Friday Feature: Faces of India

Who: The phone-wala
Where: Old Delhi, India
What: This caricature exists in real life. We went back to our apartments after a decade and the junction box was the same: wide open, wires tangled and hanging out, pigeons looking at making their next nest there. The phone-wala's job is unenviable. The lines go down frequently, even more so during the monsoons, and they have to bear with irate customers breathing down their necks, asking: Kitna time lagega?

The phone-wala is a wiry man, often stubborn and mostly unappreciated. But tell me, what mood would you be in if you had to work your way through a maze of wires on a daily basis?

Some things don't change
Some things don't change

Phone wala
Ancient

10 comments:

Panfusine said...

you captured the essence of the phonewala PERFECTLY!!! hats off!

Foodwanderings said...

Love these installments on Fridays, Faces of India. Brilliant Manisha!!

Finla said...

Indeed perfect, brilliant.

Indu said...

Like the "Ancient" pic....Is that actually a phone, or is some equipment to repair whatever has gone wrong...

Ellen Daehnick said...

I love this lesson - thank you for introducing me to the phone wala!

Desisoccermom said...

Once again a brilliant capture of quintessential India. Love the Fri feature. Keep it coming.

Unknown said...

Oh i love the 2nd pic, now there is rush of memories form India, somehow i feel i really miss these Indian irregularities here, they do crack ur nerves yet they do make life very interesting! very well penned :)

john k.Tas. said...

love the photoes and story, Manisha. at least the phone-walas would get excellent training to be fishermen ! they must be reasonably cheerful men to face those shambles every day ! pity they can't be sent gratuities through the wires !regards

Indian Food Rocks said...

Thanks! I'm glad you folks are enjoying this feature!

Indu, that is actually a phone and if you look closely, you will find a couple more tucked in between the wires in the junction box!

Ellen, we always made sure the phone-walas were on our side!

John, we knew most of the repairmen in our area by name and they were always open to a good laugh. It all depends on how you treat them!

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