I think rickshaws are unique, i imagine if Mumbai were a human body, rickshaws would be red blood cells darting through the entire thing with no rhyme or reason. Some would compare them to a cancer, i guess that analogy makes more sense once you see how they drive. Anyway most rickshaws have been named by their respective drivers and the name is usually displayed on the back in really tacky lettering. Most of them are religious in significance, but some are absolute pearlers and really give us an insight into the mind of the chacha driving. My favourites thus far..
1) “Meri Jung”- roughly translated it means “My Battle”, the clincher on this guy was that it also had a cartoon Anil Kapoor (famous Indian actor from the 80′s and 90′s) embossed between each word, a shoutout to the 1985 film of the same name. A man who names his rickshaw after a film who’s central theme is murderous revenge is genuinley not a person you f&&k with on the streets.
2) Rabb Ka Darr- roughly translated from the original Urdu it means “Fear of God”. In this scenario Chacha could either be a pious man who leads a life of simplicity and prayer and drives his rickshaw as if it were a chariot to 786. Or the name of the rickshaw is a goal Chacha aims to achieve by driving like a madman in the hope of instilling “Rabb ka Darr” in fellow commuters. The sadist in me prefers the latter.
3) Sweety-Awwwwwww. Translation not required.
A special mention though must be made of another rickshaw with what i believe to be the coolest name. A more appropriate title there is not for this piece of engineering brilliance, Ladies and Gentleman a Fist in the Sky presents to you for the first time on the internet …….the Piaggio Ape
Now you can move your goods in the only way that makes sense….Ape-style….. The Piaggio Ape, the worlds first all luxury three-wheeler! (cage for livestock not included)
-n-
