How the autorickshaw tuk-tukked its way to India
Think the auto rickshaw is purely Indian? Think again! The debut episode of That’s The Thing takes you on a hilarious, high-octane ride through the unexpected global journey of India’s most iconic three-wheeler.
Is the auto rickshaw really Indian? Or did it tuk-tuk its way into our hearts from faraway lands?
In the pilot episode of That’s The Thing, hosts Jimmy Xavier, Kavya Srinivasan, and Atharva Karandikar go on a rollicking ride through the action-packed history of India’s most iconic three-wheeler. From 19th-century Japan’s human-pulled jinrikshas, to Italy’s buzzing Piaggio Ape, to Bajaj Auto’s desi makeover, they unearth the quirky global roots of the autorickshaw.
Discover how freedom fighters introduced the auto to India post-Independence, how e‑rickshaws are reshaping public transport, and why we might finally have the ride-hailing revolution we need.
Along the way, there’s trivia, movie shout-outs (hello Octopussy and Autoraja), and a peek at how autos are doubling up as mobile homes and healthcare vans.
Fast, funny, and packed with trivia, this is a history/culture lesson you’ll want to be stuck in traffic for. Hold tight — this ride has no seatbelts!
Credits
Produced by Jimmy Xavier
Radio Azim Premji University
Akshay Ramuhalli, Bijoy Venugopal, Bruce Lee Mani, Gorveck Thokchom, Kishor Mandal, Narayan Krishnaswamy, Prashant Vasudevan, Sananda Dasgupta, Seema Seth, Shraddha Gautam, Supriya Joshi, and Velu Shankar