The joy of riding. A motorcycle on a smooth patch of tarmac; unknown to what the journey ahead holds for us is a sheer delight, for a motorcyclist. The man and his machine cruising past the lush green meadows on low-lying rolling hills along the country roads is what I fall back on. Indulging in solo rides on my Royal Enfield Interceptor 650cc motorcycle is a love affair I am guilty of. It gives wings to my inner rebel and I am in flight.

My first ride

My first ride on my previously owned motorcycle (Yamaha FZ 150cc) was from Pondicherry, Tamil Nadu to Hyderabad, Telangana. The memory is yet very vivid in my mind. With minimal luggage tugged to the motorcycle with ropes; I covered myself with rain covers from head to toe. With only a helmet and the absence of a riding gear, with make shift plastic bags tied up to keep my shoes dry, I took up the journey. It was very reckless of me. It was the 2nd of December, 2015. I started off my road journey from Pondicherry at 7:30am; coincidently, the “2015 South India Floods” had severely hit the east coast of India. Hence, my 2 day escapade towards Hyderabad via Vellur, using Kadapa’s inner state highway accompanied by a thick overcast, heavy downpour, ample greenery, deserted roads, closed shops, unavailability of services and solitude. No sooner as I rode out of Pondicherry city limits, the road was with no human activity. With the swell of downpour crashing on my body, managing higher speeds on the motorcycle was a challenging task. The visibility was very low and weather was unforgiving. With no luxury to stop and check my Google maps on my cell phone, I had to memorise the route until I break for lunch. I was facing difficulties at various stages of the journey; because it was my first long distance ride as I was a complete novice with no forethought. The rains had kept the roads empty of any activity for most of the ride. I thoroughly enjoyed the adrenaline rushing through my veins.

I stopped near Chittoor to sip some tea at a local seller and keep my body warm. Coincidently, there were two other motorcyclists, who had halted for tea at the same tea stall. They saw me staring at them and gestured me for a chat. They admired my effort to drive through rains to Hyderabad, talked to me about some safety precautions to be taken while riding in rains on the roads. The discussion calmed me down, and I was confident of myself to complete the ride. Their welcoming nature made to feel as if I was a part of their group. They both gave me fist bumps, wished me luck, and moved on with their tour. They, the two unknown riders (whose names I had forgotten to ask), had no prejudices and had no presumptions about the way I had dressed up for the journey. The two unknown riders made me feel a part of something bigger; a band of BROTHERHOOD, which signified that

“I am not ALONE.”

This warmth of the Biking Brotherhood I experienced on 2nd December 2015 made me an avid motorcyclist that I am today.

The Brotherhood

On the day of 15th August 2022, India, the world’s biggest democracy, celebrated its 76th Independence Day. My country has come a long way since 1947. It is prosperous, progressive, with passionate youth who share a bond of heritage. India’s war for Independence is one of the common link, which we all Indians relate to. I have associated with this common past; through the stories my grandparents narrated to me, of the India under the British rule. The stories about a common brotherhood of Indians who stood united against the tyrant colonial Empire. Such narratives still to date inspire me. The war of Independence forged a bond of brotherhood, born out of love for the motherland. Since the “First Sepoy Mutiny”of 1857 at Meerut, fast forward to the “Tryst with destiny” on the eve on 15th August 1947, this bond of brotherhood has metamorphosed into what we are as a nation today.

The Ride

I have travelled over 15000km by road to India on multiple occasions; most of it on solo rides. On 76th Independence Day, I, by happenstance, joined a biker group on a small Independence Day ride. It was a quick outing of 100 odd km, during which I experienced the bond of the Brotherhood. I rode out with unknown riders, shared stories of their rides, and bonded over our love for riding. We sang patriotic songs and discussed the journey, the India. The feeling of being one, of being a part of something larger than self, was reminiscent of the Bond of Brotherhood; one nation, one soul, One India.

FEELING of Oneness

India, as a nation, has a common identity, a common past. The brotherhood nurtured during the “Freedom of Independence Struggle” is witnessed even today on the roads during bike rides. Here, people having common past, irrespective of their belief systems, help each other. These unknown people greet each other with smiles, share stories bond over a “Kullad of chai” (cup of tea, served in hardened clay cups), reminiscent of the “Bond of Brotherhood”started in 1857 at Meerut. A common tread links us all Indians and the “Brotherhood of Biking” is one such example.

Hence I urge you to experience this joy of riding out at least once in your life.

Until next time.

Thank you.