Father’s Day: Ducati, Darukhanawalas And Malaysia: A Decade Divided

You might say it is in my Parsi blood that I was hooked on to automobiles. Our small community is richly associated with anything that has a beating heart and wheels. But it was a bit more than just my eccentric race that made me such a nutter about motorcycles.

It was my dad: Adil Jal Darukhanawala. To many, he is a pioneer in the field of automotive journalism, Indian automobile historian, an encyclopaedia of everything that is remotely associated with cars and bikes, and sometimes even some other things. To me, he was everything I aimed to be. And he still is. 

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I have seen him at his glorious and vivacious self. And yet, when he is at home, he loves nothing more than a hearty plate of dal chawal, maybe some mutton cutlets and a tall glass of Coca Cola with lots of ice in it. I saw and understood his hardships. Becoming a single parent of two boys who just lost their mother when they could barely comprehend what loss felt like is unimaginable for me. And yet he pulled through. 

Whenever I read his articles, heard his takes on vehicles, saw his videos, I always voraciously absorbed, listened and watched with rapt attention. And so many of his mannerisms, his qualities, his love for food and ultimately his love for motorcycles, as he so vehemently states that he is a biker first and a car guy second, has trickled down and got ingrained into me.

So, when I got to know that I was going to be riding a Ducati at Malaysia’s Sepang International Circuit, I was quite eager for a few moments before realising that my dad too might have been privileged enough to ride one during his time (although he would say it is his time always). 

And as I dove into his web archives trying to research which bike it actually was, I was stunned. Because it was at Zigwheels, this very same organisation, that he represented to cover the stunningly beautiful Streetfighter 848, the sort of father of the current Streetfighter V4 that is scorching the streets with its 200+ horsepowers. 

I was at the very same track, riding a Ducati Panigale V4, a decade and a half later and the moment sort of felt very surreal for me. Especially the first lap out of the pits behind my lead instructor. 

“Wow, my dad rode here.” 

And I couldn’t revel in that fact any more as I had work to do. And so would he expect the same of me. I pictured him saying this in his booming voice, “JEHAN!!! Chup chap gaari chalav” or basically, get on with it. 

Despite having shared a race track with him in person before, and seeing him run wide onto the grass that gave me a small panic attack, this moment felt far stronger. Maybe because adulthood makes you realise that such moments are to be chased, or just because I was lucky enough to have a dad like him. 

And hopefully, I too have a child who, if finds the same level of interest and dedication to the field, gets to live such a moment. Maybe on a e-Panigale or by then the science folk have found a way to keep the internal combustion engine powering on. Isn’t that what we all aim for? Make our parents proud and find happiness in our children’s happiness.