The Rickshaw Wallah's Story

Rickshaw wallahs are men who cycle around Dhaka carrying people in their carriage, serving as a common and popular method of public transportation. In my two weeks in Dhaka, I've learned a lot about the lives of these rickshaw wallahs and their realities. In summary, as my good friend, a film producer in Dhaka said, "Their souls have separated from their bodies." The only focus of these men is to eliminate any processes (including thinking) that will take energy away from their task at hand: to push their bikes against resistance (sometimes massive downpour), through mud, sludge and the floods of Dhaka's streets and with lots of weight (as many as five people in the carriage). When their thighs can do no more, they get off their bike and pull, pull, pull.

The rickshaw wallah rents his rickshaw for the day for about 200-450 takas per day. It is unheard of that a rickshaw wallah owns his own rickshaw. He begins early in the morning. His must earn enough to pay his rental fee and ideally, to make some extra money to take home and feed himself and his family (average rickshaw wallah has a family the size of eight people). Usually, they make no more than 200 taka extra per day. It is a game of survival, each day. One of the contributing factors to this low earning is the psychological value that Dhaka's residents associate with the rickshaw ride. The strength and stamina that is required of the rickshaw wallah is not seen as superhuman and typically riders will pay 2 takas for each minute of a ride.

Rickshaw wallahs rarely are able to maintain this job past eight years. Their lungs collapse slowly from the immense respiratory effort. The majority develop chronic bronchitis. Many used to be farmers but had to migrate into the city due to climate changes and farming disasters (cyclone hits, burnt out farm lands, etc.). After their rickshaw wallah careers, they try to migrate to India to get jobs as cleaners, trash collectors, anything or perhaps to Middle Eastern countries to work as day laborers. And their wives? Well, you already know about their wives---just see my last post.

So here I am. A rickshaw wallah offers to take me down the street. Do I inflict physical suffering on him by making him pull me (and a friend) down the harsh streets of Dhaka? Or do I deny him the chance to make some money and bring him closer to meeting his net gain for the day?

The rickshaw wallah-a bonded slave to the rickshaw.