A sturdy wooden cart with large, iron-rimmed spoked wheels, drawn by two white oxen. It is heavily laden with numerous jute sacks, which probably contain grain, rice or other agricultural produce. – Kollam, near Trivandrum (now Thiruvananthapuram) – 1990

A fascinating moment capturing the coexistence of tradition and modernity in India. It depicts a street scene typical of the country’s rural regions or smaller towns, where old and new modes of transport share the same space. The yellow lorry is a classic model from Tata Motors, recognisable by its distinctive logo. These vehicles are often artistically decorated with colourful patterns or religious symbols. In direct contrast to this is the traditional cart in the foreground. The driver sits calmly amongst his cargo, whilst the heavily laden oxen plough their way forward – a sight that has scarcely changed for centuries. - Kollam (Quilon) - Near Trivandrum (now Thiruvananthapuram) - 1990

The town of Quilon lies sixty kilometres north of Trivandrum, the capital of the south-western Indian state of Kerala, on the Malabar Coast. The planters still often transport their spice harvests – mainly pepper, chilli and cardamom – to the buyers in the town using old-fashioned ox-drawn carts. From Quilon, the sacks of spices are transported by lorry to Kerala’s main port, Cochin, situated 120 kilometres to the north, from where they are shipped all over the world. – 1990

This photograph shows a boat-building workshop in the backwaters region of Kollam (Quilon) in Kerala, India. It depicts wooden fishing boats that have been pulled ashore on rails for maintenance work. A distinctive feature of the region are the dense groves of palm trees in the background, which are typical of Kerala’s waterways. – Journey to Allepey – 1990

Traditional fishermen casting a cast net in the backwaters of Kerala, in south-west India. The scene captures a typical means of livelihood in this water-rich region, which is known for its extensive network of lakes, rivers and canals. The fishermen use handmade nets and traditional wooden boats, often known locally as valloms. For thousands of people in the villages across much of Kerala, fishing is the primary means of livelihood. – Kollam (Quilon) – 1990

Along the coasts and inland waterways of Kerala, such as here around Kollam, one finds the famous Chinese fishing nets (known locally as Cheena vala) in the backwaters of Kerala, India. These distinctive, permanently installed dip nets are an iconic symbol of the region. They are mechanical devices made of wooden or bamboo poles that lower a horizontal net into the water and raise it again using counterweights (often stones). It is believed that this fishing technique was originally brought to Kerala by Chinese traders in the 14th century. - Kollam (Quilon) - Journey towards Allepey - 1990

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