Nepal Old Cooly Man Carrying Wood Basket 1920s Real Photo Postcard

The term "cooly," though now largely considered derogatory, historically referred to an indentured laborer or, more broadly, a manual porter in colonial-era Asia. In Nepal, particularly before extensive road networks were developed, porters were vital for transporting goods across challenging mountainous terrain, forming the backbone of the region's economy and connectivity, a role often undertaken by individuals of varying ages.

This image, likely dating to the early 20th century, captures a traditional way of life where human labor was the primary means of transport and resource gathering, such as firewood. The individual's traditional attire and the "doko" (wicker basket) secured by a "namlo" (headstrap) illustrate the enduring practices of daily survival and commerce in Nepal's rural communities, often documented by Western photographers as ethnographic records.