Rickshaws

The main transport vehicle in India, the one that does not pollute the environment, hardly creates any traffic, is very mobile and of course is very interesting.

Rickshaws!

Here are some facts about them!

These vehicles, according to the official history, were invented by an American missionary who had to transport his invalid wife, so he invented this type of transport. Of course, later on, many people began to use the same type of vehicle and today it is part of many countries' cultures. The name comes from Japanese and means “human powered vehicle”

However, the first signs about rickshaws are very old, so I personally think that there are no inventors of this type of transport, but people who just signed under the article "inventor of the rickshaw”. I think so, because there are pictures from 1660 and from 1707 where rickshaws can be seen.

Rickshaws in India

Today, it is mainly tourist attraction, because most of the Indians migrated to motorised rickshaws, which are pretty different from the old fashioned ones, and less romantic, for sure.

The city that is most popular with its rickshaws is Calcutta. In the past, over 40 000 of them were crossing the city, but these days they are banned from the biggest streets and can be hardly seen. The pullers usually live in hostels for 100 rupees a month, which is around 25 dollars. This way they can send home more money and support their families. Unfortunately, some of the pullers cannot afford that, so they sleep on the streets or in their rickshaws.

So, if you know more about these, or you have tried them, please, leave a comment.

The Black Hole of India

This is a very unique story and yet so difficult to ascertain its truth. In 1756 Nawab manage to occupied Calcutta and claimed the principal possession of the East Company.

Prisoners

It is said that over 146 people were imprisoned in the small and airless dungeon at Fort William. The scary part of the whole story was revealed the next day when the doors were open the guards found that 123 of the prisoners were dead. John Holwell, who recounted the story, and as a survivor became the basis for Indian to be known as cowardly and despotic people. The story, known as the “Black hole” In Calcutta was published in many journalistic and historical books and writings.

Holwell's story told the most scary facts: 146 people were put in the very small 24 x 18 feet room. That inspire the people to say that John has greatly embellished his tell. Scholars shown Nawab that they have no part in this affair and the number of the incarcerated prisoners was no bigger than sixty nine. It is may be possible even to argue that this episode of "The Black Hole" never manage to transpire. The British became interested in this story by an article of faith and accepted the truth of the story in its most extravagant form, and all the accounts were relied without starting upon the authority of the contemporary tell of Holwell. Even today that amazing and scary story of a intentional murdering still sends shiver to the Indian nation.