2014 – 34: Labor Day

 

Here’s a salute to the working men and women of India (and a dog).

 

Monday, September 1 is a national holiday in the U.S. – Labor Day. It’s the unofficial end to summer where friends and family typically gather, relax and barbeque. In India, every day is labor day.

 

There is no air conditioning in any of the photos that follow. The temperatures range from 40 – 48° C (104 – 118° F).

 

Labor is very physical and manual in India.

 

It’s been said that Gandhi was “anti-machine” knowing that efficiencies in a country of 300 million (at the time) would reduce employment opportunities. India’s population has grown four times since then.

 

There is no social security nor unemployment benefit. You are paid for work, and if you can’t work, there is no pay. When parents fall ill or retire, they live with their children, typically the eldest son.

As an emerging market, India is focused on infrastructure projects, like this metro line where we live in Gurgaon.

 

In a country of 1.2 billion people, labor is plentiful.

 

Some men arrive to work in trucks.

 

I can only imagine the nature of this call.

 

Other workers live in tents along the construction site.

 

I pass this man each day on my way to work as he bathes using a bucket of water. Note his clothes drying on the concrete drain pipe.

 

Sometimes it’s a group of men at work…

 

…and sometimes it’s an individual.

 

Deep in the far reaches of this parking garage…

 

… you will find the real ironmen.

 

Young men collect clean laundry and iron it for 5 Rupees per piece (8 cents).

 

Gas stations are swept by hand using homemade brooms.

 

This man is alone on his sweeping task…

 

…and he’s only completed three quarters of the job.

 

Deliveries are managed via tricycles.

 

It’s hard work in the hot sun.

 

Here’s a water tank in transit – a relatively easy task…

 

… compared to three water tanks.

 

This load is too heavy to pedal.

 

Somewhere in front of these metal cabinets is a man on a mission.

 

Stacking and strapping is essential for success…

 

… especially on 2-wheelers (thanks Ravi A. for the click).

 

Mowing the lawn takes five men – 3 to do the work and 2 to watch.

 

This dog has an important sniffing job all day.

 

Fortunately, he wears protective booties against the scorching hot concrete.

 

Women are also part of the labor force.

 

I suspect that every day is “take your child to work day” for this working mother.

 

Look closely at the woman on the left in blue with two bricks, and the woman, center, with four. You have to imagine the blazing heat.

 

Relief comes from unloading.

 

Here’s another construction site.

 

Ten bricks at a time, all day long. Could you do this?

 

These saree-wearing, hard-hat women are walking home from their construction jobs.

 

This security man is riding home from a day’s work with shot gun over his shoulder. How do you like your job? ts

 

2014 – 33: Horn Please

There is a device on every vehicle which is utilized here in India more than anywhere in the world.

It’s the horn.

What follows is a collection of photos spanning nearly a year.

Horn honking is the unabashed sound of India — 24/7.

As you can see, it’s encouraged.

People drive by sound as much as they do sight.

Drivers have one hand on the wheel and the other on the horn.

It’s not at all musical, but completely pragmatic.

Depending on the rhythm, pressure applied and duration, the message delivered varies from, “FYI: I’m over here.” “Inch forward.” “Look out.” “Get out of my way.” Or, “You idiot !!”

This simple request has become a work of art in India.  Truck surfaces are canvases for the imagination.

There is no “Department of Horn Blowing” in India with any sort of graphic standard.

Some trucks come with multiple messages (dipper means low beam).

This truck is loaded with messages.  Can you spot them all?

Bright colors are intermixed with geometric shapes to communicate with style.

Finding enough space on the road for everyone is a perpetual challenge.

There is a quasi, communal sense on the road, however the general rule of thumb is, “The bigger you are, the more right of way you have.”

This wagon load of straw could certainly benefit from a “Horn Please” sign.

Somehow, with a forward-only vision, he finds his way.

Sometimes the message is obscured…

… but it works.

Not every “vehicle” is equipped with a horn.

Cargo can be human.

With so many trucks already encouraging horn usage, others opt to promote nationalism.

India is filled with these rolling truck billboards offering a variety of messages. It’s truly a unique touch that helps make India, India.

Bonus photo: It’s Bharti’s birthday on Sunday, which makes me only one day older. Enjoy your week. ts

2014 – 32: Happy Independence Day

Greg started school Monday. Each day begins with DEET spray against mosquitoes. Malaria isn’t a big problem in the cities, however, we’re warding against Dengue which was rampant last year in Delhi.

August 15 is Independence Day in India. In recent months, huge flags have been installed across the country. This is the largest at 60 x 90 feet found in the heart of Delhi at Connaught Place. The tricolor features saffron, white and green.

We celebrated the day prior at the office with a contest… everyone was encouraged to wear patriotic colors.

Sakshi was the winner.

Of the three colors, saffron clearly stands out and is seen frequently.

Saffron is everywhere.

Even accessories are available in saffron.

After decades of civil disobedience, India was finally able to break free from British rule. It was 67 years ago Nehru delivered his famous “Tryst with destiny” speech from Delhi’s Red Fort, which started a tradition that’s been repeated each year since.

Narendra Modi delivered his first Independence Day speech as Prime Minister promising to make India a strong manufacturing country, empower its poor with access to finance and to provide greater cleanliness as seen in other parts of the world.

Modi spoke from the heart (without a Tele-prompter) encouraging everyone to “Trust my words.” His government was swept into power during a landslide victory in May.  In this photo, the clever and colorful alignment represents the start of the 68^th year of independence.

Patriotism is alive on this 2-wheeler. Even with 6 people, there is still room for a flag (this surpasses the previous record of 5 people I’ve seen on a motorcycle). Thanks Vimal for the click. Enjoy your week. ts

2014 – 31: U.S. activities galore…

Last weekend, we officially celebrated Gam’s 90^th birthday (which already transpired in April, but this is the first time we could all be together).

Richard set up a tent at his house for the 50 guests.

Upon entering, everyone wrote a word to describe the nonagenarian.

The birthday girl goes by many names: Pat, Patricia, mom, mother, Gam, and aunt Pat, but as a child was known as Patsy.

Here are three of the people who call her aunt Pat. They traveled from Ohio and New Jersey for the occasion.

Kayla was the mistress of ceremonies, offering reflections and a toast.

Dinner was followed by a shower of confetti which filled the sky.

And of course there was cake.

Brunch followed the next day for family members.

Here are the birthday girls, each with a milestone this year. One turned 18 and the other 90. Note that height is inversely proportionate to age.

On Monday, it was off to PNC Bank Arts Center to see Jackson Browne and John Fogerty.

At age 66, Jackson Browne sounds exactly as he did some 40 years ago.

At age 69, John Fogerty still jumps around the stage and nails the guitar licks like someone half his age.

Fogerty’s set was dominated by hits from his Creedence Clearwater Revival days. Much of their success came in the two-year period of 1969 – 1970.

He shared stories from Woodstock (CCR followed the Grateful Dead at 3:00 am) and explained how the experience inspired future songs.

Fogerty also performed his 1985 solo hit single, Centerfield, which was punctuated with baseball visuals.

Tuesday brought a visit to the BMW offices in Woodcliff Lake. It was good to reconnect with colleagues.

Hindus, avert your eyes, This steakhouse puts its product on display.

Wednesday through Friday took us to Spring Lake at the Jersey Shore…

… which is a great place for bike riding.

As the sun was rising here, it was preparing to set in Asia.

Then it was off to the airport where Greg and I bid farewell to Kayla. We’ll next see her during Christmas.

And with a 14 hour flight…

… we were back in Delhi, still with sand in our shoes from the Jersey Shore. Greg starts school on Monday. Enjoy your week. ts

2014 – 30: U.S. visit

     

After a 15 hour flight, I reached U.S. soil for the first time in more than a year.  Thankfully, our northern route completely avoided middle east / eastern European hot spots.

 

With driver’s license in hand, Kayla shuttled us to Carlisle, Pennsylvania…

 

… for a tour of Dickinson College, Kayla’s new home for the next four years. Grandparents also joined the tour.

 

I had the honor of writing the check for the first semester.

 

With extra effort along with excess baggage charges, we were able to move Kayla’s essential belongings from Delhi to the U.S. via huge suitcases.

 

Dickinson is a beautiful campus. The fall foliage will undoubtedly be spectacular.

 

With her courses set and her roommate identified, all that remains now is moving in and getting started.

 

Later that evening (last Monday, July 28), we celebrated Kayla’s 18^th birthday. She’s now a legal adult — and eligible to vote.

 

After nearly a decade, we caught up with college friends Don and Donna. I completely identify with Don’s “Rolodex” ways where a cell phone is just a phone, and not a device for viewing YouTube videos while driving at 65 miles per hour.

 

My brother John made the front page of the newspaper on Monday for his tandem skydiving jump with an 85 year old woman who has now checked a big item from her “bucket” list. With 35 years experience and more than 2,200 jumps under his belt, John is the one to see if you want to scratch that skydiving itch. Watch the 3 minute video below.

Enjoy your week. ts