I am writing to you after reading the collection of manushi essays - Off the Beaten Track published by Oxford University Press. I found it very valuable both for scholars and concerned citizens. It shows a consistent development of ideas on various issues that manushi has engaged with, based on an in depth study of the problems. That is what makes it convincing. Most people just write their conclusions, not how or why they arrived at them. These writings fulfill a moral obligation towards your readers. What I like most is your deep understanding of ‘freedom’ and an absolute refusal to impose your ideas on others. That is rare even in academic circles. All good scholarship is essentially about freedom in its diverse manifestations. The style is clear, precise, un-ambiguous, honest, positive, and full of a lot of affection for your reader.

Namasté, I recently read the article "Wheels of Misfortune—
The License-Quota-Raid Raj and Rickshaw Pullers" and was amazed about the quality of the article, including the research and
statistics. It reminded me of my personal experiences in 1994. I took a rickshaw, but seeing that the rickshaw puller was very old and ill, felt bad. Therefore, I asked him to let me ride the rickshaw. After hesitating he agreed and let me ride.
Unfortunately, I caused an accident and as the misfortune could not be bigger, the police came by asking me as a foreigner if everything was alright with me and hitting at the same time the old puller. I felt really ashamed of this incident and tried to argue with the policemen, but without any success. I excused myself a hundered times to the puller and gave him money for the mechanic services the rickshaw apparently needed.

Apart of my personal experiences, I’m interested in more information about the conditions rickshaw pullers have to put up with in Delhi.

Congratulations on your excellent handling of the problems faced by Delhi’s street vendors and rickshaw operators. I recall, a few years back, Ela Bhatt had also lamented that the government gets concerned about the parking problems faced by car owners and then sanctions space for huge parking lots but shows no concern for street vendors who sell their wares on footpaths for their living under constant harrassment. These street vendors also have rights for dignified living and need some space in the urban planning and development.

As you rightly said, Bapu would have surely rejoiced at these concrete steps to help the poor, hardworking citizens of our country.

Dr. Puloma Shah, New Delhi.

Please Note Our Change of Address:

We are moving from Lajpat Nagar to the following address:

email:manushi@nda.vsnl.net.in, manushi@nda.vsnl.net.in