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.