Call it elitist, call it against humanism.. shunned by most part of the world, Hand pulled Richshaws are a vibrant reality on the street of Kolkata. The last government wished to rehabilitate the rickshaw pullers, not mentioning exactly how they would proceed with the idea. The Rickshaw pullers have now become a part of the heritage of Calcutta, of which we can insanely boast of. It has attracted lovers, poets, writers and have become an inspirational storyline to Rudyard Kipling, Dominique Lapierre… while films like “Do beegha zameen”, and the “city of Joy” had a prominent character of the rickshaw in their story.
The government has no proper plans to rehabilitate, parents find their kids easily transported to their schools, Calcutta is able to keep on to the inhuman custom.. while the vast majority of rickshaw pullers from the state of Bihar find some occupation.. Where are we actually standing?
Photograph courtesy : Anirban Saha Photography
