Mumbai Dabbawalas.
Sharell Cook
Mumbai's dabbawalas, the men who transport and deliver hundreds of thousands of lunch boxes to the city's office workers every day, are certainly well known. Their remarkable, near-flawless system has brought them international recognition and they've been the subject of documentaries, paintings, and sculptures. They're also a popular attraction for foreign tourists, who frequently take pictures of them. But has all the attention gone to their heads?
According to this recent news article, the dabbawalas have begun questioning whether tourists have permission to photograph them and are charging fees in return. What's really shocking is the amount being demanded -- one dabbawala apparently started off by asking for 25,000 rupees before raising the price to 50,000 rupees! Crazy.
Have you ever taken photos of the dabbawalas? What was your experience like? Did you have to pay?
Find out more about the dabbawalas and where you can see them in this guide to the Top 10 attractions in Mumbai.
really very bad behaviour…