Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
Thiruvananthapuram
Visakhapatnam
For 40 years with a cycle rickshaw
|
Cycle rickshaw are a rarity in the city now. But Raman chettan has been on it for the last 40 years and is still at it, carrying kids to school. SUNIL NALIYATH follows him with his camera and talks to him about life at 75 on a cycle rickshaw.
|
ECO-FREAKS RATE the unassuming cycle-rickshaw as the vehicle of the future. However, its humble looks do not overshadow its utility. But it is ironical that oil-conservationists' attention has not fallen on this `desi' mode of transport so far. They rather prefer to ponder over the issue only at seminars, it seems. Given the fact that it has certain demerits, one being its speed, this mode of transport still remains the confluence of too many elements that are typically characteristic of India and her culture. While most of the Indian cities are still flooded with cycle-rickshaws, the city of Kochi has probably one or two left. Raman is oine of the few cyclerickshaw-wallahs in town.
For almost four decades Raman chettan, as he is affectionately called by all, has been pedalling his cycle-rickshaw on the streets of Kochi. He took on this vocation when the streets of Kochi were less crowded and did not come under the assault of auto-rickshaws. He bought it for Rs 1000 from Santhosh Cycle Co that had its office near Banerji Road. And surprisingly, till this day he has been using the same cycle-rickshaw. For necessary repairs Raman-chettan takes his jalopy to Kaloor where Vincent, a former mechanic with the Santhosh Cycle Co., patiently attends to it.
"In those days I used to buy a single tyre for a meagre amount of Rs 10 but today I pay Rs 120 for a tyre and tube," reveals Raman-chettan stoically. Gone are the days when hoards of cycle-rickshaws used to line-up in front of Ernakulam Junction railway station to receive the passengers alighting from the trains. The areas adjoining the Boat Jetty also had a similar tale to narrate. Passengers never used to bargain and even the rickshaw-wallahs never thought it courteous to bill them exorbitantly.
"And cycle-rickshaws used to ply on the streets of Kochi throughout day and night," states Raman-chettan.
In it's hey days more than 500 cycle-rickshaws used to ply in Kochi. But with the onslaught of auto-rickshaws and various other modes of transport, the cycle-rickshaws were forced to make an unceremonious exit.
Spares are a big problem these days. Once Raman-chettan had to wait for two long months to get a spare part of the cycle-rickshaw replaced. As a young rickshaw-puller Raman-chettan had even cycled to distant places like Edakochi, carrying passengers. But today even with fewer passengers Raman-chettan unhesitatingly pedals to earn his bread. All his peers hung their boots long back, but the 75 year old Raman-chettan still carries on with his business. ... ..
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
Thiruvananthapuram
Visakhapatnam
|
