海角大神

After encountering hand-pulled rickshaws as a child, Ahmer Khan, a photographer based in Kashmir, never expected to photograph this dying mode of transportation in India. I asked him about access and his interactions with the rickshaw pullers in Kolkata.聽

Ahmer Khan

Mohammad Sajad has been a rickshaw puller in Kolkata for half a century. He moved here from Bihar, one of India鈥檚 poorest states, as a young man. He says he鈥檚 proud that he was able to get his daughter married, thanks to his rickshaw job. In order to afford to send money back to his family, which is still living in Bihar, he is homeless and sleeps on a footpath.

Ann Hermes: What initially drew you to this story and how did you go about gaining access?

Ahmer Khan: When I was a kid, I have lived in Kolkata for a brief period and I remember going on to these rickshaws. That time I never knew that I would be a photographer and one day I鈥檒l do a story on them. For the past few years, I have traveled to Kolkata several times and I saw them again and again. I did a little research on them through my friends in Kolkata and later on the Internet and I found more info and interested me a lot. Regarding access I met my friends in Kolkata and they gave me addresses where these rickshaws are mostly found. Initially, it was difficult to talk to them because they thought I was a government official who wants to seize their rickshaws or something but slowly when I told them I鈥檓 just a photographer and have nothing to do. Also, as I speak Hindi so it was easy to communicate with them. But it took a lot of time.

Ahmer Khan

Most rickshaw pullers live in a 鈥榙era,' a rickshaw garage. The drivers are mostly poor migrants who rent their rickshaws from 鈥榙era鈥� owners. Remarkably, for India, Hindu and Muslim pullers often share the same quarters.

Hermes: It鈥檚 interesting that out of necessity Hindu and Muslim pullers share living space despite religious tension throughout India. Can you tell me more about what you saw in the 鈥楧eras鈥�?

Khan: It鈥檚 a complete necessity for both the religious groups. But mainly in Kolkata, there aren't many religious tensions though it exists throughout India. At Dera鈥檚 both Hindus and Muslims live together though at most of the Dera鈥檚 they cook separately and at some of the dear鈥檚 they have divided the sleeping space. They live in harmony, though. In some Dera鈥檚 they watch movies together with a common television. 聽

Hermes: Do you find most pullers to be like Mohammad Latif and Mohammad Sajad who are supporting families that they live apart from? What were some commonalities among the rickshaw pullers?

Khan: Yes, most of the pullers are away from their families and home. Whatever amount of money they earn, they send it to their families back home. One of the most common things about these pullers is that they usually come to Kolkata from poor and neighboring states of India. Most of them are Muslims and live in Dera鈥檚 by which they are able to send more money back home. Since Dera is sharing place usually in a garage where they share their bed and food.

Ahmer Khan

Pullers make about 125 rupees a day ($1.90). Out of that, 20 rupees goes to rent the rickshaw. A brush with police might mean a 75-rupee payoff.

Hermes: Overall, what are some of the biggest difficulties you face working as a photojournalist in India?

Khan: Honestly, I haven鈥檛 faced many problems working as a photojournalist in India. But I鈥檓 based in Kashmir which is a conflict zone and working as a photojournalist in Kashmir is a lot difficult than in any other part of India. In Kashmir, you can get killed or beaten anytime during the protests or encounter between the militants and Indian forces. We need to be really safe in Kashmir and in past many have been beaten by the forces or even few were killed.

Ahmer Khan

A worker repairs a rickshaw鈥檚 wheel. The tall wheels make it easier to pull and provide a smoother ride for passengers.