Biker Divas | Sarah Kashyap - India's first woman toughest Road Conqueror.

[00:00:01] Podcast, Biker Divas with Rajakta. Now those who are listening to me, I am damn sure, your aim will be to go to Khadungla and take that selfie there. They want to pull the selfie and say, finally I am here. The Highest Motorable Road.

[00:00:31] But this show is not about those people. These are about those people who have done this once in their life, not twice in their life. And they are women. It's all about Biker Divas. Hi, I am India's first female motorcyclist who finished Red Deemalia and Desert Storm.

[00:00:51] Obstacles? Who doesn't know? But is there any value to your passion? Now here is the toughest turn in the world of almost 3000 km. 6000 m above sea level. Extremely low oxygen levels. Mostly icy riverbeds and minus 25 degree Celsius temperature. The bike is not even a little bit light.

[00:01:15] It's a 200 kg bike. The height of the rider? 5 feet 1 inch. It's a height. Who can do all this? But she was like, don't you even dare to think about it. This is Biker Divas, the whole Kashub. Many times people start finishing Red Deemalia.

[00:01:36] You know, 20% of the finishers count. The rider finished it in the first attempt. Even that without backup. Despite having a solid accident. Despite getting his collarbone fractured. She is the only female motorcyclist who finished the Solid Danger Rally Red Deemalia.

[00:01:59] In her next attempt, she was in the top 10. Then I say again, finishing Red Deemalia is not a joke. She needs a lot of courage. And confidence on herself. Sometimes it's a tendency. If someone forbids us to do anything, we have to do it.

[00:02:20] And those people who do the same things, they do something good in life. Like all the Kashub. Even if you have to get a leave from the boss, how many papad bulls do you have to beg? When Sara asked her boss for a leave,

[00:02:38] her boss sanctioned the leave. But she said something like, do anything with me. My ego doesn't hurt. My boss has given me a Rally Red Deemalia. It's the second of his Rally. Because it was on Altitude. There was no other Rally. Now the Rally Red Deemalia is closed.

[00:03:05] Because 2018 was the last raid. So it's a ride for 20 years. But I participated in the 17th raid in Himalaya. Which was in 2015. Which was my first raid. So at that time, I have been like any other regular working professional. Who works from 9 am to 5 am.

[00:03:27] And everyone dreams of this evening. So I have always worked and worked. I have utilized my studies. When that start point started, Sara thought she could finish it. Yes, they were dreams. I thought I can ride a motorcycle. And I will at least finish it.

[00:03:49] I was sure from the start. But everyone told me that you are taking a bullet. To race the wrong motorcycle. It's great. But for racing, you need a light bike. But I didn't listen to anyone. And finally when I needed a leave from work.

[00:04:07] My boss asked me if I needed a leave for so many days. So I said that's the key. Anyway, I said keep it. That's the key. You will come back the next day. So leave is not utilized. But later on they were all very proud.

[00:04:23] I have been very blessed to have some great people supporting me. Who have been happy for me always. Super. But do you know? Like Sara said, second toughest rally in the world. Do you understand? There are some turns that you can't even imagine. I mean, even with roads,

[00:04:47] you struggle with climate. Think about it. 6000 meters above sea level. On a wide road, it's very difficult to finish this rally in the first attempt. But there is one person who has not done this and has won this rally for the last time. His name is record.

[00:05:10] Suresh Rana is his name. So Sara Kashub participated in this world's second toughest rally. And she became the only female biker of her country who finished this rally. And she too, in the first attempt. When Sara started the rally, did she think she could finish it?

[00:05:31] Actually, it's a very good question, Prajakta. When I started, I didn't even think about finishing this. I have a very good friend, Dr. Sarjanpreet. He is a fellow rally racer. He told me that Sara, one corner at a time.

[00:05:48] And I kept thinking the same thing in the whole race. That only one corner at a time. That's it. I don't want to think too long. I have to finish today's day. I have to finish properly. There are 6 days of races. So the altitude keeps increasing slowly.

[00:06:05] The temperature keeps increasing. The bike keeps behaving differently. So many things keep changing. People go out in the first day. Then the ones who go out, they go out for the next 30 days. So while doing this, until you reach the 6th day, you get completely drained out.

[00:06:24] Your energy, your bike's energy gets drained out. I think you can't think too long. And in my first raid, actually the last day I reached, it was the 6th day. I was so close to the finish line. And I had a really bad fall. My last...

[00:06:41] You know it's like you're going to reach the race. You're going to be so happy that I did the bus. Finally, an Austrian girl had finished before me. But no Indian girl had finished. Reddy Malia. So I was very happy.

[00:06:57] I was very proud that the first Indian girl who had finished such a difficult rally, and she also did not ride a 100 kg bike, but 200 kg bike on Royal Enfield. So I was very proud of myself and I was happy. I was giving my best. But suddenly,

[00:07:12] my bad crash happened and I went to the black ice. And you know, when you go with Enfield, two or three things break. Bike and your bike. So... Absolutely. So my collarbone cracked in that fall. But then, after that I went in the 250 km cracked collarbone

[00:07:35] because I just didn't want to give up. I was like, that's a... I am not giving up now. There is no choice. This spirit is important if we have to fulfill something. Many people had said this to Sara.

[00:07:52] How will you ride such a heavy bike in a rally? So did her bike support her till the end? Well, my bike is very well behaved. Her collarbone is very well behaved. She is a good boy that way. Otherwise, despite the bad crashes, my bike never gave up.

[00:08:13] I had come last when I had my first rate team. I had finished, but I had finished last. And in the next year, I was almost in top 10, top 10, top 11, top 12. Which was a great progress. So... I mean, that is what I have learned from racing

[00:08:29] that you never had in your life at this moment, you feel that the whole society is saying that you have become peace, you have become 40, 50, life is over. I actually don't think I feel that everything is in my head. We are talking about yoga.

[00:08:43] You are talking about yoga. Very well said Sara. This attitude is not only Sara's. Her father too, is a little bit like this. There was a lot of people's talk. But Sara's father always stood with him. So let's talk to him in a little while.

[00:09:03] And that is when parents are with them. So we got another safety gear. By the way, if we are talking about the safety gear, then how important is it to wear a helmet? Where does it always go? The confidence we have in our riding.

[00:09:20] How much trust will you have on the front-wheel drive? Safety is guaranteed to be 100% good. But if the risk can be less than 100%, then don't wear a helmet. The family's worry will be less. Let's know how worried Sara's father was when she used to ride big bikes.

[00:09:44] This is Satal's curse. I used to trust him. And he learned to ride a bike. Our bike was small. He had learnt something from it. So his mother was saying that if this doesn't happen, then he will fall and get hurt. I told him not to worry.

[00:10:05] He is very smart. And he will ride very easily. And he said that he has made a lot of mistakes and that he has cut the Indian route. Because it is easy to face every problem. And he can do anything. I have complete faith in him.

[00:10:23] And I trust him very much. And he never broke my trust. Do you remember that day when he learned to ride a bike? I used to take a small cycle. I used to hold him in the back and he would ride his bike in the back.

[00:10:41] So I told him to ride it in the left side. I didn't want to ride it in the middle and I didn't want to go in the right. I used to ride it in the left. So I never got hurt. I never had any problems.

[00:10:54] So I kept on riding it in the left. Once I was in the left. I was in a hurry. I said that I will ride a bicycle in the back. And he said that he made a mistake. I made a mistake.

[00:11:09] That's why you taught me how to ride a bike. I said that it was my mistake. But I didn't know that I would be a hypocrite. I will do what I have said. At least see if it is true. Like all the father has supported all of us.

[00:11:28] Similarly, it is important for the bike to support us. If the bike is in trouble. Then the bike's first aid kit. It is important to be with us. So we will go to this first aid kit. Some screwdrivers. Along with it, Wrenches. Allons. Allons are important because

[00:11:49] some old mechanics may not be available. Along with it, cable is important. And cable cutter too. Chain spray and fuse. If the bike is ever sick. Then before going to the doctor, you will be able to at least foster it. Come, let's ask the father of Sara.

[00:12:11] How many times did he scold Sara? This is Satpal Kashyap. I used to get upset at home for him. Because he used to ride his bike. And we used to see that where did she go? She would not tell me. She would take it and ride it.

[00:12:30] And my mother would always fight with me. She kept her head on the ground. She kept her head on the ground. I said, if you have any memories of a girl, then what will happen? Why do you do this in the car? Don't make a girl face.

[00:12:43] Let her do whatever she wants. Let her fly up. So I supported her. Even though she is like that, I supported her in every way. And still I am standing with her. What is the matter? So uncle, tell me. Sara, your daughter.

[00:12:58] How do you get motivated by looking at her? I used to take care of her. And today, I take care of her. Sometimes, I feel like I am going to have a problem. I am old and I am 7 years old. So if I had any problem,

[00:13:13] she would motivate me. She would not give up. She would keep on walking. I keep on walking. I never looked back in my life. I always stand on my own. I don't do that. Some people will say, it is the work of people.

[00:13:35] Did you ever have to listen to anything because of Sara? I had to listen to a lot because of her. We are four siblings. My brother married my daughter at the age of 20. Everything was done. He would tell me, when will you marry your daughter?

[00:13:53] I am old now. I would tell him, let her study first. I took care of her like she did. She studied well. I sent her to study in England. I sent her as soon as possible. She encouraged me to study. She spent 5.5 years in England.

[00:14:13] She felt very good. But I never cared about her. She was so much for the motorcycle. She drove here and in England too. After coming from England, she bought her motorcycle and drove it. She travelled around the whole India on a motorcycle.

[00:14:33] She took it from Chennai to Ladakh. She covered the journey in 5 days from Chennai to Ladakh. I have a lot of faith in her. I am proud of her. She is a very good girl. I tell you all that, instead of understanding her, make her your son.

[00:14:57] If she becomes a son, she will not be a daughter. She can do anything. This is Satpal Kashyap. The father of all Kashyap. He knows only by his voice. He feels so proud for his daughter. As Sara's father told me, the whole India was on a motorcycle.

[00:15:20] Because of the height, he found a technique to ride a bike. Kanchi Technique. He knows Sara's voice. And what made him so jealous? I had learnt to ride scooters in the beginning. A normal geared scooter. Never the ungeared scooters. I had learnt to ride scooters in the beginning.

[00:15:43] My dad taught me. Then he took my brother on a motorcycle. I was very jealous. I told him that I wanted to ride it too. He taught me. He felt that he was not good enough to ride it and not to ride it. So he started teaching me.

[00:16:04] He challenged me. He said that you will never ride a bike. If you have learnt to ride it, then you can ride it. I rode it without falling. He was very impressed. I think he was never looking back. It just immediately happened that

[00:16:21] I used to like such things. I felt that when I ride motorcycles I don't feel scared of anything else. Then off the bike, if I can handle this, then I can handle anything. That's the kick I always got. How did you get the question?

[00:16:39] Most of the Indian bikes touch my toe. My leg doesn't touch the ground. You can say that my toe touches the ground. One toe. If one foot is on the ground, then the other foot touches the ground. I ride such bikes that I don't touch anything.

[00:17:04] So the thing is that you must have seen that I have a cycle technique. I have practiced it over the years. In Punjab, we call it the Kanchi technique. Basically, you run along with it, cycle and then you get off. So I also do it on motorcycles.

[00:17:26] It's not a stunt. Yes exactly. It's not a stunt though. It's one of the techniques. It's a short people technique. So I always thought that it was not enough to save the height. But at least I can learn techniques and skills.

[00:17:44] So I have written a lot of books that teach young people how to ride a bike. So I have made so many different techniques. In which I look at stones from far away. If there is a stone on the roadside,

[00:18:02] I would just go and stop right next to the stone. So I keep one foot on it. There are many small techniques. I generally get off the bike in traffic lights. And I get up with it. So if it's a long bike.

[00:18:16] Generally, all my Indian bikes touch my feet. They don't reach. The whole freak never reaches. I know that there are many people who are confident that they will reach the ground. But I would just say that everything is in their mind.

[00:18:33] If you have thought that you can ride and control it, it's just a machine after all. You can handle it. It's in your control. It's not the other way round. This is the word of Rally Racer Sarah Kashyap. Nowadays, we see many women bikers. But do you know?

[00:18:53] The first woman bikers were the women bikers Veeenu Paliwal who was from Jaipur. Her highest speed was 180 km per hour. So Sarah on the bike, all these rides are completed. So that bike has to be special. When Sarah was asked will she ever sell her bike? Actually yes.

[00:19:23] I have been emptied several times to sell it. But I thought that she will go with me in the beach. Okay Sarah, if you can talk about your dream. The dream is Dakar Rally project. It's the toughest rally in the world. And only two Indians have finished it.

[00:19:42] I am very proud of them. C.S. Antosh and Arvind K.P. They both have finished the Dakar Rally. Both are from Pangalore. So I have... I don't want to be the first Indian woman or anything to finish it. As I said to one of my friends lately

[00:20:00] that I don't mind being the 50th Indian woman as well to finish it. I just want to finish it because it's a very difficult race and you are in Agistan for 10-12 days. You are in a very difficult desert you are in the terrain

[00:20:16] and it's very important to finish it. And it happens in Saudi Arabia. So it's a very difficult place to survive. So I think it's just one of those bucket list things that I want to take off. By the way, there was one thing in my bucket list.

[00:20:31] Going to Ladakh and riding on the highest motorable road. So when I decided to go there I learned to ride a bike only for 4 days before going there and then I went there and rode a bike. Now after listening to all this I think many people are thinking

[00:20:52] that a bike should be used. Or it should be an adventure and it's important to learn from the right person. Actually, there are lots of riding schools also happening. So I would suggest that you should learn from the patient because you will make mistakes.

[00:21:15] Generally, my boyfriend and dad don't have so many patience to teach you properly. So learn from someone else who has patience because generally the boyfriend and dad will say that no, I can't do this. Let it be, I can't do this. Or they will get worried.

[00:21:32] So learn from someone who has patience. The biggest tip I would give is not to listen to anyone. Just listen to yourself. If you think you can ride it then you are right. And that's all Kashyap. I am damn sure every girl has a dream

[00:21:49] to ride a bike. So we will talk to some women bikers like that in this show whose name is Biker Divas who after listening to this you should also fulfill your dream. For now, goodbye. See you soon. Ride safe so you can ride again. Biker Divas

[00:22:24] Big FM Podcast