One of the earliest Hindi writer Chandradhar Sharma Gulari in the opening line of his classic story ‘Usne Kaha Tha’ speaks about the character Tongewala who while wading through Amritsar roads and flogging his horse,weaves a magic of words and gives emotionally charged calls, exhorting the pedestrians, to save themselves from his approaching ‘Tonga’.
The writer’s lyrical narration in vernacular remains imprinted in my mind even after sixty years when I had first read the story.
Sadly, those Tongas which once reigned in our imagination have gradually vanished from the roads.
They evoke a sense of poetic nostalgia.
In those days who was not fascinated with the rhythmic clip –clop of hooves.
During our childhood days the Tonga used to be the favourite mode of transport of our parents ,from home to station or vice versa may it be Delhi, Agra, Kanpur, Lucknow, Gwalior,Jaipur,Dehradun or any other throbbing city.
It was inconceivable that Tonga would not be available while every city used to have designated ‘Tonga Stands’. (Now almost vanished).
Excitement of riding a Tonga was beyond words.
Though modernity has edged the Tongas off the roads but in its century old journey, Bollywood has immortalized the Tongas.
Who can forget Mohammad Rafi’s immortal song for film Pyar Ka Bandhan (1963) filmed on Raj Kumar ‘Ghoda Peswari Mera, Tanga Lahori Mera and Shammi Kapoor‘s iconic tong scenes in Tumsa Nahih Dekha ( Yoon to hamne lalh hasin Dekhe Hai).
Dilip Kumar-Vajayanti Mala ( Naya Daur ), Madhubala (Howrah Bridge) Devanand-Madhu Bala (Jali Note),Bharat Bhushan- Amita ( Sawan),Talat Mahmood’s gazal in velvety voice ‘ Raat Ne Kya Gul Dhikaye, Hemant Kumar song in Tangewali , Manoj Kumar- Sharmila in ‘ Sawan Ki Ghata’, Dilip Kumar ‘Bachpan Ki Din Bhula Na Dena (Deedar),Joy Mukherjee –Asha Parikh (Phir Wahi Dil LayaHun) and score others.
Amitabh Bachchan singing ‘Main hoon mard tangewala’ in the movie ‘Mard’ quickly became cult music.
Music director Naushad has hoof beats in Aan and Udan Khatola.
Rajinder Kumar immortalized his role of Tongewala (1972) in the movie and wonderfully showing cinematic magic Basanti (Hema Malini) had become household name for her role in Sholay for chattering with her ‘Dhano’ while ferrying Dharminder (Veeru) and Amitabh (Jay) to Ramgarh.
Interestingly, the Tongas would always remain ingrained in our memories and many historic cities still organize heritage Tonga rides for the tourists.
The horse cart was also in vogue in most of the Asian and European countries. For centuries royalties all over the world have used horse-driven carriages.