End-of-life for a mechanical being can be more than machine learning
- The Ramones This week, I lost a love of my life. Like loves of your life that you take for granted, I realised that Batmobile a.k.a. Bat was a love of my life only after I let go of him on Monday.
Finding out on Thursday that Delhi had second thoughts about hunting down petrol cars over 15 years old (and diesel cars over 10) - 'end-of-life' vehicles, they call them as if 'dead' wasn't poetic enough - and sending them to the scrapyard, brought with it a kick in my already-numb juggernauts. But honestly, I was ready to let Bat go, without having to put him through some tortuous BS-IV emission standard enhancement procedure that's made Madonna look what she does now.
Bat was a grey 2009 Honda City SV Petrol MT beauty. Driving him was like flying the Millennium Falcon, before Lando Calrissian lost the YT-1300f light freighter in a card game to Han Solo. Sure, over time, he stalled, more than a few times - once, after midnight on way to the airport. The battery needed recharging more frequently than usual. Its automatic locking system went rogue like a malevolent AI in a Kubrick movie, and I had to change it for a manual lock. And by the time I got Bat over from Delhi to Kolkata's roadscape that makes the lunar surface seem an autobahn, its low clearance and bucket back seats had started to break my spine - and his chassis. But this was more a function of my age than his. And yet, here I am, and here he - so giving on the smooth, so forgiving on the rough - isn't. Of course, if you are with someone, inhabit some thing, from June 21, 2019 to June 30, 2025, you become hybrid: part-Hazra, part-Honda. It was only after he left that I had the courage to reread Subodh Ghosh's sparkplugs-tearing 1940 short story, 'Ajantrik' (The Unmechanical). In it, we encounter Bimal, and his 15-year-old Ford, Jagaddal. (In Ritwik Ghatak's finest film, a 1958 adaptation of Ghosh's Agantuk, Jagaddal's number plate is tellingly BRO 117. Bat's is DL 4CAH 9453.) Jagaddal is of 'prehistoric shape, his whole body marked by shambolic decay,' and he hardly gets customers in the taxi stand. And yet, Jagaddal is Bimal's 'valet, friend and provider' - his life. For the misanthrope, this machine provides what human companionship never can. While rubbing kerosene to remove rust from Jagaddal's weary bolts, Bimal snarls back at a person who asks him why on earth he's 'fixing a broken mandir', saying it's his private matter. Fellow driver Pyara Singh laughs and asks Bimal [in Hindi], 'Private? Gari bhi ghar ka aurat hain kya?' His business is on the verge of folding up. But Bimal won't give up his beloved Jagaddal. Until one day - 6 pages into the 9-page story - the car breaks down while going up an elevated road on the way to Ranchi. Jagaddal's piston is broken. A few days later, the bearing melts. Then it's the fanbelt, then it's a blocked carburetor. Finally, the sparkplugs short. 'No, I'm here Jagaddal. Don't worry, I'll get you up and running again,' Bimal promises the teenage geriatric. Soon enough, he gets parts, fixes him, and plans to get Jagaddal a new hood, paint, and burnish. But overnight rains seep through the shambolic garage delivering a final blow to the car. To cut a short story shorter, Bimal is unable to revive him - 'He doesn't understand love, he doesn't understand my words, son-of-an-iron, inanimate ghost!' he shouts while kicking the car in anger, frustration, and grief. Jagaddal is soon sold as scrap. Ahe end of the story, we find Bimal getting progressively drunk, as he hears a 'thong thong thokang thokang - Jagaddal's burial spot is being prepared. As if the sound of a shovel and a crowbar.' The chap who came to take Bat away, told me that in a few weeks, he'll send me a WhatsApp video clip of him being turned to scrap. It's apparently company policy. Elevate your knowledge and leadership skills at a cost cheaper than your daily tea. Zepto has slowed, and Aadit Palicha needs more than a big fund raise to fix it
Drones have become a winning strategy in war; can they be in investing?
How the sinking of MSC Elsa 3 exposed India's maritime blind spots
Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro: Are GLP-1 drugs weight loss wonders or health gamble?
Darkness at noon: Can this reform succeed after failing four times?
Stock picks of the week: 5 stocks with consistent score improvement and return potential of more than 29% in 1 year
Stock Radar: Nippon Life stock gives a breakout from Cup pattern in June; check target & stop loss for long positions
From takeovers to a makeover: Are cement stocks ready for re-rating? 8 cement stocks with upside potential from 6 to 42%
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
5 days ago
- News18
A Peek At Krushna Abhishek And Kashmera Shah's Rs 4 Crore Mumbai Home
Krushna Abhishek and Kashmera Shah's sprawling Mumbai apartment, valued at over Rs 4 crore, is located in one of the city's prime areas Krushna Abhishek and Kashmera Shah often give fans a glimpse into their everyday lives via their YouTube channel, Krushna Kashmera Aur Komedy (KKK). From heartfelt family moments to behind-the-scenes comedy, the channel offers an unfiltered look at their glamorous yet grounded lifestyle. A few months ago, Kashmera gave fans a tour of their stunning home, and it is just jaw-dropping. Their sprawling Mumbai apartment, valued at over Rs 4 crore, is located in one of the city's prime areas. The couple resides in this elegant home with their twin sons, Rayaan and Krushaang. Their apartment is a perfect blend of sophistication and comfort, with a large living area, spacious rooms, and a walk-in wardrobe. A Cosy and Stylish Living Room The living room is a delightful blend of contemporary and warm aesthetics. It features trendy brick-style walls, an off-white floor, and plenty of natural sunlight through large windows. One of the standout designs in the vast living room is the mix of wallpaper and exposed brick patterns. A vibrant red side chair and a sophisticated black cabinet filled the space. The living room also includes a pristine white-themed temple adorned with decorative curtains, lights, and floral decor. Completely different from their bright living space, the kitchen features an all-black theme. It is fully equipped with black cabinets, a matching refrigerator, oven, chimney, and all essential appliances. A high countertop with black bar stools adds a stylish and functional element to the culinary space. Kashmera, Krushna And Their Sons' Bedroom Kashmera also gave fans a peek into their twin sons' bedroom, which includes a cosy double bed. Their bedroom is done up in a serene white palette, with a large bed featuring a soft green backrest. The room is illuminated with warm, golden lights and a small cupboard underneath. Adding a luxe touch to the space is a remote-controlled television that can descend at the push of a button. Grand Walk-in Wardrobe Connected to their bedroom is a spacious walk-in wardrobe that resembles a luxurious dressing room. This space includes large wardrobes, ample cabinets, a dressing table, a full-length mirror, and an array of branded apparel, bags, and footwear, showcasing Kashmera's impeccable fashion sense. The master bedroom is uniquely designed with two separate bathrooms—one each for Krushna and Kashmera. The Laughter Chefs' fame gave a glimpse of their stylish washrooms, explaining that they are designed keeping privacy in mind. Kashmera Shah and Krushna Abhishek's Professional Life Professionally, Krushna and Kashmera were last seen in the reality show Laughter Chefs 2. Hosted by Bharti Singh and celebrity chef Harpal Singh Sokhi, the show brought together stars like Ankita Lokhande-Vicky Jain, Rahul Vaidya-Rubina Dilaik, Abdu Rozik, Elvish Yadav-Karan Kundraa, Mannara Chopra, Abhishek Kumar-Samarth Jurel, and Nia Sharma-Sudesh Lehri, offering fans a hearty dose of fun and laughter. First Published: August 02, 2025, 15:00 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Pink Villa
5 days ago
- Pink Villa
Krushna Abhishek-Kashmera Shah's 2BHK Mumbai Home worth Rs 4 crore: Spacious living area to stunning walk-in wardrobe, see INSIDE PICS
Krushna Abhishek and Kashmera Shah are a well-known celebrity couple in the acting industry. Throughout their careers, they have worked on numerous projects, achieving various milestones. Their dedication to their craft has made them one of the wealthiest celebrity couples in the industry. The two enjoy a lavish lifestyle filled with luxury cars, designer clothes, and properties both in India and abroad. In Mumbai, they live in a spacious apartment located in a prime area of the city, valued at over Rs 4 crore. The couple resides in the house with their twin sons, Rayaan and Krushaang. Their apartment seamlessly blends simplicity and elegance, featuring everything from a large living area to a designed dressing room. Kashmera Shah frequently shares glimpses of her life on her YouTube channel, Krushna Kashmera Aur Komedy (KKK), and even gave fans a tour of their stunning home a few months ago. Living Room The living room is designed with a trendy brick-style wall and the floor is a lovely off-white color. The space is filled with natural light because of the large windows. The theme is cozy and the living room has a sofa, a vibrant red side chair, and a sleek black cabinet among other furniture pieces. One wall showcases stylish wallpaper while others maintain the brick pattern. The living room includes a beautiful white-themed temple adorned with decorative curtains, lights, and flowers. Kitchen In contrast, the kitchen features a striking all-black theme. It is fully equipped with matching black cabinets, a fridge, a chimney, an oven, and all essential kitchen appliances. There is also a high countertop with black high chairs. Bedroom Kashmera shared a sneak peek of her children's bedroom, which includes a cozy double bed, before showing her own bedroom. Her bedroom is decorated in a classic white theme, featuring a large white bed with a soft green backrest for comfort. The room is illuminated with warm golden lights and a small cabinet underneath. Her room has a high-tech television that can be controlled with a remote and descends at the push of a button. Interestingly, their bedroom boasts two bathrooms - one for Kashmera and the other for Krushna Abhishek. Kashmera even shared a look at her stylish washrooms. Walk-in Wardrobe Adjacent to the bedroom is a spacious walk-in wardrobe, resembling a luxurious dressing room. This room features ample storage with large wardrobes and cabinets filled with branded bags, clothing, shoes, and other luxurious items. A mirror, a dressing table, and a chair are also present in this room. More about Krushna Abhishek and Kashmera Shah's property Apart from their Mumbai home, Krushna Abhishek and Kashmera Shah also own a beautiful property in California, which was revealed by Krushna's sister, Arti Singh, in a social media post back in 2017. This luxurious home is surrounded by a lush green garden and features a classic staircase. On Archana Puran Singh's recent vlog, Krushna has also shared that he has a separate apartment dedicated solely to his designer clothes and extensive shoe collection. Krushna and Kashmera's love story Krushna and Kashmera met while filming the movie Aur Pappu Pass Ho Gaya. They had a private wedding and kept their relationship under wraps for several years. Despite their age difference, they are celebrated as one of the strongest and most romantic couples in the industry. In 2017, they welcomed their twin boys, Rayaan and Krushaang, through surrogacy. In terms of their professional lives, both Krushna and Kashmera were recently seen in Laughter 2. Krushna is currently seen on The Great Indian Kapil Show, where he showcases his versatility by portraying various characters.
New Indian Express
5 days ago
- New Indian Express
Need permit? Roll out new private buses adhering to emission norms
KOCHI: In a move aimed at phasing out 'rickety' private buses, the motor vehicle department (MVD) will henceforth issue fresh permits only to private players willing to operate new buses that adhere to Bharat Stage VI (BS-VI) emission norms. 'New permits will be issued only to new private buses. We've discussed the matter with major private bus associations which agreed to the condition. A government order (GO) in this regard will be out in a few days,' Transport Minister K B Ganesh Kumar told TNIE. The authorities will also curtail the issuance of temporary permits. 'Many are operating old buses using temporary permits, which is a safety concern. Private operators should now bring new buses adhering to the emission norms set by the Union government, like Bharat VI,' the minister pointed out. He said many NRIs have complained of lobbies giving false assurances that temporary licences could be acquired with old buses and new permits received later. "That won't happen now,' Ganesh said. While Kerala was the first state to limit the shelf life of buses to 15 years, the state later raised the age limit of buses to 20 years, and further to 22, considering the request of private bus owners. That even as the Union government decided to de-register and scrap all vehicles older than 15 years. Geo-fencing to curb speeding The minister said the transport department will soon introduce geo-fencing technology at select points to curb competitive running among private buses.
