January 26th is a significant date as it is Republic Day in India and also Australia Day. Both are important as they represent the establishment of and independent modern India and the start of the process of establishing Australia in its current form.
Republic Day fell one day after the Prophets birthday. The Muslim community expressed their religious independence by flying the Islamic flag: A secular society being one of Ghandi's founding philosophies for the Republic of India
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Islamic flag near Chor Bazzar on
Republic Day |
Independence has many forms for many people and it is somewhat fitting that, along with large Soviet style military parades in Delhi, there was a large Enfield motor cycle rally in Mumbai. For many people, nothing captures individual independence like a motorcycle, Easy Rider style, and an Enfield is the Harley Davidson of India
Royal Enfield was the name under which the Enfield Cycle Company made motorcycles, bicycles, lawnmowers and stationary engines. The legacy of the Enfield rifle is reflected in the logo, a cannon, and their motto "Made like a
gun, goes like a bullet" hence the name of the most famous model - The Bullet.
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| Do multiple Bullets make a magazine? |
In 1956 Enfield of India started assembling Bullet motorcycles under licence from UK
components, and by 1962 were manufacturing complete bikes in India. Enfield of India bought the rights to use the Royal Enfield name in 1995. Royal Enfield
production, based in Chennai,
continues today and Royal Enfield is now the oldest motorcycle brand in the world
still in production with the Bullet model enjoying the longest motorcycle
production run of all time.
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Our good friend Ewan being a little too dependent
on his Enfield on the coast south of Mumbai |
One of the distinctive Indian sounds is the slow, deep, rhythmic thumping of a 350cc single cylinder Royal Enfield accelerating. To anyone who has heard an Enfield accelerate, the sound is instantly recognizable The vehicle proved ideal for British and then the Indian Army dispatch riders to navigate the high mountain passes due to the torque produced by the large single cylinder. When travelling in the Himalaya's now, you see many people from all different countries journeying through the high passes of India on their Enfield, enjoying there independence. Panniers on the back of the bike with fuel, food and camping gear navigating the rough gravel roads that follow the mountain valleys and passes between places like Manali, Leh and Srinagar.
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| Modern India? |
Even Kate has caught the motorcycle independence bug although hers is more Marscapone than Masala but it is no less distinctive or retro in appearance. Ever since a good friend of ours purchased a Vespa in New Zealand, Kate has desperately wanted to cruise the local cafe scene on her own Vespa. Fortunately for her, Vespa has just re-started producing Vespas in India after a break of over 20 years and they have been an instant hit. So for her 50th birthday she was given a bright red Vespa, although it took a little longer to navigate the bureaucracy to get a vehicle registered as a foreign national. Now she is braving the roads of Bandra zipping from home to her yoga classes independent of Mansoor our driver. Needless to say, if she can ride a scooter in Mumbai, then Rome and the la dolce vita will be no problems. We just we need to work on the al fresco cafe scene in Mumbai!
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Its easy too look clean and white in an air conditioned show room.
A little harder on the streets of Mumbai! |
