From bustling cities to placid villages, bicycles in India are much more than just transport. They are a way of life, carrying goods, dreams and continuing traditions. Hemantkumar Shivsharan creates a portrait of India through its cycles.
Commute Between Villages
Doesn't matter what the temperature is, rural folk will always cover up to protect themselves from the sun -- safa, long sleeve shirt, dhoti -- as they bicycle peacefully down dusty paths connecting villages.
Lifeline Of The Nation
Tracks are for trains, tracks are for bicycles on a railway bridge in Agra.
Childhood On Two Wheels
Barefoot rides and laughter down sleepy lanes... A child's first taste of freedom and adventure.
Carrying Loved Ones
A husband, a wife and a bicycle on life's journey.
Furry Co-Passengers
Not just people -- even beloved pets get their special spin on a cycle!
Sweet Delights Use Three Wheels
In the heat of the day, the sound of jingling bells and the sight of an ice cream bicycle cart brings instant joy to the streets.
The Fruit Seller
Brightly-coloured fruit stacked high on bicycles -- a mobile market on two wheels.
The Postman Always Rings Twice... On A Cycle
Through sun and storm, the humble postman delivers letters full of hope, love and news. Or even a money order.
Dilli Deliveries
... in brutal heat.
Pedalling To School
School days are about uniforms, chatter and early morning bicycle rides, even in the warm summer rain.
Wheels That Run India
Boxes piled high on cycle carts... the unsung workforce that keeps India moving.
How Many Fit On A Cycle Rickshaw?
A family on the move. Take a spin on a cycle rickshaw when you get a chance; it's both a ride and a cultural experience.
Delivering To Your Kitchen
They carry gas too.
Sharp Skills On Wheels
This craftsman uses his bicycle not just to ride, but to grind -- stationary cycling turn the wheels of a mobile knife-sharpening station. A timeless trade, powered by pedals and precision.
Crossing The Ganga By Cycle
At Prayagraj his bicycle fords the holy river.
Sellers At the Shoreline
Coconut water comes to your doorstep via cycle-borne coconut sellers.
Milk On the Move
The clatter of milkcans is still an early morning sound in many a town as bicycles deliver fresh milk.
Heavy Loads, Strong Spirits
Bicyclewallahs ferry everything from sacks, maal, even furniture, with broad smiles.
Securing The Border
BSF personnel use bicycles for rounds at Fasidaya in West Bengal at the Bangladesh border .
The Dabbawalas Of Bombay
The legendary Mumbai Dabbawalas deliver hot meals daily from your home to your office desk with incredible accuracy.
Holi Pedalling
Holi is as good a day as any to go out for a ride, even if painted silver.
Braving Floods
When the rain arrives in torrents, bicycles are still the best form of transport, an amphibious one at that.
A Bicycle Takes A Ride, Ticketless
Even trains make space for bicycles, albeit outside the window, at Parsha Bazar station, Bihar.
Fixing Wheels, Fixing Dreams
And then there is the busy roadside cycle repair shop that hums, where every tool and tyre tells a story.
Pedalling For The Planet
The Clean Air India Movement reminds us that cycling is not just tradition, but to be done for a greener future. Cycle on India!