European Women On Bullock Cart British India, 1900 Postcard
A rare 1900 postcard of European women travelling on a bullock cart in the British India era. This postcard gives an unusual glimpse of European travel during the colonial era. Four women seem to enjoy a ride on a bullock cart. The ladies appear to be in their Sunday best probably on their way to church or a function or just for a joyride. Notable are the classic sun helmets they wear.
Their husbands may have worked typically in the British Indian military, civil services, private companies, estates, or so on. Many Britishers were based in India with their families. Despite the harsh conditions although generally only in some remote places, the European womenfolk normally enjoyed life in India.
The high salaries and generous perks of the British officer compensated for any difficulties they faced with weather or the harshness of the land. It was then a common sight to see huge bungalows with servants, ayahs, cooks, and so on. This would have been unthinkable back in their homeland at England. Bullock and horse carts were probably the best mode of transport since motor vehicles did not make an appearance at the time.
Although the railways like the Great Indian Peninsula Railways (GIPR), Bombay Baroda & Central India Railways (BB & CI), East Indian Railways, and so on, were in operation. The first train travel took place from Bombay to Thana in 1853 on a trial run. By 1900 railways expanded so much that they crisscrossed the country. By 1910-20 onwards automobiles became popular with the Europeans and wealthy Indians. Click on the photo to enlarge.
Read more Top 4 Transport Systems developed in India Under British Rule.
Did you know- commercial airways travel became popular from the mid-1930s onwards in India.
From the collection- German Map Bombay With Waffen SS Stamp & Seal., Rare Advertisement Taj Palace Hotel Bombay 1907., 1964 M. Suriyamoorthy Charcoal On Paper Nude (#3)
