ISSUE 11 | NOVEMBER 2019
BRIEF ABOUT LT COL. SOHAN
ROY ( RETD. )
Lt Col. Sohan Roy (Retd.) retired over
20 years ago from 15th Battalion the
Kumaon Regiment (INDORE) after
almost 30 years of service. He had been
a Footballer, Boxer and Marathon
Runner during his younger years. He
has serviced actively in J&K sector and
Rajasthan Border. He did his schooling
from Boys High School - Allahabad and
graduated from St. Xaviers College -
Kolkata. There after graduated from
Officers Training Academy, Chennai.
During his years of service, he suffered
many knee injuries. In 1984, he
developed severe Osteoarthritis. While
in service he was sent for replacement
of his left knee joint to R&R Hospital in
Delhi Cantt in 2000. He says he was
lucky that the surgeon was a Para
Commando gallantry award winner who
after seeing my determination did not
replace my joint, but conducted
arthroscopy only.
Much after retirement, he continued
battling with his severity of ailment. He
started walking with the help of walking
stick. He had to forego riding mobike
and settle for a gearless scooter Kinetic
Honda. With strong determination, he
continued with physiotherapy and took
Tibetan herbal medicine, at
Macleodganj, Dharamshala in Himachal
Pradesh. He was also under the
supervision and guidance of a Sports
Medicine Specialist.
Getting a little better, he bought a Hero
Honda Splendor Mobike. He would fix
his walking stick to the leg guard and
saree guard with elastic loops and then
ride the bike. With time and age, his
knee got better and a day came when he
took no support of walking stick. He now
rides through rough tough terrains with
BIKERS CLUB | MAGAZINE | PAGE 09
support of his wits, grits and will power
only. Today at over 71 years of age, he
is living his passion of mobiking to far
off places in hills, mountains of Ladakh,
Sikkim and Northeast India. He still
suffers from severe Osteoarthritis of
both knees which restricts his walking
capability greatly, but that does not
deter him from mobiking to far off
places.
He says - I am what I am. I live my life
fully and still living it with no regrets in
life. Thankful to God Almighty. Thankful
to my wife Poonam, Daughter Trisha,
Son Saurabh, Daughter-in-law Rakhi and
my 6 years old grandson Kabir. They
stand like a rock behind me.
His latest motivation is his grandson
Kabir who makes him look ahead for a
fascinating life with him on the roads.
The brotherhood of bikers across the
country is his extended family. Their
love and respect for him is unique. He
looks forward to honesty and integrity.
Any one failing in it is of no relevance to
him. He truly remembers and is grateful
to those who have been kind to him
throughout his life.
CHILDHOOD
He was born in Kolkata, West Bengal,
India. His father was a government
officer in the Defense Forces and mother
a housewife. He has an elder and
younger brother. He always missed
having a sister. His childhood was spent
at various military stations wherever
father was transferred. Father was strict
about physical fitness and that is why he
says is able to today continue in spite of
his problem of Osteoarthritis in the
knees. Life was also very disciplined due
to defense background.