Bored during the pandemic lockdown in 2020, a mechanic and his two brothers in Bihar’s Saran district started converting cars into helicopter raths (chariots), which are now a craze during weddings.
A couple’s vow to visit the moon doesn’t appear to be a far-off dream. This holds especially true for the residents of Sarmi village in Bihar’s Saran district. And no, it’s not because Chandrayaan has just landed on the moon.
Mithlesh Kumar, a young innovator in Sarmi village, and his two brothers are turning cars into ‘helicopters’, giving marrying couples a unique way to travel on their special day. He dubs these modified cars helicopter rath or chopper chariots.
Though his fancy chariots don’t yet fly, the long tail attached to the back of the car and the helicopter-like rotating fan give the couple a flying experience.
The idea for a winged car was born some years ago when Mithilesh was gazing at the sky one night, marvelling at the moon and stars.
“The morning I woke up, I asked my brothers to try something new and design the helicopter from a Tata Nano car,” he said.
However, his journey into crafting helicopter raths began during the pandemic-spurred lockdown in 2020 when, along with his two brothers, they found themselves sequestered at home. Boredom was the spark that ignited their creative light-bulb moment.
“We thought of giving this idea of turning cars into helicopters a shape,” Mithlesh said.
Working tirelessly day and night, the trio equipped a car with a powerful engine on the roof to move the rotor blades. This initial attempt exceeded their expectations as the blades whirled so fast that a dust whirlpool surrounded the car, akin to a real helicopter’s downwash.
The trio savoured their initial taste of success and have been on an upward trajectory ever since. To this day, they have successfully converted more than 15 cars into helicopter raths, and the trend has caught on in neighbouring districts such as Darbhanga, Samastipur, and Kaimur. Their expertise has even garnered them orders from as far away as Nepal and Nagaur district in Rajasthan.
“People like inventions. If they get something new to celebrate, they would want to possess it,” Mithlesh said, explaining the growing popularity of his winged cars, complete with rotors and a tail boom.
The helicopter cars, in return, proved to be thoughtful to the brothers.
“We equipped them with wings, and they returned the favour,” he said. “It was as if the wings were ours,” he quipped.
The trio refrained from migrating to Gujarat for daily-wage labour this time precisely because the brothers had acquired the means to pursue their dreams.
“The day I get an order from Gujarat, it would be one of my happiest days,” he said, adding that the state has given him so much in the past and that now is the time to pay back.
“A helicopter car from Bihar hitting the roads of Gujarat would make Bihar proud,” he said, remembering his Gujarat days.
With the three brothers working together, building a helicopter car now takes 10 to 15 days. They charge rupees one lakh 90 thousand for the modification.
Mithlesh said individuals bring their own cars for modification purposes. Their process primarily involves designing the fan, cutting the roof, and determining the tail end. The electric switches and other components are crafted using classic, vintage patterns to evoke a helicopter-like ambience.
Their helicoper cars have brought a touch of magic to weddings in rural Bihar, offering couples a unique experience.
“Why should the rich have all the fun?” Mithlesh mused. “Ours is a helicopter of the poor.”
The trio even rents these helicopter cars to couples for their weddings, charging them a modest fee.
Mithlesh, who is in his early 20s, lives in a joint family of 18 members. He completed his class 10 education a few years ago. He desires to resume his studies but with a different perspective on education.
“I am not good at learning formulas and writing examinations,” he said, believing that such conventional education impedes practical knowledge.
He aspires to study aerodynamics at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
“My mind is a pendulum of thoughts. I travel from one idea to the other, and that aerospace consumes most of my time,” he said.
When asked if he’ll be crafting the next Chandrayaan, he smiled and added that to work with scientists on a space mission would be a dream come true. “I learn techniques very quickly,” he said.
The moon has long been a timeless muse – always holding a special place in human hearts. With Frank Sinatra’s Fly me to the moon or Bollywood number Chalo dildar chalo, chand ke paar chalo playing, Mithlesh’s helicopter rath symbolises people’s fascination with the moon.
It’s not just a mode of transportation. It’s a flight of dreams – a connection to a distant paradise where love and adventure await.
The lead image shows cars turned into “helicopters”, which are now a craze during weddings (Photo by Mithlesh Kumar)
Amir Malik is a freelance journalist based in Bihar. He writes about health, women and children and their interaction with nature. He is a Rural Media Fellow 2022 at Youth Hub, Village Square.
