Europeans On Hand-Pulled Rickshaws, Bombay, 1914 Photo
This rare 1914 photograph captures two Europeans, a man and a woman, seated on traditional hand-pulled rickshaws in Bombay (Mumbai). The image provides a fascinating glimpse into colonial-era transportation before the advent of motorized or horse-drawn vehicles, such as the Victoria Carriage.
Hand-pulled rickshaws, first introduced in Simla (now Shimla) in 1880, soon became popular across India. By the early 1900s, they were widely used in Calcutta (Kolkata) and even in parts of South India. Unlike other conveyances, these rickshaws relied purely on human strength, with runners pulling passengers through crowded city streets, often at remarkable speeds.
Though the practice is viewed as inhumane by modern standards, the hand-pulled rickshaw remains an important part of India’s social and transport history. It was operated even after India’s independence in some parts of the country, including Calcutta. Click image to enlarge.
Did you know- the hand-pulled rickshaw was first invented in Japan in the 1860s, then rapidly spread to other countries, where it became an inexpensive and popular mode of conveyance.
From the collection- Raja Ravi Varma’s Goddess Laxmi 2 Postcards., Charminar & Street Scene Hyderabad – Old Postcard 1905., Royal Visit To British Era Bombay – Old Print 1883., Vintage Map Phases of Fort St George Chennai.
