The words adroitly painted on the back of public transports like bus, truck and autorickshaw are enough to entertain you for free. These words, phrases or sentences are hard to be categorised under any literary genre.

Sometimes, it is a motto like "Satatai sorbotkrishto pantha (Honesty is the best policy)" that seems clichéd. Sometimes, it is just a social campaign. Phrases like Chhoto poribar, shukhi poribar (A small family is a happy family) contribute to creating awareness about population control. Also, the message -- Apnar shishuke school e pathan (Send your child to school) -- shows awareness about child education.

Some words are wrapped in emotion: Mayer Doa (Mother's blessings) or Baba-mayer ashirbad (Parents' blessings) or Khaja babar doa (Blessings of a saint). The words reflect the traditional values nurtured by the Bangalees.

You might have read a common caution written on the back of almost all Mishuks plying city roads. The appeal -- Ami chhoto, amake marben na (I am small, please don't hit me) -- reveals the vehicle's constant fear of collision with other vehicles. "We write these words as a plea to bigger vehicles, as these three-wheelers cannot sustain any collision," said Hamid Miah, a Mishuk driver.

Buses and trucks are often blamed for running over people. Bus drivers and truckers write cautions like "Keep distance of 100 yards". You will feel it better to follow their advice to be on the safe side. More often the trucks flaunt their speed by writing sentences like Tora shobai amar pechhone (All of you are behind me).

Some phrases are funny enough to make you giggle. Phrases like Shukh naire pagol ...(Happiness disappeared), Jonmo theke jolchhi, (Suffering from birth) and Eto kachhe eshona, lojja lage (Don't come so near, it makes me blush) expose a philosophical bent of mind or sense of humour of the driver or owner.

The eternal query like Chacha Dhaka kotodur? (Uncle, how far is Dhaka?) is the one that should not go unnoticed. Think about a big truck with an outrageous sentence like Dulabhai, samne dekhen (Look ahead, brother-in-law). Do they really make sure that driving is safe?