(Taxi)
Kolkata’s iconic yellow taxi is more than just a mode of transport – it is a moving symbol of the city’s rhythm and nostalgia. Kolkata’s iconic yellow taxis, predominantly Hindustan Ambassadors, started roaming the city’s roads in 1962 when the Calcutta Taxi Association chose this sturdy car for public transport, quickly becoming a symbol of the city’s charm and heritage.
Whether its pandal hopping, roaming around the city on a rainy day or just a casual ride from one place to the other, we still prefer this yellow taxi. For many of us, a ride in a yellow taxi is a journey through time, offering glimpses of Howrah Bridge, College Street, or Esplanade – where meters tick slowly, conversations roll freely, and the city’s heartbeat feels closer.
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The yellow taxi makes its place even in the celluloid in films of Satyajit Ray, Rituporno Ghosh, and Aparna Sen. Kolkatans can recall stories when the taxi gave them privacy to steal a kiss in the back seat while being driven around the city. The fondness that we have for the yellow taxi has made it an icon of the city.
Today the app-based cabs and newer vehicles have taken over the streets but the yellow taxi continues to hold emotional value. It stands as a living memory of Kolkata’s past, and a reminder that some traditions still survive in the rush of modern life.
Professionally an IT Employee and an educator, but by passion a photographer who captures stories through words and lenses.
