Indian Solutions to a Global Problem -- The current Maharana Shri Arvind Singhji, 76th custodian of the house of Mewar, combines philanthropic interests with a keen capitalist eye -- he owns some 12 heritage hotels throughout Rajasthan, from which a sizable part of the profits are funneled back into his Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation. Long concerned about the effects of global warming, particularly in Udaipur, which has seen a significant rise in average temperatures, this particular descendant of the sun has perhaps fulfilled his destiny by helping to pioneer the world's first solar-powered water taxi and the world's first solar rickshaw, which were successfully tested in Udaipur, with the ultimate aim of making Udaipur a solar-powered city. Because 86% of all the vehicles in India are two-stroke two-wheelers (motorcycles, mopeds, gas-powered scooters), which are responsible for a major percentage of the country's carbon dioxide emissions, this could go a long way toward solving India's pollution problems. In 2005, the foundation won the prestigious Eurostar prize for its work on solar-powered vehicles. Now we only hope to actually see some of them on the roads.
