Auto! Auto! / The Drivers That Move India From A to B (Photographs & Article by C. Lazarus) by cottonlazarus

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· @cottonlazarus ·
$9.60
Auto! Auto! / The Drivers That Move India From A to B (Photographs & Article by C. Lazarus)
![8.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmfX1qVq9DXQ1pyFA4Aa192gV5wdnF6kXa45yZxB1xm5gR/8.jpg)

The Auto (or Tuk Tuk), a defining image of India, past, and present. A great contributor to the bustling noise and chaos and pollution but these little 2 wheeled machines move every caste from A to B to C, all day, every day. This is my ode to the drivers who operate in this minefield, from young Indian Muslims to retired doctors or lawyers. The Auto driver is a way of life. 

![3.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmbnZZoHz31nodGMy4WSwcP69xE611FoPhupmxPPF6JCdE/3.jpg)

It truly is a free for all. There is two way you can go about getting a ride in India. Either decide on an inflated price before hand and have no problems, but prepare to move at full speed with little regard for safety... or argue for the meter to be used, which is usually broken, if it's not broken expect a slow detour or epic proportions until that meter hits a good score. My advice is to just enjoy the ride. Talk to the drivers, the more questions you ask about them, the most trustworthy, honest they become. Sit in silence like an imperialist and you'll get ripped to shreds, and why not? Our ancestors did it for centuries and we owe these places so much more than our measly touristic contributions.

![4.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmXQoX3tZzN45Jv7NQxZQzzpTFxbtfRR4ZaDzG2JELJZ6Z/4.jpg)

Hindu drivers like to talk politics, usually in an openly racist tone. It is hard to label racism in a broken country like India. There is so much propaganda floating around the street and the majority of people are not connected to the bigger picture. Beliefs and stories and information is gained through word of mouth or pro-government media rahter than through personal research.

![5.png](https://steemitimages.com/DQmfFJ7gEzESdYwXknCQ1RKNyysFhebLyXPqX1mYKY2u8qK/5.png)

Muslim drivers talked about their families and faith openly and always with great pride. When asked about India's segregated society they could only acclaim that everyone was a brother and a friend. Politics wasn't important anymore and they wished the world was at peace. Muslim drivers always used the meter and took the fastest route, it seemed to be in their nature to do so.

![2.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmXKVo5558HY1UyRjxFHxZbv68rFPq6fCMNi1XuFBbcBjK/2.jpg)

Many of the portraits I took of drivers, were insisted by the drivers themselves. The expression was always of content and pride. They are a million miles away from the images of social media and fake selfies. They are a human being, a life, a story of the decades past and it really shows through a single image.

![1.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmSSyca3FzGUsj55KhLsqRuPcmhrQUBbDF3grMt39jNzhL/1.jpg)

I hope you enjoy the rest of these portraits and the next time you get a ride anywhere in the world, strike up a conversation.

![6.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmU9k9hgjERgJCiqPUFUwGGggwfbruN6wpB7xXGvp1JnJe/6.jpg)

![7.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmcrBGzfCUoLueCrWuioFqC4JQCHhJbfK8tmTezwM92Ccp/7.jpg)

Have a great day,
Cotton Lazarus!
👍  , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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vote details (20)
@bitrocker2020 ·
great details @cottonlazarus
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@artwithflo ·
$0.12
Great portraits and lovely story, I really enjoyed reading and watching <3
👍  
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