times, Tata Oil Mills Ltd. Co (TOMCO) came up with a new brand of detergent called “OK”. And in order to market their detergent they used the motor medium very effectively by painting OK. This brand had a symbol in the shape of a lotus flower. Thus it became “Horn OK Please”. This carried on for a few years and as times went by the OK sort of became a part of the initial paint itself by the lorry drivers and is still being used by people without knowing its glorious history.
Though this may be the real case, there are plenty of other theories for the “Horn Ok Please” being into existence. One such theory has its roots in the Second World War where trucks were often run on kerosene when there was a shortage of petrol. Kerosene, being highly unstable in nature, would cause the trucks to explode at the slightest accident. Hence a warning would be painted on the back saying "Horn Please, On Kerosene". Gradually this became a norm and is still seen on most trucks even today.
Now the question arises as to why such an age old theory which does not apply today still cause us to use HORN OK PLEASE ? I believe there is a reason for this too apart from tradition.In India we are taught to overtake from right and never from left. So if you wish to overtake from the left, give a HORN so that the driver in front will be intimidated ! If you wish to overtake from the right, PLEASE proceed since the driver will be expecting you And if you wish to stay right behind me, OK. Now this makes sense since HORN is on the left OK is in the middle and PLEASE is on the right so fair enough.I know its kind of silly to probe deep into such a deep into something so small but hey,curiosity is the mother of invention.
See you till i see you ;)
Tejas
There are actually many theories which surfaced.The one propagated by the truck drivers is :
In the early days, most of the trucks in India were manufactured by the TATA Group. During these times, Tata Oil Mills Ltd. Co (TOMCO) came up with a new brand of detergent called “OK”. And in order to market their detergent they used the motor medium very effectively by painting OK. This brand had a symbol in the shape of a lotus flower. Thus it became “Horn OK Please”. This carried on for a few years and as times went by the OK sort of became a part of the initial paint itself by the lorry drivers and is still being used by people without knowing its glorious history.
Though this may be the real case, there are plenty of other theories for the “Horn Ok Please” being into existence. One such theory has its roots in the Second World War where trucks were often run on kerosene when there was a shortage of petrol. Kerosene, being highly unstable in nature, would cause the trucks to explode at the slightest accident. Hence a warning would be painted on the back saying "Horn Please, On Kerosene". Gradually this became a norm and is still seen on most trucks even today.
Now the question arises as to why such an age old theory which does not apply today still cause us to use HORN OK PLEASE ? I believe there is a reason for this too apart from tradition.In India we are taught to overtake from right and never from left. So if you wish to overtake from the left, give a HORN so that the driver in front will be intimidated ! If you wish to overtake from the right, PLEASE proceed since the driver will be expecting you And if you wish to stay right behind me, OK. Now this makes sense since HORN is on the left OK is in the middle and PLEASE is on the right so fair enough.I know its kind of silly to probe deep into such a deep into something so small but hey,curiosity is the mother of invention.
See you till i see you ;)
Tejas
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