Bianca S. Karina S.

           B3

 http://images.publicradio.org/content/2007/10/11/20071011_time_tunnel_18.jpg

                                                                            http://www.shunya.net/Pictures/NorthIndia/Calcutta/             http://z.about.com/d/goindia/1/0/x/3/-/-/rickshaw_

stand_lazzari.jpg CalcuttaRickshaw05.jpg

     Comparing the traditional and modern methods of transportation in 

India is like looking at two different time periods. It is an interesting topic

because in one lane there is a donkey pulling a cart of materials, and in the

other an overcrowded city bus. In addition, one city may have a high-tech

innovative train, and the other has hundreds of people hanging on to the top

and sides of the train for dear life.  Also, in the customary caste system,

Shudra would pull Brahmins in rickshaws, and in the present some of the

conventional rickshaws are becoming motor powered (above).  In today’s

world, India is trapped between its tradition system of transportation,

and the twenty first century ways of innovative countries such as the US,

Japan, and much of Europe.   

                                      http://taheny.com/2006_12_27_donkey_cart_520x390.JPG

                                  Here, a donkey is pulling a cart of newspapers on a crowded

                            road.  Ironically, there is a modern city bus right next to it

                            indicating the "tug of war". 

                                     http://www.taz.de/blogs/wp-inst/wp-content/blogs.dir/44/files/2007/02/043%20overcrowded%20train% 

                                     20India.jpg

                                                                    In this image, hundreds of people are catching a ride on the

                                                               outside of a traditional looking train.  Part of the reason

                                                               is that the interior is often too crowded, and it is easier to

                                                               load and unload when you ride on the outside.  However, today in

                                                               India there are also futuristic looking methods of transportation such as the

                                                               metro shown below.

http://www.funonthenet.in/images/stories/forwards/india%202020/Delhi%20(Metro%20Rail).jpg

A Grandfather-Son Talk 

In a modern Indian train station an elderly Indian man and his grandson are speaking.

Grandson: So dada are you ready to go on the train?

Elderly Indian grandfather: Yes, but I have never ridden a train like this before.

They enter into the train with the crowd.

Grandson: How are you used to riding in a train dada?

Grandfather: Well I'm not used to riding inside the train.

Grandson: Haha, that's silly, how else would you ride a train?

Grandfather: I used to ride on top of the train! Or I would hang onto the side or ride on the caboose!  Back in my day, it was better than standing up in the overcrowded interior.  Anyway, this train looks way more technical than the ones in my days.

Grandson: (Sarcastically) Of course you did, dada, of course you did.