Henri Cartier-Bresson, widely considered the father of photojournalism, visited Pondicherry in April 1950. Bresson’s self-commissioned collection of 119 photographs, including portraits of Sri Aurobindo, the Mother and life in the Ashram, taken during this trip, have remained largely obscure until now.

This vehicle, also known as La Pondicherienne was the typical Pondicherian rickshaw. It was a four-wheeled covered cart pulled by two men and steered by passengers. This mode of transport was possibly confined to this French colony. Pic/Bourne & Shepherd, C 1890