City in sepia, a photo from West Bengal, East

Photographer's Note

THIS ONE GOES FOR MY FRIEND Shaeri(crckt), a Kolkatan at heart.
..............................

The last sizeable fleet of true rickshaws in India can be found in Kolkata , where the rickshaw puller union resisted their prohibition (which ocurred in many parts of the country , beacuse of accidents) . Several major streets have been closed to rickshaw traffic since 1972, and in 1982 the city seized over 12,000 rickshaws and destroyed them. In 1992, it was estimated that over 30,000 rickshaws were operating in the city, all but 6,000 of them illegally, lacking a license (no new licenses have been issued since 1945). The large majority of rickshaw pullers rent their rickshaws for a few dollars per shift.
In August 2005, the Communist government of West Bengal announced plans to completely ban rickshaws, resulting in protests and strikes of the pullers. (WebIndia, 2005)

They have finally officially been banned in November 2006 by an ordinance of the West Bengal government along with so far pending government promises of rehabitating the poor rickshaw pullers.Still a few of them remain trying to earn their livelihood thru loopholesw of law.

Rickshaw is a very common means of transport in almost every part of India. It is available were you cannot get a taxi, auto or any motorised transport. The rickshaw puller charges around Rs.5 to Rs.30 depending upon the distance which can be anywhere from 1 to 5 km. It is better to negotiate the charge before hiring a rickshaw in India. Rickshaws are also used in denser parts of the cities to ferry cargo.
COURTESY- WIKIPEDIA

japiey, JCG, trekks, stego, Davids, zmey oznaczył to zdjęcie jeko użyteczne

Critiques | Translate

japiey (10163) 2008-04-01 9:46

Hi Sagar,

It's a pity that life is strange there in WB for the poor... These rickshaw pullers are still in N DELHI... I know many from Bihar too engage there for a living pulling these rickshaws... and in PUNJAB-Jhalandhar... there still is ...
WHY THE COMMUNIST BAN THIS IN WB ?

Good document that is to be preserved, a shot.
Maybe, this can't be seen after some time...in INDIA !!
I feel pity for the rulers..
Long live humanitarians.... That's what we need nw.
Beautifully converted to sepia that reveals a bygone atmosphere..
EXCELLENT SHARE OF A TRADITION..
All the best, dear friend.
Keep this spirit high in you...my wishes always :)

jp

wolf38 (30) 2008-04-01 10:46

Hello sagarneel. A classical motive in the classical black-and-white/sepia. It works like an old photo. The photo pleases me very well. Also the composition is exemplary. Best regards, Wolfgang.

hatti52 (12786) 2008-04-02 0:23

Hi Sagarneel,
wonderful daily life shot with sepia tones
thanks for note
regards

jorgi (3810) 2008-04-02 3:46

Hi Sagarneel,

excellent shot! I love this brilliant point of view with rikshaw in foreground and distant view of street turning in upper left corner. I think this is the strongest part of this image, makes it vivid and dynamic, makes it compositionally perfect. And to make it even better, the man driving it looks at that direction. Great shot presented with excellent sepia treatment. Wonderful!

Kind regards,
Jeri

dareco (17136) 2008-04-02 4:11

I love this picture!! Very nice in sepia. It feels like going back in time to look at this. TFS

nabarun (336) 2008-04-02 7:37

hi Sagar!
great shot!

regards,
Nabarun.

dario10 (2765) 2008-04-02 8:02

Hi Sagarneel
very interesting photo,nice colour sepia,good shot the street life,good work
regards dario

JCG (35153) 2008-04-02 8:03

Hi Sagar,

The moment was photographed in 2008 but the image processing gives the impression to us to go up in time, especially when we see the model of the cars. Interesting framing on this rickshaw and its owner. A job which must be very difficult under the conditions of circulation of India. Thank you for the interesting note.

With all my friendships and with soon,

Jean-Charles

trekks (14348) 2008-04-02 9:46

hi Sagar

Candid and nice shot of this street scene in sepia, very good to see how life is. This must be old part of city?

Traffic looks a bit disorganized. I would probably shoot a wider view, not to crop the bottom wheel.

Good work. TFS
bill

crckt (7222) 2008-04-02 9:48

Hi Sagarneel,
I think you should also mention that not all rickshaws are banned, only the ones pulled by people, not the cycle rickshaws. The idea of a man pulling a man seems inhuman to me. I think that was the thought behind banning them. These rickshaw pullers should be compensated with a cycle rickshaw of their own. Certain parts of Calcutta don't allow any kind of rickshaws and the reason behind that is traffic problems.
Good shot of a scene soon to be forgotten. I like the sepia.
Regards,
Shaeri

nirvana73 (0) 2008-04-02 12:42

Hi Sagarneel,
yoru color choise is beautiful
nice compo and POV
tfs
regards
Ozhan

stego (24132) 2008-04-02 15:16

Hi Sagarneel,
It's a compelling image, that seems to have come from the past, as even the cars look much of the 1950's (ambassadors, right?). The POV is very well chosen and the sepia and high contrast suits well the subject. Maybe it was better if you had included the whole wheel and that the head of the rickshaw wallah stand out mor from the dark BG, but that doesn't look achievable.
I guess that the issue of banning the rickshaws is two folded, as on one hand that avoids accidents and ends a hard work, but on the other hand it may result in ending the only means of subsistence of many poor people. I felt something like that the only times I used non-motorised rickshaws, in India and Nepal: I didn't feel comfortable being carried by a man, but on the other hand, I guess the money I paid for the ride was much welcome by the rickshaw wallahs.
Regards, José.

AKITA (15125) 2008-04-02 17:06

Dear Sagarneel,
a nice old style picture, just like viewing old and good scene in Japan.
a jinrikisha (=rickshaw) is now re-born for sightseeing in Japan. yesterday I met many jinrikishas in Otaru. of course I like it, because it is slow.
thank you,
Akihisa

Angshu (56760) 2008-04-03 0:27

Good idea to convert it to sepia. These rickshaws are timeless & sepia suits fine. You've shown two Kolkata landmarks here, the rickshaw & the Ambassador. Nice work!
Best Wishes
Angshumanda

PixelTerror (0) 2008-04-03 1:25

Hi Sagarneel
I like old postcards and with this PP you managed to give here an excellent vintage feeling to this nice street perspective, the rickshaw is txpical of course but also the car further down the road. Well done !
Have a nice day JY

Davids (56) 2008-04-03 6:12

Sagarneel,
It is always a pleasure to look at your posts, and I enjoyed reading the note very much.
Wonderfull streetphoto, great story. The use of sepia is very effective. Beautifull perspective in the background.
Wish I could work in India for a while :)
kind regards from Riga,
wishing you the best!

David
(thanks ;) for sharing)

Merline (0) 2008-04-06 8:07

This one is a welcome change in your gallery! I love the choice of b/w sepia tone, the plays of the light, the shadow, the true feeling of street life that comes out. Well composed too, you put us as close watchers in the action, just a bit of wheel missing, but it's difficult to catch these moments I do find, I often miss bits here and there because I am in a hurry:-).

Warm regards from Belgium
Michčle

zmey (7335) 2008-04-10 6:15

hello sagarneel

a nice sepia dedication to this ancient mode of indian transportation. the sepia in this case does throw us back into time. a very trek-earthy shot and note in my opinion.

with warm regards,
kristaps

mksubba (12) 2008-04-29 7:09

Hi Sagar

Good to see you again here in TE, never knew about the rules so shall remember it now.

About your shot here, it really looks so very original... the theme and the composition its so vey strong. We every indian is very well acquainted with the scene in any part of our Country, the daily scene with Richshaws.

mk subba