ISSUE 11 | NOVEMBER 2019
BC: It's a hypothetical question but tell me
your point of view on serving the nation
and serving your passion?
SR: You can serve the nation along with
your passion. Serving in the defense
forces is not the only way to serve the
nation. Carry out some social
responsibilities.
BC: We have heard that you are on a
mission of "Save The Girl Child" tell us
about that?
SR: I believe in what I term as PSR i.e.
Personal Social Responsibility. While the
corporate houses carry out their
social responsibilities, as individuals we
must also carry out some social
responsibilities. Eg. It may be teaching
your house maid to speak in english.
When I noticed that me and my rides were
being followed, I decided to carry a social
message. Decided on "Save The Girl
Child" as I was riding North to
Kathmandu, Nepal on invitation to attend
the 5th Enfield Rendezvous and Poker
Run in 2012. I carried a message behind
my bike added with a couplet. "BETIYAN
SAB KE MUQADDAR MAIN KAHA HOTI
HAI, GHAR KHUDA KO JO PASAND HO,
WAHAN HOTI HAI."
I rode solo from Prayagraj to Kathmandu
and after completion of the Poker Run
rode back to Pune. The message was
appreciated by a lot many on the roads
and at the event too. The problem of
female foeticide has been faced in parts of
northern India where birth of a girl was
considered as a burden. The message on
the bike attracted people and it helped me
talk about it. I began to take detour from
the highway towards the villages in
Gujarat and Rajasthan and urge people to
change their thoughts on dowry. The
response has been good. Today, while I
talk to young boys, I also guide them
about job avenues in the forces and para
military forces. I show them the websites
on their smart phones.Encourage them to
study well and aim high for the world
today is open to talent and intelligence.
Gujarat has been leading in educating it's
citizens against female foeticide and the
number of girl child has seen a marked
increase. The present central government
has worked on it rigorously and citizens
across the country are now changing their
mindsets.
BIKERS CLUB | MAGAZINE | PAGE 22
BC: Your point of view on Indian Riders
and a Foreign riders, rather I would put
it like this "Indian Riding Clubs and the
Foreign Riding Clubs?"
SR: As 'Tourers' we gel very soon as we
are bonded by our common interest. We
both ride to explore places. The riders
from European countries have a big
edge over us in terms of their bikes,
apparel, gadgets, their preparation on
route plan, bike repair and sightseeing.
Meeting riders from Nepal and Bhutan is
frequent in various meets both in India
and Nepal. They too are well disciplined
and take care against pollution and
observe ride discipline. Riders from
Bangladesh have made a beginning to
ride in India. I would not be able to
comment on Foreign Riding Clubs.
BC: Which riding event you like the
most in the country?
SR: NORTH EAST RIDERS MEET
(NERM) hosted in turn in each state of
northeast and hosted by the riding
clubs of the state. This year NERM is
being held by "AIZAWL THUNDERS."
and it is the oldest Royal Enfield
Motorcycle Club in the country.
BC: Do you think there should be more
riding events in the country?
SR: There are plenty of riding events
already. They need to be improved upon
and will certainly do so with passage of
time.
BC: Who, What and Which is your
biggest motivation in life?
SR: My biggest motivation is Padma
Shri Deepa Malik, Khel Ratna, Arjuna
Award, Silver Medalist in Rio
Paralympic games and also won host of
other national and international medals
in para sports. Once a Biker and into
sports developed chest below paralysis
after operation for removal of tumor in
her spinal column. She did not give up
and with her grit and determination she
went on to create multifarious records
in swimming, driving and sports. As I
pen my response, I am motivated
further to learn that she has been
awarded International Paralympic
Woman of the Year in Germany.