Death of the Cycle

The innocuous transport of the aam aadmi has a tarnished image now. The mazdoor’s transport, a symbol of penury is now a weapon of terrorists. In fact its being exploited for its inherent characteristic, that of being Indian, hoi polloi and indistinguishable in any marketplace. The cyclist has always been a simple man, in films either the postman or a simpleton peon who carries the burden of a large family, struggling to do so. During the bad times, the cycle represents the vicious cycle that he is caught in, the good times the cycle represents wheels of progress. Mass produced and mass consumed, the cycle can even claim to be one of the biggest uniting symbols of the Indian mass, irrespective of culture and language. Even the names of the biggest cycle brands, Hero, Hercules, Atlas are quite a revelation about the burden that the cycle is meant to carry. Its earnestness is not lost to the aam aadmi, there is exponential relation of an ignition and acceleration. The equation is honest, the more the effort, the greater the speed. The typical color black also represents the functionality of the device. Colors came much later and for most reading this post, the first thought of cycle would have conjured up the image of a black hero cycle. A cycle also represents the balancing act for the Indian. Wife at the back (at the front when the marriage was still new) and kids of the rod in front, sometimes even on the handle, can be precarious proposition, but the ages have seen this delicate balance thrive with ample joy and smiles on faces. The Bajaj scooter has usurped this position somewhat but then in the villages of India, Bajaj is still aspirational, while Hero is still staple.
Its interesting how a cycle mingles into the marketplace. Parked against anybody’s wall, it’s never seen as a burden. Pretty much like the mongrels which inhabit temple stairs and railway stations. Their essentiality to the very definition of that surrounding, inconspicuous by their very nature, subdued like a village yokel. Its also the only vehicle that ‘walks’ as much as it runs. The ease with which it is pulled up into foothpaths, manoeuvred through railway crossings and led through crowded railway bridges is worth mentioning. While it has an owner in most cases, there are no qualms about letting it go for someone else’s errand. There is ego massage and there is no symbolism. The cycle is there for you to see and what you see is what you get.
For me the use of the cycle in multiple terrorist attacks now, represents the end of an age of innocence. Remember the last time you heard the tring of a bicycle behind you and how you budged exactly an inch to let it pass. And it did. And on it was an innocent Indian who was probably on his way to deliver letters or buy vegetables. Alas, the next time I see a bicycle, my eyes will miss the innocence.