• Fifty-two year old Haneef is one of the only two existing tongawallahs in the walled city
    Fifty-two year old Haneef is one of the only two existing tongawallahs in the walled city  - Bhanvi Arora
  • He earns Rs 600-700 per day and save Rs 6,000 per month from the earnings
    He earns Rs 600-700 per day and save Rs 6,000 per month from the earnings 
Ads by ExstraSavingsAd Options
Amidst the road rage in Old Delhi due to overcrowding of vehicles, a grand luxurious Tonga (horse drawn carriage) catches the attention of a commuter. Two tongas ply in the walled city which evokes myriad memories of the old eras.

Fifty-two year old Haneef is a tongawallah (tonga operator) and has been on the ancestral business since 30 years. “My father was born in Meerut. He was a tongawallah and so was my grandfather. I am also carrying forward the legacy of the family,” he said.

Haneef rides his tonga all around the Old City covering Nizamuddin, Sita Ram Bazaar, Sadar Bazaar and ends at Chandni Chowk Bus stand. The bumpy ride is a good way to explore the heritage city as one can see Gurudwara Sis Ganj, Jain Mandir, Chandni Chowk main market, Town Hall on the way.

The joy ride jolts the passengers, splashes puddles, overtakes buses, gets honked at by cars, but still it is a unique experience.

Though Haneef has not been earning good in this business, imposition of ban on e-rickshaws has instilled in him a sense of hope. “In the age of speeding vehicles, there is hardly any business in riding a tonga. The situation was worse but became slightly better after the ban of e-rickshaws. I earn Rs 600-700 per day and save Rs 6,000 per month from the earnings,” he added.

Despite ban by the government few years back to decongest the traffic as tongas occupy ample space on roads, two tongas continue to ply in the walled city. Earlier tongawallahs used to park their tonga at a stand near the bus stop. However, after the ban was imposed on them, almost all the tongawallahs vanished and now only two are surviving. “The MCD promised us for an alternative livelihood but did not fulfil it. I don't have any choice but to continue with my profession,” he said. 

Haneef bought his horse two years back when it was a year old from ‘Pushkar mela’. He bought the race horse of Sindhi breed for Rs 30,000 and plans to sell it off soon. “I would sell it off for a value of Rs 1,000,00. I would thenBUY an e-rickshaw from the amount,” he added.

Nonetheless, till these two tongawallahs find an alternative source of income, they will continue to maintain the glory of the past and transport passengers into a world of black and white movies.