Tanga in Pakistan

[ghazi52]

A Tonga on The Murree Road.
Date: 1909

 

[sur]

Tanga in Pakistan

True story:

A medical student learning to take history of patients in hospital.
Going by the book.
A patient hit by the bamboo of a Tanga comes in emerg.
That student while taking his history, gets to the point where he's to ask about any Family History of the condition that patient presented with:
"Aap Ki Family Mai Kabhi Kisi Ko Tangay Ka Baanss Laga Hay?"
(Does someone in you family has a history of getting hit by Tanga's bamboo?)

 

[ghazi52]

Rawalpindi 1970's

 

[ghazi52]

Karachi..

 

[khail007]

Viewing the present circumstances of the rising cost of petrol and diesel, this mode of transport is badly in need to revive, for passengers as well as logistics.

 

[ghazi52]

Viewing the present circumstances of the rising cost of petrol and diesel, this mode of transport is badly in need to revive, for passengers as well as logistics.

Excellent idea.

 

[SecularNationalist]

I thought "Tanga" was banned all over Pakistan?

I haven't seen one in my part of the country since last couple of years... or is it banned in Punjab only? or is it just my city? lol

Correct I never seen one since ages.
Only have few childhood memories of riding in a tanga.

 

[ghazi52]

2015 ,Peshawar..

From Khyber to Karachi, the horse-drawn, wooden carriage — locally known as ‘tanga’ — has been a widely used mode of transportation in the past. In another part of the world, the British are so enamoured with the contraption, the royal family still features it in their weddings. Prince William and Kate Middleton, as well as Diana and Prince Charles, rode one when they tied the knot. Queen Elizabeth has also been frequently seen in one, especially during her birthday parade. However, over time, the tanga has handed over its reins to more modern modes of transport.

For the people of Pakistan, the tanga was a cheap source of travel. In Peshawar, most people preferred to go around in a tanga, which has been eulogised in Urdu and Pashto literature and picturised in songs dotting films, such as the popular 1969 Pashto flick Kochwan (carriage driver). Just like the British, the people of Peshawar also used the tanga in their wedding ceremonies. The bride sat in the rear while the groom rode up front with his friends. For the affluent, it was a matter of pride.

Qissa Khwani bazaar, which served as a gateway to Central Asia for businessmen, had a tanga stand from where people ventured to other parts of the city. One could easily hire the services of a tanga from different points of the city such as Sunheri Masjid, Gora Bazaar, Abdara Road, Ramdas, etcetera. But with time, these tanga stands gradually disappeared.

With the advent of the auto rickshaw, the horse-drawn carriage began to lose its utility. “I have been associated with the tanga profession for the last 40 years,” shares tanga owner Mir Zaman, 60. He adds his father and grandfather also made a living riding tangas. “I take local and foreign visitors wherever they want to go in my tanga.” He agrees the arrival of auto rickshaws and the more modern Qingqi has pushed the horse-drawn carriage to the margins. Zaman says he now barely makes Rs500 per day of which Rs300 is spent on fodder for the horse, leaving him with Rs200 to get by with.

According to Mir Zaman, around 150 tangas would be available at the stand on Abdara Road in the past, but now only one or two can be seen as most kochwan have switched to auto rickshaw or Qingqis in hopes of earning a better living. Moreover, he complains traffic policemen do not let them ride their tangas on main roads, forcing them to be confined to service lanes.

Muhammad Jan, 45, from Kohat Road, Peshawar, who repairs tangas, says, “I have been in this profession for the past 30 years.” He adds that he too inherited the skill from his forefathers. Jan claims his profession was once a flourishing one in the metropolitan because of the widespread use of tangas, which naturally required frequent repairs due to their widespread use. “Now, I only make Rs200 per day. Tell me, how can I feed my family with such a meagre income?”

Fayyaz Khan, while climbing on a tanga on Abdara Road, University Town, says he always prefers to travel in the horse-drawn carriage because it is more comfortable than an auto rickshaw or Qingqi, besides also being easier on the pocket. “The sound of the horse’s footsteps cannot be described in words. When you sit in a tanga, you imagine yourself as a member of the royal family,” Khan says. He adds the kochwan keeps him entertained with traditional stories during the ride — an added boon. However, Khan is clearly not the typical traveller, with his preference likely to be branded as eccentric by most commuters today.

Traffic policeman Khan Wali says the maddening traffic on the city’s roads has forced them to keep tangas off the main routes of Peshawar. With the great rush of motorists, Wali says it would be impossible to manage vehicular traffic if tangas are allowed to ply main roads.

As buses, cars and rickshaws whizz past Wali leaving behind clouds of dark smoke, their drivers honking and screaming at each other, one finds it hard to forget a time when no blaring horns drowned out the clip-clop of horses that Khan finds so difficult to find the right words to pay tribute to.

 

[Kedikesenfare2]

Viewing the present circumstances of the rising cost of petrol and diesel, this mode of transport is badly in need to revive, for passengers as well as logistics.

They treat the animals cruelly. I'd rather see people suffer than innocent horses. I'm against tangas - except on women.

 

[khail007]

They treat the animals cruelly. I'd rather see people suffer than innocent horses. I'm against tangas - except on women.

Cruelty is the main issue, overloading and beating the animals, if people avoid such things and feed the animal properly then there should be no issue.
Some animals are meant for riding and for load carrying and even one could see them in sports. Yes, the 'matador' sport in Spain is extreme cruelty and should be stopped.

 

[ghazi52]

Karachi 1930's..

 

[PradoTLC]

Well regardless of the times
There are some great benefits of Animal Based transportation if done correctly

a) Pakistan has abundance of animals and food , so a proper infrastructure can exist for short distance travel on Horse carrige
b) There is no noise Pollution due to a Horse carrige ride (Better then rickshaw, better then motor bike)
c) The Tanga (Horse carrige ) does not damages the roads

For your general nighbourhood level stuff , It is a smart affordable ride

​

1) Shopping Market Travel​

2) Visiting near by places 2-5km zone​

3) May be visiting near by Resturant​

Bit more professionalism as such (image above)

The Tanga Ride/Licence if managed properly for Neighbourhoods, can help reduce the
Carbon fuel purchase across country , if implemented at neighbourhood level.


Note:
For Office commute , in morning which may involve 30km travel perhaps Only Bus or Train is ideal choice.


In Pakistan , I think the Tanga ride is not universal in service i.e No Set Standard for the carrige


Customer Friendly Carrige Designs will attract more riders

Layers of Transportation

Distance 10-30 km
Office/Work - Bus/Train/Taxi

Distance 1-6 km
Neighbourhood task (Shopping , Eating Local Resturant , Subzi Mandi, School)- Tanga Ride

Super Short Distance Travel 1 km
Barber shop / Bread etc or Just drinks - Walking or Bicycle



Motor Bikes are not needed for every thing

Better invest in Public transport … tanga sorry I never liked them with thier horse dung all over the place

Pakistan problems are simple it just people lack the will for different reasons

 

[ghazi52]

Lahore 1979...

 

[ghazi52]

1940... A view of Tanga Stand, Shahi Bagh Peshawar.

 

[ghazi52]

Circular road, Lahore.... 1993...