Appropriate Technology

I've been working in India for about five years now, and I've yet to get through an entire week without at least one, "Oh my God," "Ah-ha," or eye-rolling moment. Sometimes they occur so often I just have to stop looking.

These are two photos of today's moment - a knife salesman cum scissors grinder parked in front of my favorite coffee spot in Hyderabad.

With a display of knives attached to the handlebars, a grinder attached to the crossbar, and a belt to the sproket-cluster, he owns a business that rakes in a huge 100 rupees a day (about $2.50) - with no overhead, and completely mobile.



Click on the pictures for a larger view.