Around 57 teams from across the world showed they did not lack the drive when they took part in an autorickshaw rally from Pondicherry to Shillong on January 1.
At a time when the West Bengal government is trying to phase out two-stroke auto-rickshaws from Kolkata, there seems to be quite a number of takers for these beleaguered three-wheelers.
Around 57 teams from across the world showed they did not lack the drive when they took part in an autorickshaw rally from Pondicherry to Shillong on January 1. Organised by the UK-based Adventurists, the rally aims at raising money for two charities – Frank Water Project, UK and Mercy Corps, both of which have a presence in India. Frank Water provides sustainable sources of clean water, while Mercy Corps works with disadvantaged communities in north east India.
Adventurists is run by the League of Adventurists International, an award-winning company based in the UK. Its website says it “believes in saving the world through adventure.”
DNA caught up with two participants during their halt in Kolkata – Rahul Bose and Jacob Chacko, both 26 years old. Rahul said: “It’s all very exciting. I am getting to see terrains and areas in India I would not have been able to under normal circumstances.”
Rahul is doing his PhD in physics from Imperial College, London. He was born in Germany of parents who are originally from Kolkata.
Chacko is pursuing his final year MS, also from Imperial College London. He has visited Kerala several times but has not seen much of the rest of India.
Recalling the past seven days, both said the biggest challenge lies in handling the auto itself. “We had a test drive. But, when we started out, the gears had fallen off…the autos had not been serviced properly!” chuckled Jacob.
The autos have been rented out to the participating teams, who are funding their accommodations. The teams have the freedom to choose their own routes. “The challenge lies in not winning the rally but completing it in the stipulated 15 days,” said Jacob. The duo is driving in turns, from 6am till late evening to cover the 3,500 km stretch to the finishing line. They have, so far, driven for 16 hours at one go.
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