[Reader-list] Fwd: Spoked Vision: Cyclists in Delhi

[Ravikant]

----------  Forwarded Message  ----------

Subject: Re: Fwd: Re: from maninder
Date: Monday 14 Feb 2005 4:56 pm
From: maninder kaur <maninder_jk2003 at yahoo.co.in>
To: Ravikant <ravikant at sarai.net>

What follows is an abstract of my work that I will do as an independent 
Fellow. Your comments are most welcome.  

Maninder


Spoked Vision: Cyclists on Delhi Roads

Like slums, cyclists are seen as impediments and ugly sores on Delhi roads.
 Though cyclists are officially and existentially lumped together with motor
 vehicles, forced to drive amidst them, in many ways they more closely
 resemble pedestrians — they are small, maneuverable, human-powered and
 exposed to the elements. If speed is power they are literally the most
 powerless amongst moving objects. This study would attempt to
 ethnographically map the life of cyclists through fieldwork and
 conversational engagements with cyclists about their needs, household
 incomes, health conditions, employment etc. More specifically, the study
 will focus on the survival strategies - competition and collaboration - on
 the roads of Delhi, a city that has chosen to import all the right
 liberalizing mantras from the west but not the norms of civility. In a city,
 which now takes pride in the metro and the DND and multi-level drive-ins and
 parking lots in multiplexes? - how does it feel to live precariously on
 fragile frames? How do they look at these swanky developments and at the
 special arrangements made every year for Kanwariyas on the very space, which
 could belong to them, if Delhi were Europe!