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Children's crossing in India

Kumily (Kerala - 1998);
pict. De Knijf & Demolder
  Mudumalai Nat. Parc (1998);
pict. De Knijf & Demolder
  Hospet (Karnataka - 1998);
pict. De Knijf & Demolder
   
Both boys and girls are in a terrible hurry - For whom are the speed-brakers?, one is tempted to ask. It seems to be the case on most (if not all) warning signs. I wonder if they wake-up too late, or if they need to help too much in the house-hold before leaving for school. Or could they simply love the teachers so much?

We know of other children eager to reach school, but they rarely are so energetic (Spain).

  The shape of the signs is freely choosen.
We note a preference for circular and square. Europe (e.g. Belgium, Czechia) and Africa (e.g. Madagaskar) have triangular signs (with few exceptions). The Americas (e.g. Mexico) prefer square panels.

Both persons are alone. This is seldom seen.
Check it out for yourself. Try to find another country with solitary children (There is more than one on this site.).
Okay, I'll give one for free. Try Argentina.

 
Choklamsar (Leh->Manali), 1999;
pict. J. Packet
Choklamsar (Leh->Manali), 1999;
pict. J. Packet
Nurla (Leh->Srinagar), 1999;
pict. J. Packet
The samples from Ladakh show how shape doesn't matter very much. The collection now counts round, square and triangular children-signs.
The rectangular specimens carry a warning triangle on top. This is a primitive characteristic from past times when the open triangle meant danger. The kind of hazard was then specified on the rectangle mounted below the triangle. We have similar survivors from Mauritius, Trinidad & Tobago, Zanzibar and a really nice one from Great Britain.
 
Radjastan, XI.1999; pict. H. De Meyer   Radjastan, XI.1999; pict. H. De Meyer   Mongooli (Uttar P.) 30.XII.2004
   
Some more signs from the endless variety in India.    
 
The girl has a much more adult body than the one higher-up. She's walking, which makes this probably the only Indian roadsign where the person is not in a hurry.   The boy on this sign is bare footed.   At first sight You would think that this is the common running boy, but then. The bookbag is much bigger than usual. And look at the head. This is more like a man with a moustache (a one handed chasing police officer).
 
Radjastan, XI.1999; pict. H. De Meyer
He is in a hurry like most people on this page.
But the sign stands out because of the detail in the drawing (The boy wears a shirt with short sleeves.) and the satchel on his back.
The other runners carry a purse or a book-bag and their movements are less elegant. This boy runs with ease.

The triangular shape could not very often be found, but now gradually gains terrain as a modern set of iconized designs is being planted along main roads.


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More signs from India: Men at work - Falling rocks