When one travels from one point to another, one must consider the most efficient manner of doing so. Moreover, achieving a more efficient means transportation as time progresses is essential to living a better lifestyle. The great difference between traditional and modern transportation in India depicts the perfect example of attaining this goal. Since the Indus River Valley people first migrated to India, there has been many advancements in transportation, with the most notable being the (cart, train and car). Back in India's traditional time, the peole used bullocks, carts, carriages, rickshaws, or just walking. However, people of modern India mostly use automobiles as their main transportation. The contrast between the two types of transportation used in different time periods sparked our interest in this topic. Specifically, the advancements in Indian transportation motivated us to perform close research on the topic. With the large difference in methods of transportation between the old and the modern, some people might wonder, "what are the differences between the times?"
In regions where the people have different incomes and requirements for transportation, different methods of transportation are used. In addition to the differences in the traditional and modern forms of transportation, this blog also includes the different methods of transport for rural and modern regions.
Picture 1: This image depicts how rural areas in India still face poor access
to adequatetransportation.
Picture 2:Similar to the previous picture, this picture depicts how transportation is limited in rural parts of India.
This bullock cart is similar to those used in rural India.
In contrast to the transportation in modern India,the traditional form of transportation use the strength of animals or people.
Picture 3:A man uses a hand-pulled rickshaw to transport another person.
Picture 4: A man uses a cycle rickshaw to carry passengers to their destination.
Picture 5: A drawing of a palanquin and people carrying the passenger inside.
This picture displays how roads dominate most of India's
transportation today in urban areas. Also, the use of automobiles is
tremendous in urban areas of modern day India.
Traditional
Some forms of traditional transportation, such as walking, use of a cart or carriage, palanquins, and rickshaws, are still used today. The methods are determined as traditional, because they have been used before the foriegn influence of oil and steel. Carts and carriages were widely used in the past because heavy loads, as well as people, could be carried to their destinations, useful for bringing goods to the market. However, the use of carts and carriages has recently declined due to new laws restricting their use on the road during the daytime. A picture of a cart pulled by a bull would be picture 2 in the traditional slideshow. Another form of traditional transportation are rickshaws. Hand-pulled rickshaws are wagons pulled by people similar to the picture 3 in the traditional slideshow. Another form of ricksaw is the cycle rickshaw. Instead of a person pulling the cart, the driver uses a bicycle-like object to propel the passengers to their destination. A picture of this would be picture 4 in the traditional slideshow. Palanquins are covered transport with people to carry the person inside the main body of the transport. A picture of this would be in picture 5 in the traditional slideshow.
Modern
Since the global influence of the West, India has gained new forms of transportation, namely the bicycle, car, taxi, and public transportation, such as buses, trams, and railways. Nowadays, the predominant form of transportation is transportation by bicycle. In fact, a little more than 2 out of 5 people in India own a bicycle, equivalent to around 83 million bicycles. With the upcoming release of the Tata Nano, which targets the general Indian population with a low cost vehicle, driving might become the predominant way to travel. The use of roads in India is very common; they carry 90% of the "passenger traffic".
Transportation Skit
Sandeep (Young Businessman)- Brendan Tsai
Sachin (Much older Businessman)- Anthony Trieu
Sandeep: As businessmen, we must report to the conference held in the west side of New Delhi. Since we live in the eastern side, we can travel by car in a short time.
Sachin: By car? That is not the proper way for appearance. To be respected, you must travel by an ornate carriage. After all, appearance is the most important factor.
Sandeep: You must be joking with me! The ornate carriage is inefficient and slow. Travelling by car will allow us to reach the conference on time. On the other hand, if we travel by a carriage, we will miss the entire meeting. Although it reflects traditional Indian transportation, modern transportation is far more advanced.
Sachin: Time is not the issue. After all, the conference will not begin without us. To gain the admiration of the other members, the entrance should be unique and fascinating.
Sandeep: Admiration and appearance does not suffice for the cumbersome task of riding a carriage! The carriage will leave us exposed to the powerful rays from the sun, scorching our bodies in the immense heat. Let us ride in a car, where the air conditioning protects us from the heat outside.
Sachin: To get far in your occupation, there are often a few obstacles in the way. To fix the problem, I can order a frame and a roof to be placed above the carriage. The appearance of the carriage looks much better than a car. Also, the carriage portrays the Indian culture and it should not be disregarded.
Sandeep: Although that is true, the car has exceedingly comfortable features for its passengers. Features such as air conditioning, shock absorbers, and delightful padding are all essential to a comfortable ride. A carriage is uncomfortable. The oxen leading the carriage are overweight and painfully slow. I do not see how the appearance of the carriage would be pleasant to anyone's eyes.
Sachin: I do not want to be seen as a man who has forgotten his culture. My pride for my culture will not be ignored for the sake of a comfortable car ride. Have you no pride in our culture?
Sandeep: I am only concerned with the most efficient means of getting to the conference. India has made tremendous progress in terms of technology. We must not let this hardwork and determination go to waste. Quickly, our arguing will only waste our precious time.
Sachin: Quick, let's ask the people. Which form of transportation should we take; the car or the carriage?
and 
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