Kolkata, the erstwhile capital of British India, is a city teeming with historic landmarks and unique modes of transportation, from the grandeur of the Victoria Memorial and Howrah Bridge to the nostalgic hand-pulled rickshaws and electric trams. These traditional rickshaws, known as tana rickshaws, are not just a mode of transport, but a symbol of the city’s past—a past that stretches back over a century.
Invented in Japan and introduced to India by the British during the 1800s, hand-pulled rickshaws were once the lifeline of Kolkata’s urban mobility. For generations, they served as the main mode of transport for the common people, offering a unique way of getting around narrow lanes and bustling streets. Despite the end of British rule in 1947, these human-powered carts continued to thrive, their runners—a few still working today—earning a living by pulling passengers through the city’s streets.
But as Kolkata modernizes, the tana rickshaw is becoming a rarity. Once a common sight, these rickshaws are now increasingly replaced by battery-operated three-wheelers, and the number of active rickshaws has dwindled to just over 6,000. The physical strain on rickshaw pullers, coupled with the growing costs of operation, is forcing many to abandon this traditional form of transport.
One of the few photographers to capture the essence of this vanishing tradition is Soumya Shankar Ghosal, a Kolkata-based street and documentary photographer. With over a decade of experience, Ghosal has devoted significant attention to documenting the lives of hand-pulled rickshaw pullers. His photo essays take viewers on a visual journey through the narrow alleys of North Kolkata, showcasing not only the rickshaws themselves but the people who depend on them.
This poignant visual story of Kolkata’s iconic hand-pulled rickshaws highlights the city’s struggle to hold onto its rich heritage while embracing the inevitable march of technology. It’s a reminder of how deeply intertwined this humble mode of transport is with the city’s identity, filling its streets with memories of a bygone era.
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