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There is definitely a love - hate relationship between the city of Kolkata and the rickshaw pullers. Unknown to many, the goverment of West Bengal (with Kolkata as it's capital) was dominated by the communist party. It was the publicly elected communist goverment with the longest tenure anywhere in the world. In power for 34 years the aera ended in May 2011 with the victory of the Trinamool Congress. The work as rickshaw puller was not at all in line with communist ideals. A promise to ban rickshaws, however, was never acted on after heavy protest. Most of the pullers come to Kolkata from the very poor neighbor state of Bihar in search for a better life. Without any education this work is their only way to make a living.

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