The Short Rickshaw

November 26, 2009

many children sit inside a cycle rickshaw ready for school - Delhi, India - Daily Travel Photos
(Delhi, India)
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A gaggle of elementary school girls pile into a cycle rickshaw to get their learn on.

In India, education up to a certain point is free (I believe up to middle school). Transportation to education is not. Wake up early enough in the morning and you see a potpourri of methods scraped together to move children to school, often employing techniques that circus clowns would envy.

india school rickshaw
School  Bus Transportation Children Auto Rickshaw Boys Driver - Delhi, India - Daily Travel Photos
(Delhi, India)
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An auto rickshaw driver leisurely finishes a conversation as schoolboys await their ride.

Time is not money in India. Locals frequently waste each other's time with apparent little concern. Traffic operates in a similar manner. Sure, why not make a 19 point u-turn in the middle of a busy alleyway? And please take your time because we all enjoy watching your mastery of a manual transmission.

india school auto rickshaw
School  Bus Transportation Children Van CNG - Delhi, India - Daily Travel Photos
(Delhi, India)
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A van engorged with li'l chitlins awaits a tardy child to emerge from her house.

india school van
School  Bus Transportation Children Cycle Rickshaw Box Prison Preschool - Delhi, India - Daily Travel Photos
(Delhi, India)
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A lone pre-schooler in a modified cycle rickshaw.

Notice the scrapes and structural damage on the top of this death trap. I'm thinking the rickshaw driver lost control a few times and sent the thing rolling like an errant Nascar vehicle. Luckily Indian children are resilient little buggers. Dust 'em off and their ready to go again.

If you've read down this far and you didn't understand the 'short rickshaw' reference, you're probably one of my international viewers. In the US, special needs children often ride a modified, shorter version of a large yellow school bus.

india school cycle rickshaw

4 Comments - The Short Rickshaw

1) Luke -

Nice photos! We made you our favvourite India link of the week:

http://blog.mahindrahomestays.com/tweets-of-the-week-india-travel-on-the-web-round-up-2/

November 27, 2009
2) Holgs -

Nice series of photos! It seems India brings out the best in the photographer!

November 30, 2009
3) TravelGuy -

Thanks y'all!

December 3, 2009
4) Daisuke Sakaguchi -

Dear Mr. Lee

My name is Daisuke Sakaguchi.
I am a TV director of Japanese public broadcasting station, NHK.
I am making a TV program for kids, named “Syakeen!’

In our program, I would like to introduce the way how children go to school in the world. I have been looking for pictures and I found this homepage. I want to introduce the
picture in which Indian children go to school on “The Short Rickshaw”.
I found this picture very very impressive (and clear as well!)!

Could you give me a permission for us to introduce this picture in our program?
We will send you a DVD disc to show your picture is broadcasted in our program.

Please let me know if we can use your picture as soon as possible.
If you have any question, feel free to mail me.

Yours, sincerely...

Daisuke Sakaguchi

March 22, 2010