Twinkle in Tricycle Rickshaw-walla's eyes

Picture by me, 2010, Chandigarh.

In 1987, I had been to Chandigarh for a cricket coaching camp organized by our employers.  The coach designated was none other than Desh Prem Azad, the coach of the famous Kapil Dev, the Indian captain.  The camp itself turned out to be a flop for many reasons, but I'll remember that trip for a particular incident that happened when I landed in that beautiful city.

Tricycle-rickshaw-pedalling (in some cities) is one of the more physically taxing professions.  Chandigarh's road network suits these tricycle rickshaws.  So they still thrive.  Squandering money on unnecessary things and quarreling for petty bargains is an old deep-rooted habit.  People that toil are not spared too.  There are people who avoid this mode of transport from the humanitarian angle though it is cheaper than their mechanical counterparts.  Let me share a moving experience.

I was traveling alone to join my other team mates who were from other places. I landed that evening in the Bus Terminus and had to go to our Guest House, not far away.  I had to hire a tricycle-rickshaw to reach there.  A few of them refused to take me to that location for reasons best known to them, but one rickshaw-wallah came forward with his quotation of Rs.8/-, which in 1987 was reasonable (others were 10 and above).  The natural tendency of bargaining made me ask for Rs.6/- to which he readily agreed and pushed his vehicle to the 'ready position', much to my surprise.  The short journey began, with me keeping the luggage on the seat and sitting beside it. 

Chandigarh as we know, is a well planned city whose roads having no gradients. But the wind that evening was gusty and strong.  We were going in the direction against it.  If anyone has experienced bicycling against a strong wind, he will know how it would be.  And this man was pulling me in the back seat.  I remembered the time in 1980 when our group had gone to Somanathpur on bicycles and we faced the same situation on our way back.  It was the same there in Chandigarh that forced the rickshaw-walla to get down and push the tricycle along which he had to do often.  They are used to such tough work as they live a hard life, but I was really feeling bad. I too sometimes got down and walked beside, to make it easier for him to push.  

Such a journey made me feel that the destination was far away.  On reaching the Guest House and alighting with my luggage, I placed coins amounting to Rs.8/- in the rickshaw-walla's open palm. Counting, he looked at me in surprise, because it was actually for Rs.6/- that he agreed. 

The rickshaw-walla was an old Sikh and white-haired.  His palm with the coins was still open in surprise, as he was giving an extended look at me.  He never expected and he had no mind to demand more.  I could see it.  I placed two more rupee coins in his palm and looked at him again.  His wrinkled face was expressing a pure and honest contented look.  There was also a beautiful twinkle in his tired eyes that seemed to hide all his other troubles, a sight that would move many hearts. Imagine the plight of such toiling people that are so satisfied with merely a couple of extra rupees!  How difficult life must be!  He slowly turned and left with a 'jeete raho beta' [may you live long, son] blessing which seemed to pour out of his heart.  It is a sight that is unforgettable. 

Some birds in Chandigarh

It was the middle of February and I found myself up north in the capital of both Punjab and Haryana, the 'City Beautiful', Chandigarh.

The game of cricket had taken me there. But here, let me show some common birds that I spotted during the spare time off the field and caught them with my camera. I could identify some of the birds from limited knowledge and had to refer to Salim Ali's "Book of Indian Birds" for the others on my return home. A bird has been described in that book as a 'Feathered Biped'.

Here are some pictures for you. (All images are copyright)

Need I name this? Quite shy of humans in its habitat. Ran and hid in the bush.

This is the Black Drongo.

Brown headed Barbet (we have the white-cheeked Barbets in abundance in Mysore). It's calls were similar to its Mysore counterpart.

If someone can identify this pair for me, I'd be happy.

The Rose-ringed Parakeet (the male has the band around its neck and the female does not have)

Collared Dove

Red-vented Bulbul. (In Mysore, the Red-whiskered Bulbuls are aplenty)

Slightly different from the Common Myna we have in Mysore, this is the Jungle Myna.

No idea what this bird is. I assume it is a migrant to Chandigarh.

Is this a Greater Coucal?

(Same as the above picture)

I wonder if this is actually a Black Redstart.

The Spotted Owlet

Perhaps the most common of them all and found in huge batches making their typical screeches in chorus, this is the Jungle Babbler.

Found some Tailor birds and Sunbirds also that we find here, but could not photograph them.

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I must add that the City Administration has done well in giving these useful creatures of Nature a lovely habitat - trees, shrubs and little jungles. The pleasant climate in Chandigarh at this time makes bird-watching a pleasant experience. They have seen to it that despite the development of the city, the birds also find their undisturbed place for their nesting and breeding. The vegetation feeds them well too. Other cities have to emulate Chandigarh in many respects also. Birds form an important element in Nature.

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