Humara Bajaj

Posting a blog after a long long time.

Vehicles have a big sentimental value in my life.

I heard this recent news that the ubiquitous Bajaj which became a synonym for scooters in India will no longer be sold I felt a little bad as the thing that we grew up with will no longer be seen.

Bajaj scooter not only provided the mobility to Indian middle class but is also associated with the middle class values which the middle class in the 80' used to signify. Its design was closely linked to the Indian middle class mindset. The two seperate seats would separate the driver and the pillion which was a way not show your closeness in public. The extra tire was to a symbol to always have a spare resources for bad times. I t had that sense of stability with its stand which would never let you park the vehicle on a unstable ground to me it showed that a solid ground is a must for one to stand in life. But I think things have changed and so has the middle class and so are its values. Today people live their life less worrying about the society, they start buying things on EMI with out a solid standing and believe more in Just in time then Just in case.

I have fond memories of the piece of engineering I have of my dad's Chetak. He bought that scooter in 1990 and since then it has been part of my family. I still remember the days when my friends would get their parent's scooter to school and I will go on my Hero Puch (another marvelous piece of engineering which has seized to exist) and I would think that these guys have grown enough to be trusted by their with the scooters. I actually struggled long to get the keys to my father's scooter.

I remember four people getting on that scooter with me holding on to the handle in the front. Co incidentally my father also sold his bajaj Chetak yesterday as it was not being used actively rather not being used at all