Bullocks & Satellite TV

beach · Dec 11th, 2003, 20:08

Can a bullock cart and Satellite TV co-exist?

Yes. Probably only in India where her one leg is stuck in the past and still racing forward to catch the future!!

Alan D · Dec 11th, 2003, 21:14

I was struck by this kind of contrast a few years ago in a village in Himachal Pradesh. The old ladies were sitting in the courtyards spinning wool by hand, people were working in the paddy fields with agricultural implements unchanged for thousands of years and every other house had a satellite TV dish.

In a few more years the field workers will be phoning up home on their mobile phones and saying "What's for dinner, love? I'll be back in 10 minutes."

beach · Dec 12th, 2003, 12:31

And the fun continues…

Mobile phone that moves!

In Rajastan you can see a fleet of pedal rickshaws that are fitted with mobile phone service. They roam the streets like a taxi and you ‘can call them to make a call!’ Call anywhere and pay by the computerized bill printout.These are mostly operated by handicaped or blind people.

Internet on Camel!

If you are lost in the sand dunes of Rajastan deserts, lookout for a camel fitted with wireless internet connectivity!

….auto rickshaws fitted with wireless internet?

Bridging the digital divide Indian Style!!

See the BBC feature on this “Rickshaws connect India's poor”

Alan D · Dec 12th, 2003, 13:42

Quote from the BBC report

Quote:

"Over a period of time, they started being commercially very successful so two or three fixed wireless terminals, and one or two mobile handsets, were placed on the rickshaws," he explained.

This presents a special challenge however as mobile-like phones are easily stolen from drivers who may be blind or who are unable to walk or run.

The ultimate in cheap thrills? Even better than taking a ride in a Delhi auto-rickshaw but only for the fatalists among us.

Layman · Dec 12th, 2003, 16:04

"drivers who may be blind"? I wonder if the BBC got its report straight.

beach · Dec 12th, 2003, 16:56

No. BBC is right.
There are large numbers of blind people in India operate public telephone call booths. One peddle in a rickshaw are mostly helped by other for moving around. Generally they stay at crowded placed like a park or near a tourist spot.

By the way there is a dot on the number 5 of your telephone & PC keyboard (F, J & 5). This is for helping the blind.

This is a web site for blind people by National Association for the Blind, India Just close your eyes and try to navigate by the audio instructions. You’ll experience how difficult is their life and how great they are in dealing with it.

Alan D · Dec 12th, 2003, 17:49

Mmmm--- I think I understand, beach. Do you mean that the blind person peddles the rickshaw while somebody else works the steering, brakes and bell. In that case Delhi auto rickshaws would be marginally more thrilling!

I can see that that could be done but how does the blind person get his mobile stolen? Surely it would be better for his sighted companion to carry the mobile.

Anyway, please excuse my ignorance but the BBC report didn't quite make sense. The next time I'm in Rajasthan I'll look out for these guys.

LuAnnandJawahar · Dec 12th, 2003, 20:54

Just returned from a village where it is mainly subsistance farming with some production of dairy products for sale and of sesame oil and something similar to cumin. Out of 30 or so houses, about 10 had satelite dishes on their roofs!

beach · Dec 13th, 2003, 12:47

When Satellite TVs were introduced to the Indian villages for the first time it was revived with a lot of hue and cry. It was intended to improve literacy and social advancement. Now a villager near Lucknow who never ever has seen a beach in his whole lifetime knows what is BAYWATCH!

Good or bad the satellite TV alone has changed the Indians approach towards other cultures permanently.

LuAnnandJawahar · Dec 13th, 2003, 20:55

Agree entirely, beach. They aren't watching National Geographic. There are a few educational shows on health and such, but they're usually on during the day when the villagers are working in the fields. It could be a tool for good, but its power as a marketing tool far outweighs any other use. We are also of the belief that the western movies and shows like Baywatch (still popular!) have strongly encourages the negative view of western women which already exists--now they have visual proof so to speak. And don't even get me started on the internet!

indiamike · Dec 13th, 2003, 21:10

I was surprised some years ago in Bhuj that all the children knew all of the western Wrestling stars and knew all of their names and what positions they were famous for.

vistet · Dec 13th, 2003, 23:44

Quote:

Originally posted by beach
Can a bullock cart and Satellite TV co-exist?

Yes. Same way you can do morning prayers next to the satellite dish.

beach · Jan 23rd, 2004, 19:53

Now the farmer’s also can join the multilingual call center fray. The federal administration is setting up a call centers to give advice to the farmers. The problem could be the selection of right pesticide, current market price for potatoes, how to treat the decease of the camel…all are a toll free call away. Farmer leaders are skeptical though. If the farmer’s problem can be solved through call center, who’ll listen to the leaders??

Link to the BBC report Call-centres to harvest Indian farm woes

beach · Apr 20th, 2004, 20:47

It’s election time in India. Any thing happening is news. It ranges from training villagers in voting with the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) to how someone have to trek 10km to reach the nearest polling booth to cast their vote.

Today’s main national daily (The Hindu) carried this picture and the news item.

For those who are having the classic doubt “Do Indians travel on elephants??” has the answer at last with picture evidence!

This is the only country to get rid of the paper ballot and gone electronic at an unprecedented scale (670 million voters). No mess of long counting (and recounting!).The national results are out at the click of a few buttons. But still the good old elephants are required to carry it around ( at least at the jungle areas).

India has her own ways to amuse and confuse people.

Click here for the pic of elephant carrying Electronic Voting Machines.

owen · Apr 20th, 2004, 21:16

I love it, only in India. Surprised they don't have a satellite attached to him. Thanks Beach!

Dec 11th, 2003, 20:08	#1
beach Lost in translation Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: India ! Posts: 2,233	Bullocks & Satellite TV Can a bullock cart and Satellite TV co-exist? Yes. Probably only in India where her one leg is stuck in the past and still racing forward to catch the future!! Last edited by beach : Mar 14th, 2004 at 14:43.

Dec 11th, 2003, 21:14	#2
Alan D Maha Guru Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Southampton UK Posts: 1,866	I was struck by this kind of contrast a few years ago in a village in Himachal Pradesh. The old ladies were sitting in the courtyards spinning wool by hand, people were working in the paddy fields with agricultural implements unchanged for thousands of years and every other house had a satellite TV dish. In a few more years the field workers will be phoning up home on their mobile phones and saying "What's for dinner, love? I'll be back in 10 minutes." __________________ What a long strange trip it's been!

Dec 12th, 2003, 12:31	#3
beach Lost in translation Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: India ! Posts: 2,233	And the fun continues… And the fun continues… Mobile phone that moves! In Rajastan you can see a fleet of pedal rickshaws that are fitted with mobile phone service. They roam the streets like a taxi and you ‘can call them to make a call!’ Call anywhere and pay by the computerized bill printout.These are mostly operated by handicaped or blind people. Internet on Camel! If you are lost in the sand dunes of Rajastan deserts, lookout for a camel fitted with wireless internet connectivity! ….auto rickshaws fitted with wireless internet? Bridging the digital divide Indian Style!! See the BBC feature on this “Rickshaws connect India's poor”

Dec 12th, 2003, 16:56	#6
beach Lost in translation Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: India ! Posts: 2,233	BBC is right! No. BBC is right. There are large numbers of blind people in India operate public telephone call booths. One peddle in a rickshaw are mostly helped by other for moving around. Generally they stay at crowded placed like a park or near a tourist spot. By the way there is a dot on the number 5 of your telephone & PC keyboard (F, J & 5). This is for helping the blind. This is a web site for blind people by National Association for the Blind, India Just close your eyes and try to navigate by the audio instructions. You’ll experience how difficult is their life and how great they are in dealing with it.

Dec 12th, 2003, 20:54	#8
LuAnnandJawahar Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Delhi/U.S. Posts: 663	Just returned from a village where it is mainly subsistance farming with some production of dairy products for sale and of sesame oil and something similar to cumin. Out of 30 or so houses, about 10 had satelite dishes on their roofs! __________________ Reject violence.

Dec 12th, 2003, 16:04	#5
Layman Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Bendakaalooru, KA Posts: 128	"drivers who may be blind"? I wonder if the BBC got its report straight.

Dec 12th, 2003, 17:49	#7
Alan D Maha Guru Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Southampton UK Posts: 1,866	Mmmm--- I think I understand, beach. Do you mean that the blind person peddles the rickshaw while somebody else works the steering, brakes and bell. In that case Delhi auto rickshaws would be marginally more thrilling! I can see that that could be done but how does the blind person get his mobile stolen? Surely it would be better for his sighted companion to carry the mobile. Anyway, please excuse my ignorance but the BBC report didn't quite make sense. The next time I'm in Rajasthan I'll look out for these guys.

Dec 13th, 2003, 12:47	#9
beach Lost in translation Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: India ! Posts: 2,233	When Satellite TVs were introduced to the Indian villages for the first time it was revived with a lot of hue and cry. It was intended to improve literacy and social advancement. Now a villager near Lucknow who never ever has seen a beach in his whole lifetime knows what is BAYWATCH! Good or bad the satellite TV alone has changed the Indians approach towards other cultures permanently. __________________ Hampi info

Dec 13th, 2003, 20:55	#10
LuAnnandJawahar Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Delhi/U.S. Posts: 663	Agree entirely, beach. They aren't watching National Geographic. There are a few educational shows on health and such, but they're usually on during the day when the villagers are working in the fields. It could be a tool for good, but its power as a marketing tool far outweighs any other use. We are also of the belief that the western movies and shows like Baywatch (still popular!) have strongly encourages the negative view of western women which already exists--now they have visual proof so to speak. And don't even get me started on the internet!

Dec 13th, 2003, 21:10	#11
indiamike Retired Admin Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: New Joisey for now Posts: 1,759	I was surprised some years ago in Bhuj that all the children knew all of the western Wrestling stars and knew all of their names and what positions they were famous for.

Jan 23rd, 2004, 19:53	#13
beach Lost in translation Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: India ! Posts: 2,233	Now the farmer’s also can join the multilingual call center fray. The federal administration is setting up a call centers to give advice to the farmers. The problem could be the selection of right pesticide, current market price for potatoes, how to treat the decease of the camel…all are a toll free call away. Farmer leaders are skeptical though. If the farmer’s problem can be solved through call center, who’ll listen to the leaders?? Link to the BBC report Call-centres to harvest Indian farm woes

Apr 20th, 2004, 20:47	#14
beach Lost in translation Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: India ! Posts: 2,233	Elephant's role in democracy It’s election time in India. Any thing happening is news. It ranges from training villagers in voting with the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) to how someone have to trek 10km to reach the nearest polling booth to cast their vote. Today’s main national daily (The Hindu) carried this picture and the news item. For those who are having the classic doubt “Do Indians travel on elephants??” has the answer at last with picture evidence! This is the only country to get rid of the paper ballot and gone electronic at an unprecedented scale (670 million voters). No mess of long counting (and recounting!).The national results are out at the click of a few buttons. But still the good old elephants are required to carry it around ( at least at the jungle areas). India has her own ways to amuse and confuse people. Click here for the pic of elephant carrying Electronic Voting Machines. Attached Thumbnails Last edited by beach : Jul 18th, 2004 at 17:23.

Apr 20th, 2004, 21:16	#15
owen Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: texas Posts: 48	I love it, only in India. Surprised they don't have a satellite attached to him. Thanks Beach!

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