Roberto D’Andrea worked as a tram conductor in Melbourne before the machines replaced the ticketing systems that we use today.
In the 1990’s Melbourne had an eccentric tribe of ticket selling tram conductors affectionately called 'Connies'. During the decade, Melbourne's Connies were replaced by automated ticket machines and Roberto played an active trying to save the Connies from extinction.
It was in 1994, Roberto first visited Kolkatta, a city in India which still used tramways.
“As it's often said crisis brings people together and that is exactly what happened between Melbourne and Kolkata! I introduced myself with a bit of tram theatre and got hijacked by a group of Calcutta trammies,” shares Roberto who became friends with tram workers based at Belgathcia Tram Depot in Kolkatta.
Over 20 years, Roberto’s chance meeting with tram workers in Kolkatta has blossomed into a new and a unique friendship between fraternity based in two cities.
Roberto, who was fighting the automated machines in Melbourne, learnt of how Kolkatta tramways were under threat of full closure, from his friends at Belgatchia tram depot.
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He joined their fight to save their trams and that is how tramjatra started.
“I came back home and met Michael Douglas, a designer professor from RMIT and we designed ‘Tramjatra’ together,” Roberto tells SBS Hindi.
The duo designed ‘tramjatra’ an experience where the trams were painted and decorated and the tram conductors put up a cultural performance with dance, drama and poetry during the tram ride, thus providing an unique experience to tram travellers in Kolkatta.
“We saved the trams from being taken off road. They got a new lease of life, an extension,” Roberto says proudly.
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In last 20 years, 12 trams have been part of tramjatra.
Roberto’s story was captured by Kolkatta-based filmmaker Mahadeb Shi, an equally passionate supporter of Kolkatta trams.
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Shi’s documentary ‘Tramjatra’ was shown on the closing night at Indian Film Festival of Melbourne.
“The film takes a metaphoric journey and explores how new linkages can be made through a public arts practice and inter-cultural collaboration and it celebrates 20 years of tramways friendship between Kolkata and Melbourne through a unique journey called ‘tramjatra’,” Shi says.
“Tramjatra explores the idea that an urban transport system is not simply a mechanical means of ferrying its citizens, it's also an environmentally friendly people mixer, a means of urban bonding and active ingredient in the cultural life of our communities,” Roberto says.
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Tramjatra will come to Melbourne for six months in October 2017.
