Halloween Party

Re#81 by kidbeegorilla

[… talent to write..]

Thanks, Rajeshwari. I would like to return the compliment in double – your last piece was extremely good – the metaphors were exquisite – that frying pan really sizzled!

But even more than that, you have a NATURAL talent for humor – an extremely, extremely rare commodity, especially in these parts – where it is so sorely needed!

Can we look forward to a piece along those lines from you? I highly recommend it.

Re#82 by kidbeegorilla
[… talent to write..]

What’s the matter?! Can’t read the above!

Beej, you have the talent to write. That is rare.

Beej, you have the talent to write. That is rare.

Re#79 Nandan

Dear Nandan,

Thanks for liking this little story.

There were two reasons for appending that Hawthorne article to the interacts: (1) to counter some of our dear Delhi-ite’s sweeping statements regarding a particular region of the country by emphasizing that others have done similar things to his beloved Delhi, and (2) to emphasize that the beauty or even “beauty” of a person or place lies in the eyes of who sees it. We can see very different things even if the object is exactly the same.

[…But what is big idea quoting this American jerk Lou Hawthorne .. …who gives … the right to judge us.He comes across as a racist Gora with a scant regard for everything not american or white.]

I would not rush to judge that person based on what he writes in that one article. Human beings are a lot more complex. Please keep in mind that he came all the way to India and visited several parts – for a reason – he was seeking something which he thought could be satisfied in India and perhaps only in India. He got overwhelmed by the intensity of his experiences there – not everyone has the same ability to adapt – I have a feeling that perhaps unknown to him at the time, the experiences actually helped him grow as a person – I doubt that he retained those strong feelings over the long run – most of us constantly readjust our thinking – until we are dead – it is a virtual requirement for those who wish to stay alive – physically, emotionally, or otherwise. I agree he has a highly provocative style – like the reference to the size and build of Indians – but if those facts are statistically correct what’s the big deal? – and if incorrect, we can always counter those.

And then, don’t WE ourselves do things inside India which are similar to what this guy does here – all the time?

We make wholesale generalization based on region, religion, caste, creed, language, you name it… as always, the data points we base such sweeping conclusions on are either few or non-existent. (In a way, your reference to “Gora” is along the same lines – though mild.) Some of which were quite evident even on this board – but still perhaps in a less intense form than on several parallel boards even now. The individuality and uniqueness of each one of those fine specimens – that greatest creation of the greatest Creator – gets lost somewhere.

Sincerely,
Beej.

Dear beej,

it was a nice article, touching.....really.But what is big idea quoting this American jerk Lou Hawthorne .. who gives me the F... right to judge us .He comes across as a racist Gora with a scant regard for everything not american or white.

True there are many things about us which are disgusting....but there are a lot of things about America which disgust me even more.

Regards
Nandan

An excerpt from my i-log of today–

“....Those shades of gray and those many hues of beauty are not intrinsic to that dog-eared book that we hold in our hands – it is a part of us – yet at first we are only able to see it through the story as the medium. The story is that mirror – a magic mirror, for sure – but a mirror nevertheless! The story speaks to us – in a language that we feel we understand at some level – a language we sometimes did not know that we knew – a little like a piece of art, in prose.

Those characters in stories, their acts, and their little lives and their little events talk to us. They can talk to us even when they don’t attract us – like the times we don’t too much like what we see – after all we all have pre-conceived images of what we are like. Could that strange creature staring back from those pages have any resemblance to what we carry in our heads? The gut reaction is – no way! And those thoughts – and those deeds – could they ever have been ours – or could EVER be ours – or have been ours? Absolutely never – we tell ourselves emphatically!

Yet, the separation is not as wide as we would like to think. That image in there is a lot closer than we imagine – in fact, it’s absolutely too close for comfort for many!

Our lives never follow a smooth trajectory – or it would be an extremely boring life! Its zig-zag nature results from the series of choices that WE make at various points – some good, and some that we would rather forget – at a later time, of course.

The lucky ones get to make their own choices! Not every one has the same degree of luck. The ends would not be much different either. What stands the test of time is also what represents the best part of us individuals – and unlike time, it waits for us – every one of us, until there is nobody left to wait for, until only the husk remains!

Until it’s time to go!”

Government involvement, especially of the regulatory kind, does not necessarily benefit the situation!

An excerpt from the Introduction portion of the India edition of the report Economic Freedom of the World 2004, published by the Centre for Civil Society web-site.

Economic Freedom and Making a Living on the Street

Many assume that economic freedom matters only to the rich; the poor have hardly any economic means and therefore have little use for economic freedom. The reality is exactly the opposite. Consider cycle-rickshaw pullers and street vendors in the cities and towns of India.

Delhi has approximately 500,000 cycle-rickshaws providing an affordable and accessible transportation service to the poor. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi has mandated that rickshaws have to be licensed and only 90,000 licences shall be given out. More than 80% of the cyclerickshaws are illegal. This government created illegality exposes the pullers to constant harassment and extortion. One study suggests that on average a bribe of Rs. 200 per month per cycle rickshaw is paid. Even the licensed rickshaws have to pay up. The government functionaries extort Rs. 100,000,000 (Rs. 10 crores) a month from the cycle-rickshaw pullers! Delhi’s about 600,000 street vendors operate without the necessary license and pay up about Rs. 120,000,000 (Rs. 12 crore). This is the burden of the licensepermit raj—of economic unfreedom—on the poorest of the poor in Delhi.

During municipal raids, which occur regularly on a weekly or monthly basis, the goods, hand cart, weighing balance and other equipment, as well as rickshaws are impounded. Once the rickshaw is seized, it takes 5-15 days and more bribes to get it released. During these days, the puller loses his means of livelihood. Because of these problems and uncertainties created by the licensing system, the pullers prefer to rent than own the rickshaw. More than 90% of rickshaws in Delhi are rented and not owned. This is despite Delhi’s law that the owner and the driver of the rickshaw must be the same person. The law obviously intends to promote ownership and limit exploitation of rickshaw pullers by middlemen. But the licensing system has created a situation where hardly anyone desires to own his cycle-rickshaw. The law was supposed to outlaw the middleman, but only the middlemen own rickshaws.

The actual outcome is exactly opposite to what was intended by the law. This conflict between intentions and results is so common in the case of economic regulations and restrictions that it is enshrined into a law: The Law of Unintended Consequences.

Should we do away with the license raj for rickshaws, give them the freedom to earn an honest living without the fear of illegality? Despite the severe harm caused by the licensing system, many raise the spectre of rickshaws clogging the roads of the city if the system were abolished. They fear rampant growth in the number of rickshaws. Let us first ask why are there 5 lac rickshaws in Delhi? And not 4 lac or 6 lac? Because the market demand is for 5 lac rickshaws. It is simple supply and demand. The licensed capacity is 90,000, but what impact did it have on the actual number of rickshaws? If the capacity were 70,000 or 1.5 lac, how many rickshaws would actually be on the road? About 5 lac! Irrespective of whatever the government decides, the people get what they demand—5 lac rickshaws.

The license regime does not really control the number of rickshaws in the city; it does not serve any purpose in traffic or congestion management. It does however serve one purpose, probably the only purpose: it makes the rickshaw business illegal and therefore open to extortion and harassment. Shouldn’t we abolish this inhumane system? The government restrictions over legitimate economic activities and therefore the lack of economic freedom hurt the poor far more than the rich. The rich have the means to buy their freedom; the poor will always be at the mercy of the system. (The same logic applies to street vendors, small shopkeepers—all the entry-level professions where entry is restricted by government.)

Some trivia on rickshaws in the show-biz – how dull life would be without wikipedia!

The 1936 novel Luotuo Xiangzi by Lao She describes the life of a rickshaw runner in Beijing in the 1920s. The English version Rickshaw Boy became a U.S. bestseller in 1945; it was an unauthorized translation that added a happy ending to the story. In 1982, the original version was made into a film of the same title.

The 1953 Bollywood film Do Bigha Zameen, directed by Bimal Roy, describes the fate of an impoverished farmer who becomes a rickshaw puller in Kolkata.

The 1990s Telugu movie titled Orey Rickshaw (Orey literally means “Hey”, though in a derogatory tone) where the tone of the story sympathizes with the downtrodden.

In the 1992 film City of Joy (whose title refers to Kolkata), Om Puri plays a rickshaw puller, revealing the economic and emotional hardship that these underpaid workers face on a day-to-day basis.

The 1995 movie Cyclo, by Vietnamese director Tran Anh Hung, centers around a cycle rickshaw driver.

The 2004 Bollywood movie Main Hoon Na, starring Shahrukh Khan, has a climactic ending with the hero on a cycle rickshaw racing an SUV full of terrorists downhill.

In the episode The Bookstore of the American sitcom Seinfeld, Kramer and Newman import rickshaws to New York City, for the purpose of running a business. They intend to employ members of the city’s homeless population; however, one steals their rickshaw. The two recover the rickshaw, and Newman forces Kramer to transport him uphill, a voyage Kramer is unable to make.

Rickshavodu (Rickshaw Guy) is another Telugu movie starring Chiranjeevi in the lead roles.

This is an excerpt from the “expert advice” provided by technewsworld on travel tips to India and Pakistan.

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…..
How To Take a Rickshaw

Both India and Pakistan have three-wheeled contraptions called auto rickshaws that are cheaper than regular taxis. Auto rickshaws can be bumpy, noisy and more exposed to the weather than cabs. They can also be more fun.

Auto rickshaws do not have meters in Pakistan. In some parts of India, the auto rickshaws have meters, with fares determined as multiples of what the meter might indicate.

There are still huge Chinese-style hand drawn rickshaws in Kolkata, most of whose drivers are reportedly consumptive, or like my siblings, have had TB in the past. Traditional rickshaws are often the best way to travel around during floods. The rickshaw drivers know where the open manholes are and can avoid them.

Rickshaws are restricted to certain zones in Kolkata, requiring a negotiated transfer to another rickshaw when crossing into another zone. Outside of the downtown area, bicycle rickshaws supplant the hand pulled ones. Hand drawn rickshaws are usually more expensive than bicycle rickshaws, but worth it.

Pay attention to the local geography. Several times in New Delhi, I’ve had auto rickshaw drivers purposely go off in the wrong direction on the ring roads at night, in order to boost their fares.

Auto rickshaw drivers are less likely than cab drivers to speak English. Learn the words for yes, no, left, right, forward, and stop in the local language where you are traveling. Write the words down and keep them with you. Using Hindi or Urdu in South India is not always appreciated.

In Pakistan, I used to say: “If you don’t know how to say something in Urdu, say it in Arabic.” However, some Egyptian engineers who I was traveling with last month were having so much trouble communicating in Arabic and Urdu that they finally just stuck to English, since English is widely known in urban areas in Pakistan.

The auto rickshaw design is over 45 years old. There is a newer type of three-wheeled vehicle in Pakistan that is pronounced ching-gee and sometimes spelled qingqi. They have two rows of narrow seats and are more exposed than an auto rickshaw.

Qingqis have more capacity than auto rickshaws and sometimes follow routes where they collect fares from multiple passengers. For one or two travelers, auto rickshaws might be more suitable than qingqis.

Very nice story Beej, while i must admit, i found the reading the interacts much more enjoyable.
prostitutes, beggers, top-notch-scotch OHH MY!

keep it cynical.

grift

Some interesting historical information….

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History of the Pedicab
(Courtesy: Pop’s Pedicab web site)

Beginnings

The modern day pedicab evolved from the Jinrikisha (literally: “man powered car”) introduced in Yokohama Japan by Baptist Missionary Johnathan Goble in 1871 (1) . The explosion of the Jinrikisha or “rickshaw”, as a means of economical transportation is credited to Akiha Daisuke who made several improvements upon the original model. While there are vague references (illustrations and art) to a similar human drawn vehicle operating in France in the mid-seventeenth century, the concept never really took hold in Europe. It is thought that a combination of poor timing and a lack of technology were principal reasons for it’s absence. (2)

The Jinrikisha replaced the Kago, a litter carried on poles on the shoulders of two men, as a more efficient and convienent form of transportation. By 1874 the human pulled rickshaw was exported throughout Asia and their numbers were growing every year. At the height of their popularity near the end of the nineteenth century, there were close to 200,000 rickshaws in Japan. (3) The first cycle rickshaws began to appear in Singapore in the late 1920’s (4) and Thailand in the early 1930’s (5) , these were called “Trishaws” based on their tricycle design. The trishaws became most popular during WW II as a means of providing efficient transportation while dealing with fuel shortages during the war.

Just as the Jinrikisha replaced the Kago, the cycle-rickshaw began to replace it’s human-pulled counterpart. By the mid-twentieth century, most of the traditional Jinriksha had been forced out of business either by government bans, competition from the cycle-rickshaws or other more modern forms of rapid transportation.

A Rose is a Rose...

The cycle-rickshaw can be found in many countries with some basic consistency of design features. Known by many different names, they are all variations of the modern day Pedicab. Tony Wheeler and Richard l’Anson provide an excellent history of the rickshaw in text and pictures in their book “Chasing Rickshaws”. From the jacket notes: “Whether it’s called a trishaw, sidecar, pedicab, cyclo or becak, it’s the true Asian taxicab”

Arrested Development

Little has changed in the design and construction of the cycle-rickshaw over the last 50 years, Wheeler addresses this in his text and points to the following factors: (6)

Colonialism. Little pre-WW ll trade between locales where cycle-rickshaws were popular and the isolation of individual countries that occurred during the war forced each country to rely upon their own design interpretations.

No large scale production. Production was very localized and generally consisted of assembling an array of available parts. No one manufacturer ever made enough to really push for improved design features.

Design Compromise. In many instances, cycle-rickshaws were built using standard bicycle parts that were ill suited for the rigors of the cycle-rickshaw.

In recent years, design issues have been addressed as we have seen the introduction of ridgid one-piece frames, rear differentials, front and rear brakes, the use of hydraulic disk brakes and electronic assist. But these advances come at a cost and the modern day pedicab manufactured in the West complete with all these features can cost 10 times that of a new traditional cycle-rickshaw made in the East.

Perhaps the high cost of these newer pedicabs is a driving force in the alternative designs that are available and in use by modern day cabbies, too, it may be a primary reason the industry is structured the way it is. The similarities between the current pedicab industry and that of the Jinrikisha, are remarkable. Many drivers lease or rent their cabs from a fleet owner, paying a flat fee or a percentage of daily profits (or both) because they cannot afford to own their own cab outright, a structure common among Jinrikisha pullers of old. Likewise, many of the current issues surrounding pedicab regulation, licensing, creating traffic congestion and overall driver behavior are no different than the essential complaints local administrations had with Jinrikishas and their pullers at the turn of the century.

References Cited

1. “The Jinrikisha Story: Harnessing Man in an Age of Enlightenment”,The East, November-December 1996, page 6. http://www.mmjp.or.jp/the-east/jinrikisha1-e.html, (22 January 2005)

2. Tony Wheeler & Richard l’Anson, Chasing Rickshaws, (Victoria, Australia: Lonely Planet Pulbications , Pty Ltd.) 1998, page 180

3. Wheeler, Rickshaws, page 180.

4. Wheeler, Rickshaws, page 183.

5. Lao Long, “Culture: Rickshaw”, 02 June 2003, , (23 January 2005)

6. Wheeler, Rickshaws, pages 184-185.

Re#69 by srao

[WHY DID YOU WRITE THIS ARTICLE ABOUT RICKSHAWALE? WHY NOT PROSTITUTES OR BEGGARS THAT NEED MORE HELP THAN THESE PEOPLE.]

(further thoughts)

We are all a bunch of sales people in one way or other. Most people sell some skill or talent – whether developed through training or God-given – and which is available to us only for a limited time. Those who run out of wares end up having a problem.

The uneducated rickshaw puller is just one example – but chances are that education is just ONE of the empowerment devices – not every one who is uneducated will end up pedaling those vehicles – some will figure other ways to survive – some will mooch off better-to-do relatives – some will take up other manual work – some will join a gang of criminals – some petty criminals only – all different ways to sell what they still have available – a functional physical body!

Then there could be women (and perhaps some men) in similar situations who would have little available to sell except their bodies to predators who specialize in that act!

When even that option is not available – some would simply beg!

And it is not just based on whether people come from a “rich” country or a “poor” country. Beggars and prostitutes can be present anywhere.

I don’t think it makes sense to rank these groups in terms of their needs and pick and choose on the basis of categorization. There may be individual cases where the needs may be more desperate than those of others.

Re#69 by srao

[WHY DID YOU WRITE THIS ARTICLE ABOUT RICKSHAWALE? WHY NOT PROSTITUTES OR BEGGARS THAT NEED MORE HELP THAN THESE PEOPLE.]

A rickshaw-wala (not to be confused with Delhiwala (photographic evidence notwithstanding)) is just one type of person that some people (you, for example) may think needs “help”! I suppose many would agree with you – because there is perhaps little doubt that they present a classic case of “underdogs” – who by definition would be considered deserving.

Deciding on the extent and the exact form of such help is where the problem comes in.

How much help? Does everybody need the same amount of help? Does everyone develop the same extent of dependency when “help” is being provided. Does the help really get to where it is needed or does it instead mostly get expended in sustaining a vast bureaucracy? Some of these are in reality rhetorical question because we all know the answer already – not all fingers were created with the same capability and resourcefulness. Also, is government the best agent for such change – my instincts do not trust the government – I would like the government to meddle as little in our lives as possible!

Therefore, what the exact detailed solutions are, I don’t know! I’m just a janitor. There are plenty of folks here who seem to specialize in such matters!

But I DO know this – when one sees a problem, one doesn’t close one’s eyes to it. And no matter what one were taught and no matter in what way one were brought up – one must never avert one’s eyes from obvious injustices – one does not need to wear an ideological label – and one does not need to fit ANY particular ideological profile.

I know that’s a prerequisite for ANY solution.

Re#70 Kiddo
[…are you a socialist?....]

Please see the response above.

#66, you are right about the wholesale stereotyping. That is sad as well.

cycle rickshaws though seem to be getting rare. I wouldn`t say beggars or prostitutes need more or less help, it`s not fair to equate things. Besides, people don`t really need help, they need resources. Once you make something available to a person, they generally know what to do with it, and it won`t take them long to figure out how to benefit themselves with it. I know it sounds simplistic, but its true. If Raju had an education, he may not have found a job and maybe would still end up peddling a rickshaw, but he would know better than to buy a clay piggy bank that had breakage potential. He might have been able to sign a chit at a local Grameen Bank with the words ``Savings Account`` on it.

Beej, are you a socialist? I know I`m not.

Re: # 68
You have divulged and not answered my Question.

let me try again.

WHY DID YOU WRITE THIS ARTICLE ABOUT RICKSHAWALE? WHY NOT PROSTITUTES OR BEGGARS THAT NEED MORE HELP THAN THESE PEOPLE.

Re#67 by delhiwala

[What is your obsession with Rickshaw Wale?
Did someone dump you in the slums of Monghyr?]

Dear Delhiwala,

Unfortunately, I have not been to that Bihar city – I am thrilled to learn of your familiarity with it – it’s my understanding that the residents of that city have distinguished themselves through their strength – they are known to “boldly go where no men have gone before” – to faraway places (but mostly to other cities within Bihar) – and established themselves in no uncertain terms through the sheer strength of their strength! It’s incorrect to call that city a slum – any more than to call MANY other parts of the subcontinent slums!

There is no “obsession” on my part with the rickshaw pullers – have you ever seen me talk of them before? However, the board you are on currently – and the story that appears above – make the life of a rickshaw puller the appropriate and legitimate topic for discussion – and that’s what I am trying to do – to take even inane and ignoramus interacts (yours, for example) and somehow forcibly turn them into something meaningful which is relevant to this topic.

That brings me to my question – from you!

What is it about the life of a poor rickshaw puller that arouses such a high level of hostility in you – a level of hostility that causes you to make repeated visits here – in multiple forms, if one is to guess – and repeatedly try to denounce the messenger!!

Is it a childhood experience of some kind, Delhiwala?

Or (more likely) a sense of guilt at not doing ANYTHING – which enrages you – enrages you at this trivial chronicler – since you have no desire to be reminded of the plight of those individuals. (Don’t try to hide it – the outrage that you expressed in your first interact was not directed at me – and has not been unnoticed. It’s too late to cover it up now!)

Relax, Delhiwala dear – nobody is blaming YOU for the problem.

This write-up is NOT about you, after all!

Sincerely,
Beej.