In the 1960's, Pakistan's economic boom included a great expansion of the transport industry. The British-built Bedford truck with its seven-foot panelled sides became the truck of choice because of its indestructibility, which enabled it to haul loads of up to twenty tons for twenty-five years and more. When Vauxhall stopped production of the Bedford trucks in the early Nineties, Japanese imports like Hino and Nissan supplanted them, but despite their superiority, drivers are nostalgic about the old Bedfords. As the owners' wealth increased during the 60s and 70s, and they jostled for business, truck decoration became more and more elaborate.
Now in the twenty-first century, truck art has reached some kind of apogee, an explosion of brilliant colour, and executed with great skill and inventiveness. All arts including paintings is an embodiment of an everlasting beauty. It gives a joy that is permanent and unfading and has an eternal impact on the human mind. Likewise, the art on the truck panels is static and unchanging and represents the world of art. When we look at such arts on our streets and roads, we pass from the world of transience to that of permanence for a while. Let us hope these traditions will be handed down to subsequent generations of artists.
Question 1: What were the characteristics of the British-built Bedford truck that made it the truck of choice during Pakistan's economic boom in the 1960s?
Answer: The British-built Bedford truck was chosen during Pakistan's economic boom in the 1960s because of its indestructibility, specifically its ability to haul loads of up to twenty tons for twenty-five years or more due to its seven-foot panelled sides.
Question 2: How did the transition to Japanese imports like Hino and Nissan affect the trucking industry in Pakistan, as described in the passage?
Answer: The transition to Japanese imports like Hino and Nissan supplanted the British-built Bedford trucks in the early Nineties. Despite the superiority of these Japanese trucks, drivers remained nostalgic about the old Bedfords.
Question 3: How did truck decoration evolve during the 1960s and 1970s, according to the passage?
Answer: During the 1960s and 1970s, as owners' wealth increased and competition for business intensified, truck decoration became more elaborate.
Question 4: How does the passage describe the state of truck art in the twenty-first century?
Answer: In the twenty-first century, truck art is described as having reached an apogee, characterized by an explosion of brilliant color executed with great skill and inventiveness.
Question 5: What comparison is drawn between truck art and other forms of art, according to the passage?
Answer: The passage compares truck art to other forms of art, stating that like all arts, including paintings, truck art embodies everlasting beauty and has a permanent and unfading impact on the human mind.
Question 6: What is the author's hope regarding the traditions of truck art, as expressed in the passage?
Answer: The author expresses hope that the traditions of truck art will be handed down to subsequent generations of artists.
