Rural Jugaad

Jaipur never stops surprising me.
 
While in Jaipur last week, a  vendor selling fresh sugarcane juice came selling door to door.
His machine was neither hand-driven nor electric-powered. Then how did it work? And how did he move it door to door, colony to colony?

Answer lies in 'Jugaad'  जुगाड़ -- meaning innovation based on local needs.
His vehicle was driven by an agriculture pump installed on a platform. When not in motion, it powered the sugarcane crusher. Simple. Unfortunately I could not take a picture. What I could get from the net courtesy www.carwale.com is this:

The foot pedal on bottom right enables forward movement of the platform. No driving license required.

Impressed? And his pricing was competitive too. Rs 10 for a glass with ice or Rs 12 a glass without ice! Amazing!
This is real India.

The machine was made in Rajkot Gujarat and deployed in Rajasthan.

Jaipur is a blend of old and the new. The city does have a changing face. Those who have seen it in 1970s-90s will find a change. If you wish to browse the previous post on the Pink City please click the link below:
Changing face of Jaipur

Thanks for browsing.

  Harsh-the-Ghumakkad/ 2nd April 2015

Changing face of Jaipur

____________ Changing Face of Jaipur, Rajasthan ____________ 

Jaipur, the capital city of Rajasthan is known for its palaces, forts and museums. It has history going back 400 years and more. The pink city as it is called, is catching up with modern times. See the pictures.

The undisputed icon of Jaipur is Hawa Mahal. Standing tall, it has majestic 'jharokas' or latticed windows for the queen/other ladies of the kingdom to view the scene outside the palace.

Amer Fort and its Diwan-e-aam are equally famous.

 Or, the Birla Mandir made of pure white marble!

Even the railway station is patterned on the old architecture.

But new icons are emerging. Like Motisons Tower on Tonk Road. Shaped like a lotus, the leaves have colours of the gems and other precious stones. A delight to the eye. See two pictures below-- both shot from a moving vehicle during my recent visit to Jaipur.

This lotus-like building and its petal shaped shaped walls change colours at night. See the link  http://www.archdaily.com/366817/motisons-tower-kothari-associates/  Even though featured on Arch Daily, a lot of architects have given a thumbs down sign on it! 
The above postscript is courtesy Trixie Asirvatham from Bangalore who is former Creative head of a leading ad agency in India.

 And then there are other glass-and-concrete icons rising from the ground! Like the World Trade Park abutting Malviya Nagar. Enjoy the spectacle.

Jaipur has a village theme-based resort called 'Chokhi Dhani' meaning 'Excellent rural annexe'. The owners have created yet another icon in glass for their corporate office-- Chokhi Dhani Tower.

To cope with increased traffic density, Jaipur Metro is fast taking shape.

Like any other human habitat, it adapts itself with changing times. Jaipur has retained its historic past and yet it is blending with modernity.

Your pictures/comments are welcome!

  -Ghumakkad Harsh in Jaipur/ 2nd April 2014

________________ End of Jaipur's new face ______________