Leaving behind their bullet-proof vehicles, four US woman diplomats have taken to the streets of the capital with their “personalized auto-rickshaws” in their “out-of-the-box” diplomacy style.
Ann L. Mason, Ruth Holmberg, Shareen J. Kitterman, and Jennifer Bywaters love to go with their black and pink three-wheelers by driving themselves for all their work, including the ‘official trips’. These diplomats have taken to the common man’s commute not just for fun, but also to set an example.
Speaking to ANI, the diplomats shared their experience of learning this distinct mode of transport and how diplomats driving the auto-rickshaws is a rare exception!
“From Detroit to my autorickshaw, I’ve had a lifelong love of vehicles, and so everywhere I’ve been, there’s been something special about a vehicle, but really none more special in my opinion than an autorickshaw. When I was in Pakistan, before coming to India, I was in armoured vehicles and they were big, beautiful vehicles. But I would always look out on the street and I would see the autorickshaws going by and I always wanted to be in the autorickshaw. So when I got to India and had the opportunity to buy one, I took it immediately”, said Ann L Mason.
“For me, it was terrifying. Yes, learning to drive the autorickshaw was completely new for me. I had never driven any vehicle with a clutch, never driven a motorcycle, only automatic cars, my whole life”, she said when asked about how hard it was to learn, maintain, and get a licence for an auto.
On being asked about her inspiration behind the idea, Ann said that her mother is her inspiration, who inspired her to take chances and experiment in life.
Her personalised black autorickshaw has a Bluetooth device and a curtain printed with the image of a tiger. She has taken special care to personalise her autorickshaw, nicknamed KITT.