Human horses - a harsh reality

The hand -drawn rickshaw was invented in Japan in the second half of the 16th century. It was introduced to India in 1880, first to Shimla, which was the summer capital of the British Viceroy, and afterwards to Kolkata. By about 1914, hand-drawn rickshaws were no more a nobleman’s luxury but a major form of public transport.

In modern times, slow moving vehicles like the hand-drawn rickshaws are not allowed on the main roads anymore. So rickshaws in Kolkata are found mostly in the older northern part of the city, a means of transport for those, who are not in a hurry.

Rickshaws are no longer the preferred means of transport in a fast moving city. But they become useful in a water logged city during the monsoon or when you have to reach your destination by circumventing a traffic jam.

Even hand-drawn rickshaws need to be maintained and serviced once in a while. The men who repair them are expert craftsmen and their skills are passed down from father to son.

Rickshaws are still made exactly like in the old days. These typical rickshaw wheels have a metal hub and wooden spokes. The outer rim is also wooden, covered with rubber strips.

For the comfort of the passenger, the seats are padded with cushions. No synthetic foam, but dried hay is used. This makes rickshaws very comfortable.

Hand-drawn rickshaws remain a part of old Kolkata. Many famous films were made on rickshaws, like Bimal Roy’s ‘Do Bigha Zamin’ or ‘The City of Joy’ by Roland Joffé. However, many people find it inhuman that a person has to pull another person just to earn a living.

So will the job of rickshaw puller survive like many other cultural relics in Kolkata? No-one can answer that question right now. Only time will tell.