How Many Wheels?

Dunno about you, but I hate auto-rickshaws. I hate their looks; I hate the ride, especially when it is raining or cold; and I feel extremely sorry for the poor fellows who survive by driving these around all day. My investigations have revealed that auto-rickshaw drivers suffer chronic aches and pains. To me, the auto-rickshaw should be seen as a symbol of Indian socialism - something even more ridiculous than the East German Trabant. I have travelled to many great cities, and nowhere have I seen such a silly beast let loose on public roads. In London, an old city with many narrow streets, the size of the taxicab is extra large, as seen in the photo above.

Even in our own cities, I am old enough to recall a time when there were no auto-rickshaws at all - as in the case of Calcutta in the 60s and 70s. Parts of Bombay are still like that. But Calcutta had its excellent tramway. Somehow, in socialist India, we are not thinking about tramways. All our small cities and towns could benefit from such services.

I first encountered the auto-rickshaw when I moved to Delhi in the late 60s. Those were the really horrible days of socialism in India, when getting a scooter from Bajaj Auto took 10 years; and getting a Premier Padmini took even longer. There were scarcely any cars on Delhi's roads those days. Everyone envied the diplomats who alone owned great cars. Thankfully, all this has changed. Nowhere is this more apparent than in Delhi, where The State rides the absurd Ambassador while The People drive real cars. Like the King riding a donkey while the people ride Arabian stallions.

Dunno about you, but I believe in Four Wheels. Not two. And certainly not three. Four wheels are stable. And they constitute what is universally defined as a "car." I believe that public transportation in the modern age should be provided by cars, buses, trams, underground railways and the like - but not auto-rickshaws. Note the title of my recent monograph: Four Wheels For All. You can read and download it here.

Dunno about you, but I had some serious thoughts about what can be done about the stupid auto-rickshaw. Quite naturally, I thought of a political movement against it. It must be noted that the nationwide takeover of city streets by this ugly beastie is indeed "political" - because it is "licensed" by the RTOs. The profusion of auto-rickshaws is part of a grand socialist "design." If it is to be opposed, politics must come into play.

My thoughts therefore turned to those who are economically seriously injured by an official policy that encourages three-wheeled beasties to rule the roads. My thoughts turned immediately to the workers in our rubber plantations. Poor chaps. Tap, tap all day, collecting sap. These very poor people would benefit hugely if four wheels became the norm, for that would mean one more tyre on every vehicle. So spread the word in the plantations - it's either four wheels, or bust.

I guess, in this instance, what we need is a kind of "Candlemakers' Petition."

Ha ha.

But seriously, we in India must think hard of the future. Of being a rich nation. Of being a people equipped with the best Capital goods the world has to offer. The auto-rickshaw is a symbol of the dead past, those horrible decades of socialism. It has NO PLACE in our nation's future, which must be bright. Think about it.