HUMARA BAJAJ

A Bajaj Chetak carrying a family of four (or more) was a common sight those days. Other common scooter brands were the ageing Lamberreta, Priya and slightly New Vespa (later on LML Vespa). The Chetak continued to hold its position as a leader in scooter brands because of its sturdiness and appeal. This was the time when Maruti 800 entered the Indian Auto Market scene but  alongwith Ambassador and Fiat it could not give any competition to the popular Chetak.

If we go a little further back into history, i.e. the late 70s, Bajaj Chetak was a luxury and not easy to own. To my knowledge it was not possible to buy it directly from a showroom. I remember my father arranged to make payment to the company in US $ through his cousin based in The U.S. My father provided his sister’s address for delivery. The delivery was taken at Delhi. The 1977 manufactured scooter got registered in Delhi on 15 Feb 1978. Since then the scooter’s meter has done many full circles doing many short and long routes. A carrier to many family members and friends it has moved from Delhi to Moradabad to Saharanpur to Bareilly to Meerut. When initially the Chetak arrived in Moradabad it was such a craze that one of my father’s friends offered him his ‘Matador’ in exchange for his scooter.

As a coincidence my father retired from the same station where he first brought his Chetak. After retirement from government service in 1997, my father settled down in Meerut bringing along the Chetak with him. He would never part with his companion which had stood testimony to so many ups and downs in life. When our jobs took my elder brother and me away from our parents, my father continued to maintain it. After a few years we told him not ride a two wheeler, It was safer to drive around in a car.

Road tax was paid for the last time in 1991. The Chetak started gathering dust and rust. There were discussions to dispose it off but I revolted. Just like my father I have known well the temperament of our Chetak. By adopting the famous ‘bank and kick’ procedure of Bajaj, I could half-kick-start it even after it lay idle for six months. I got it repainted as its original colour had worn off. To everybody’s amazement, it turned out to be the same brand new Chetak as bought in 1978.

A few days back as I came out of the elevators of a mall in Hyderabad I saw a similar coloured (bright yellow) Vespa in the parking lot. Subsequently I discovered that it was the latest rage in the country. As I write this, I run the risk of drawing the attention of Road Transport authorities. However our beloved Yellow Chetak is parked in the verandah of my ancestral house ready to be kick started and get back to life.