The rickshaws, manufactured by the Nagpur Rickshaw Company are being exported to Germany at the instance of Dr Hurst F Rolly, a representative of the German trading house for ferrying visitors inside the campus of the Friedensau University, Germany.

Talking to The Indian Express, proprietor of the Nagpur Rickshaw Company, Pravin Mundhada, said the three cycle rickshaws would be despatched to Mumbai next week, from where they would be shipped to Germany. Each rickshaw carries a special message, painting or a slogan emblazoned on the rear side, to highlight the golden jubilee year of Indian independence and Indo-German friendship.

The export order for the rickshaws had been placed by Dr Hurst through his shipping agent in the country, R D Kulkarni and Company, Mumbai. Hurst hadstressed to Mundhada the need for a unique carrier in the university to ferry visitors around.

"It was a Godsend opportunity for me to try and present a good picture of the country to the Germans in the golden jubilee year of independence. Pride and not profit was the motive. I hit upon the idea of painting special messages on the rear of the rickshaws. When I talked to Dr Hurst about it, he appreciated the idea very much," says Mundhada.

Incidentally, the golden jubilee of the Indian independence coincides with 50 years of the foundation of the Nagpur Rickshaw Company as well. Mundhada says he is happy that one of the most industrially advanced nations in the world has given his company a chance to spread the message of goodwill by showing interest in the "poor-man's vehicle from India". "I know a small man like me cannot make any difference to the relations of great nations. But I feel wonderfully proud of my small contribution to the cause," he says.