Requiem to the Rickshaw

The World is on the fast track. And Muniswamy struggles to keep pace with it. Pedaling the cycle rickshaw in Triplicane and in between puffs of bidi, he speaks out, “Naanga Paava Patta Janmangal. Cars, buses and auto have almost pushed us off the roads”.

“Till the 1980s, we did good business sometimes plying 20 customers in a day. There was enough for the family,” he says recalling the happy days. Now he ekes out a living running errands for a few shopkeepers, until he gets a ‘good soul’ who wants to hire his rickety contraption.

What happened to all the rickshawallahs? Many turned to rag-picking some became coolies and others, thanks to the construction boom, found odd jobs at such sites. A significant number of them got crushed by the burden of debts and penury. The lucky few learnt to drive autos and few like Muniswamy still struggle for two square meals a day.

Even till the 1970s, hand-pulled rickshawa were all over town. Then a government move ensured better times and the cycle rickshaws rolled out. Alas, now they seem to be anachronistic. Today, they are found in very few places in Chennai including Triplicane, Parrys Corner, Waltax Road, Thiruvanmiyur. The odd ones if you’re lucky may be found close to the railway stations. Staying close to the vegetable and fish markets, their main business comes from the traders who ply their stuff from the godowns to market place. For short distances, the rickshaw is still a better option. Affordable compared to the autos, nil pollution and certainly more pleasant to deal with these people.

“I too learnt to drive an auto, but no one is willing to trust people like us. Since we don’t have a pucca place we live on the pavements, “Explains Muniswamy, clearly this world does not have a place for things and people that have served them well.
Well past its prime, the rickshaw may soon be consigned to history and our children may catch a glimpse of them in the Egmore Museum.