Old is not always gold, at least for some

GUARDIAN OF HISTORY: Sekharan in his Lambretta at Ariyangadi auto stand. By Faris Arakkal WITH a piercing sound, the yellow bird takes off and flies around the city. The bygone sight will never come back as Lambretta autorikshaws are on the verge of extinction. Lambretta autorikshaws, which came in the city in 80s, have been pushed aside by Bajaj, TVS and other diesel rivalries. Now, they stay off the snarling traffic of the city as public look down upon them. "They even get out the auto as soon they walk in," says Sekharan who has been earning his bread riding his Lambretta in the city for 27 years. He opines that the public cares more on the comfort of their journey. These days, none calls him for a trip in the Lambretta. The existing Lambrettas of the city are now in the business of shipping out goods from shops to various destinations. While Sekharan has the daily routine of carrying oil from Ariyangadi, Vijayan who owns a 1984 model Lambretta is working with a fruit shop in the city. He takes out fruits off from the city to rural retailers. "Mileage is not more than 25km per litre", adds Vijayan. He explains that they are not fit to run with the prescribed metre charge. "Front engine of Lambretta always makes disturbances but it never disappoints when climbing a steep road" said Anthappan, who owns a Lambretta. But he is confined to just personal short trips around the city. When most of the city drivers had gone towards four strokes and APE, these veterans still struggle to buy a new one. To get a town permit it needs more money in the pocket. This generation has a trend of bringing back the old and historic in to the world of 'freak', but for these auto walas old is never gold.