Daijiworld Media Network - Moodbidri

Moodbidri, March 26: A bus plying in the streets of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, proudly displays the word ‘Bedra’ written in Kannada on its rear window.

The bus is owned by Mohammad Ali, a resident of Kallabettu in the Moodbidri taluk, who has taken the love for his hometown to the streets of Saudi Arabia.

Ali, who has been living in Saudi Arabia for several years, runs a bus service that transports pilgrims to holy sites such as Makkah (Mecca) and Madinah (Medina). Apart from this, he rents the bus out for other business purposes. His bus, however, has caught the attention of many for its unique name: ‘Bedra,’ which is the Tulu word for Moodbidri.

Originally from the village of Pillipanjara in Kallabettu, Mohammad Ali used to run an auto service in his hometown under the name ‘Kohinoor.’ When he moved to Saudi Arabia, he continued the tradition by naming his bus ‘Kohinoor,’ a name that has now become synonymous with his transport service in Jeddah. However, his deep affection for his roots in Moodbidri inspired him to label his bus with the name ‘Bedra.’

In an interview with Kannada Prabha, Mohammad Ali shared, "Bedra is my hometown. I studied here and became successful. The love and pride I feel for my birthplace have led me to display ‘Bedra’ on my bus in Jeddah. There are many people from Moodbidri here in Saudi, and I wanted to share my affection for my hometown by displaying this name."

The image of his bus, marked with the name ‘Bedra,’ has since gone viral on social media, resonating with many who share a similar bond with their roots.