- Anand Mahindra’s post showing a Mahindra three-wheeler on British roads sparks humour, nostalgia and pride online
London: An Indian auto-rickshaw travelling on a road in the United Kingdom has become an unexpected social media sensation after industrialist Anand Mahindra shared a video of the familiar three-wheeler online.
Mahindra posted the video on X on October 5, showing an Indian-style rickshaw navigating a British road. Alongside the clip, he wrote in Gujarati, “UK ma riksha aavi gai chhe… Mahindra ni chhe, aapda,” roughly translating to, “A rickshaw has arrived in the UK. It is Mahindra’s. It is ours.” Mahindra also noted that the vehicle had been imported by a hobbyist.
The sight immediately attracted attention because auto-rickshaws are strongly associated with everyday transportation in India, while their appearance on British roads remains unusual. Social media users responded with a mixture of amusement, nostalgia and national pride.
Several commenters joked about bringing familiar Indian auto-rickshaw culture to Britain, including fare negotiations, traffic conversations and the colourful phrases traditionally painted on Indian three-wheelers. Others imagined what an auto ride through London might look like, complete with the distinctive experience associated with travelling in an Indian rickshaw.
One of the most widely repeated reactions described the sight as “reverse colonisation”, turning Britain’s colonial history into a humorous reference to an Indian vehicle now appearing on British streets. Other users called it a memorable example of Indian products and culture travelling internationally.
The moment also reflects the wider global presence of Indian automotive products. Mahindra’s three-wheelers have found international markets, and the appearance of one in the UK offered an unusual visual reminder of that global reach.
What is an ordinary sight on Indian roads suddenly became extraordinary in London, turning a simple rickshaw journey into a viral cross-cultural moment.
