Kolkata Tana Rickshaw (Fridge Magnet)

Tana rickshaws (hand-pulled rickshaws) in Kolkata are a century-old, iconic, and controversial form of human-powered transport. As the last city in the world to operate them, thousands (both licensed and unlicensed) still ply the narrow, often waterlogged lanes of North Kolkata and areas like New Market. Introduced by the British in the 19th century (circa 1880s), they are considered a living, albeit controversial, heritage of Kolkata, offering a glimpse into the past. While a ban was initiated in 2005-2006 to eliminate this form of manual labor, thousands still operate. The profession is declining due to modernization, the rise of battery-operated E-rickshaws, and the severe physical toll on the pullers, many of whom are migrants. Often called the “last bastion” of such transport, these rickshaws remain an essential, though debated, symbol of the city’s old-world charm.