Urvashi Patole is known as the pioneer of the women motorcycling movement in India. She is the cofounder of the all-women motorcycling group 'Bikerani'. She began riding bikes at the age of 14. Bikerni started in 2011 with 11 other members, today her tribe has grown to include over 2000 members, across 14 chapters in India. If you happen to see a gang of women riders zooming past you, there is a high chance you have spotted the Bikerni's. RJ Prajakta finds out the definition of this word bikerni and finds out the motivation behind the cause of empowering so many biker women in the country.
[00:00:01] I love showing power to people who think women's place is on back of motorcycle. Urvashi Patole is the name of the place. And actually this is what women think. And many more women? Even one of them.
[00:00:32] That's when I also started riding my bike and the first woman Biker Club in my city. Do you know which is the biggest women motorcycle club in India? Women bikers are commonly used for Biker's words. But do you know who invented this word?
[00:00:59] Urvashi Patole, which is our today's Biker Divas. How did his passion develop? How did he start biking? Let's find out in our next segment, whose name is Kickstart. When my hand was broken when I was 17 years old, my mom and dad got to know about it.
[00:01:27] The girl runs the bike. Of course, my hand was broken. Unfortunately, the officer who went to the hospital, who was on duty, came out as my dad's friend. He called my dad immediately. I asked him, Colonel Patole, your daughter is in a car accident.
[00:01:49] She has come to the hospital. My mom and dad asked me, you should have been in college. What were you doing? I told them the truth. The day the smoke came out of the car, I was stunting on motorcycles and scooters. I was stunting on my car.
[00:02:09] If someone came from the front, they were hurt. So I jumped off the car and took the car on the side. Okay. They were not surprised by anything. But my car and my hand were broken. My mom started crying. She started crying. Dad didn't tell me anything.
[00:02:33] After two weeks, I was taken to the new room. Dad told me that he will take me to the two wheeler for free. I thought he would take me with a scooter. But he bought me a 125cc motorcycle. Wow!
[00:02:53] He said, if you want to ride a bike, don't break the other one. You can ride your own car and I am giving you a less CC car so that you understand how to handle the car. So, I was encouraged from there. Thankfully, I didn't oppose my parents.
[00:03:16] Amazing! This is the same person who made the first women bikers club in his country. His name is Biker Nee. How did this happen? In Pune, there were four or five girls who used to ride motorcycles. They were all fond of stunt.
[00:03:34] We used to meet sometimes and we used to practice stunt together. Because boys didn't encourage us. They always joke with us. What stunt you can do? Sit at home. You will get hurt. Your skin will get damaged. We made a group like this. We used to stunt together.
[00:03:55] Slowly, the group got dispersed. In 2010, Mahindra 2 wheelers heard about me and that time they were launching motorcycles. They wanted girls to experience motorcycles too. So, another girl from Chennai called us to ride motorcycles for a month. She had a trip all over India.
[00:04:18] When I was talking to that girl, she said that girls in Chennai don't encourage them. They always joke with us. I am a racer. I drop the boys from the track because they don't want me to win or race. So, I thought a lot about it.
[00:04:38] One of my friends was Tuna who is also a very enthusiastic rider. I talked to her. Then, we started a bike journey in January 2000. The purpose of the bike journey was to give a platform where girls could ride motorcycles together. No one should judge them.
[00:05:00] No one should stop them. There is no problem with the family. I said that parents and friends should go to the right side of the group of girls. So, the problem didn't stay anymore. All the girls started riding motorcycles.
[00:05:18] Now, there are 17 chapters of the revolution spread across India. Many people have recognized us and interviewed girls. So, more members have joined us. We have some members who have done motorcycle riding in China, Bangalore to Australia. That is a very good thing. Girls are doing exciting things. Lovely!
[00:05:48] So, where did the biker's word come from? I created a Facebook group. I named the group of my friend who created the group. He said that the group is closed now. So, don't start it again.
[00:06:06] So, I said that I will make a name that people think that it is a female and a biker. So, I made a biker's word. I don't know if for some reason everyone liked it. It became a household name.
[00:06:26] So, everyone knows that there is a biker who has named the group. They say that they know a lot of people who know that they are not a biker. They don't believe it. They say that you made a biker's word. You just copied it. So, it's funny.
[00:06:48] You don't have a copyright. Yes, but it's fine. Because there is no one who knows about Zerox. They don't say that they only copy the photo. But actually Zerox is a company. No one knows about it. So, this is our biker's word. Urvashi Patolesane.
[00:07:11] When he created the first female biker group in our country. He formed this club. What was his first ride and what was his experience? I have covered the whole of India in a motorcycle. I have covered more than 4 lakh kilometres on the motorcycle.
[00:07:39] I have covered the whole north, east, north, west, south, east of India. And the terrain changes in every place in India. I don't believe that I am going abroad. So, I had a bucket list. Until I complete my India, I won't make a passport.
[00:08:01] Or I will be tempted to go abroad and ride. Then finally I made my passport last year. After completing the entire India properly. So, you have covered the whole of India. But can you tell us one more road where you have to go on the right?
[00:08:20] There is a lot of roads outside India. I want to explore the whole of Africa. Then I have to explore South America. Then I have to do a north-east. I have to do more detail in India. My mother is from north-east. I haven't covered the north-east in detail.
[00:08:39] I have to see Arunachal properly. Meghalaya properly. It is very beautiful in the north-east. As always, I have told you that if you go south, India is completely different. If you go to Ladakh, India is completely different. But India is beautiful wherever you go.
[00:08:56] It is a beautiful country. I will tell everyone that do the spice route of India. The whole southern route. From coast to hill station, Thakadi, Munnar, Kodai, Kanal, Pichawaram, Rameswaram, Kanyakumari, Kochi, Pura, Aleppi, Pura, that route. That is also a very beautiful route.
[00:09:21] You can see the hill station. You can also go to the forest. You can also ride the Ooty's amazing huts. You also come to India's tip. At Kanyakumari. You get a very beautiful ride. At least plan for 2 weeks ride. Amazing! So what is next in your bucket list?
[00:09:48] My bucket list is next. I am going to sell my house in the next 5 years. And with that money, I am going to travel the world. My husband is a motorcyclist. We have planned that one day,
[00:10:04] we will sell our whole world and buy 2 nice tour bikes with our money. We will fit them and go on a world tour. You are actually hearing Goosebumps. This is a very big decision. Yes.
[00:10:23] So we have planned everything in the same way that we can do this one day. More part you. This is our bike ride today. Urvashi Patolesane. The founder of the women's bike club in our country. Who leads such a big club.
[00:10:44] Do you know a little more about her in this next segment? Her name is Scrapbook. What is fame meant to you? Fame for me is responsibility. Being a responsible ambassador. And giving your right messages to people using your popularity.
[00:11:06] Has it ever happened that someone has said that girls ride bikes? No one has ever said that. Because everyone knew that I am a very scary person. And if they say that to me, they will get a headache. So no one has ever said that to me.
[00:11:29] One thing you can't live without. My motorcycles. I have 6 motorcycles at home. And I can't live without anyone. One skill you haven't mastered yet? Proper rally riding. I have done dirt track championships. And I have always won all the races. And with a lead of 1 lap.
[00:11:56] And 1 and half lap also. But proper rally racing. Where you need proper endurance. To run non stop for 3 days. Or to keep fitness. I haven't properly learnt that yet. So my next aim is to learn rally racing. And participate in rallies professionally. Ok. Faster speed you ever ride?
[00:12:20] Top speed I have done on 240 kmph. One thing you are scared about? I have seen a lot of bad accidents with my fellow riders. But one thing that scares me is that I had an accident and I couldn't get up again. And I couldn't help in any situation.
[00:12:45] That is very scary. So I was very protective on this matter. That everyone should ride safely. And someone runs in front of me. I stopped them and got angry. Last ride I got angry with my boss. He was running. I took him to the side.
[00:13:02] That we should ride like this. Because you don't know what will happen next. So if you are riding 2-3 times and getting angry. If I feel that you are running very fast or rashly. So this is what I am scared of.
[00:13:20] Who is the most scared of riding a bike? My father is scared. My father thinks I am a very bad rider. So he is scared of me sitting behind him. When I was a racer. He used to tell me that you can't ride. You can't take a turn.
[00:13:39] You can't brake. So I have always been better than him. On my father's criticism. I have taken my father on the right. But I haven't done a proper road trip. My father is a war veteran. He had 4 bullets in his hand. One bullet was on his spine.
[00:14:01] He is sad to ride a motorcycle for so long. He has a lot of passion. But he has a problem in riding a motorcycle. About this strong brave Urvashi Patle. There was an incident like this. A mode came into his life.
[00:14:22] When the doctor told him that you can't ride a bike again. What happened? Motorcycling is my whole life. I live and breathe for motorcycles. My career is in this too. I work for a motorcycle company in the marketing function. My projects are related to motorcycles.
[00:14:44] Like taking tours or attending workshops. I was very shy before. Whenever I ride motorcycles. I was confident that I can do something. I am riding a powerful machine. I am travelling on the road. When you feel the engine in motorcycle. You feel clutch and gear transmission.
[00:15:10] The air is flying on you. And you are riding on that road. You feel confident of freedom. Actually, in 2012. I was riding to Kul. It was raining heavily. It was the season of the rain. On a turning. I slipped.
[00:15:33] I slipped so badly that I fell on my head. Like a thief. When my friends reached me. I was not breathing. They thought I have died. After 5 minutes. I started to feel the seizure. I started to feel foam. They called the ambulance. They took me to the hospital.
[00:15:54] In Madikeri, Kork. When they reached there. They said that they have concussion. They will be fine in a few days. They put me in the truck. They took me to the bank. They kept me at home. After 2 days. I did not remember. I did not recognize anyone.
[00:16:14] I was roaming in the same clothes. I was in a bad condition. I thought something is wrong. I called my parents. They sent me to Pune from the flight. When they reached there. They went to the military hospital. After the MRI.
[00:16:30] I found out that my brain was shifted. In the impact. The doctor said that it is a big head injury. But it was left like a helmet. But the brain has shifted from inside. It needs 1 year of bed rest. It needs to heal the brain.
[00:16:44] So, I called my parents. They said that it needs to heal the brain. So, I mean. It was like a seizure. It was a seizure. They said that it will be fine in 1 year. But never give it back to the motorcycle. Because it has a head injury.
[00:17:00] So, it will not be saved. It is a helmet. She will die. On June, July and August. I sat at home with my parents. I started getting better. I started getting better. Then, in college. I did it again. I secretly started riding the motorcycle. With my best friend.
[00:17:24] And one day. I told my parents. I am going to Madhya Pradesh motorcycle trip for 1 month. I am going to Madhya Pradesh motorcycle trip for 1 month. I was shocked. That you are still getting better. Why are you doing this?
[00:17:38] I told them that I will never ride the motorcycle. But I told them that I will never ride the motorcycle. I think nothing will happen. Nothing can happen. But I will always be sad. I have kept my passion. I have kept my passion. And maybe.
[00:17:54] I will ride the motorcycle. My life will be shorter. But I will die happy. But not a single word. So, today also I am living that life. That anything can happen. But that doesn't mean I will never ride the motorcycle. I will die happy in the end.
[00:18:14] Whatever happens. Amazing. This is our today's motorcycle driver. Urvashi Patolesane. Who has done many rides till date. But. India's first women bikers club. Biker Nikki first ride. Bani's the most memorable ride for them. The most special one. Do you know about that first ride?
[00:18:46] My first ride was with Biker Nikki. Longest ride. That was Khardungla Lake. We are 11 bikers. We started from Delhi. And in 14 days we covered the entire lake and Khardungla. And it was amazing ride. It was the youngest rider of that 19 years old. And the oldest was 52 years old.
[00:19:06] In our group. That record of Limka. Of course Pintwally. The 52 years old. From Rajkot. We reached Khardungla. From the whole Kichar, Mitthi, Reht. From the altitude. From Khardungla. And when we reached Khardungla. We saw the world from 18000 feet. We saw each other. We started crying.
[00:19:32] Because we knew at that moment. We saw the world from 18000 feet. At that moment. We have achieved a lot. For ourselves as well as for women in motorcycling. Because it was a historical moment. That for the first time. A group of girls. They went by motorcycling.
[00:19:50] And they also went to Khardungla. So everyone had tears in their eyes. There was an Indian flag in their hands. And I will never forget that memory. Till now. It is my best memory of riding. Superb. After listening to riding experiences. You must come to a question.
[00:20:08] Should we get a job? To ride? Urvashi always says. If you are looking for your passion. Then nobody stops us. You just need to know. How to communicate to your boss. Everything can be solved. By the way. When Urvashi rides. Does anyone keep a safety weapon with them?
[00:20:30] Do you know? Many people say. That you need to carry a pepper spray. Or you need to hold a knife. Actually that was a pocket knife. Swiss knife. That has many tools. But I discourage. To carry weapons. Because when you carry weapons. You will use it.
[00:20:52] Because in your mind. But actually. The situation can be handled by words. Like you talk in a way. Or you can handle the situation. You should not look at it. I don't encourage keeping weapons. Because when you have weapons. You use it. Sometimes the situation is worse.
[00:21:12] Because you don't know how to use weapons. And if you use it. If you use it in a wrong way. Then there will be more problem for you. Correct. Ok. Then take training. Combat training. There is judo. There is martial arts training. Combat training of Krav Maga.
[00:21:34] You did something. I have learnt taekwondo. I am a taekwondo black belt. And I have also learnt. Israeli army defense. Art called Krav Maga. Wow. So this is our today's Baikadeva. Urvashi Patolesanay. When he was asked. The rule of his life. Do not keep regrets in your life.
[00:21:58] Follow the life you want to follow. Follow it. Many people will come to speak to you. This is wrong. Don't do this. Say yes to everyone. But remember in your mind. What is your aim? Follow it. In the end. Live your life as you want to live. Because
[00:22:22] When you grow old. You will hear all the things you have done. And you will smile about it. And you will regret the things you did not do. And one of the Baikengtip from Urvashi. Is that. Have faith in your riding. Always be relaxed.
[00:22:38] Always be calm at any situation. No matter what. Don't drive fast. Drive faster. And do motor-settling. Enjoy the scenery. Enjoy the moments. And always pack. Do it smartly. If you are going for 4 days. You can even take out 2 t-shirts. You have to wash 1 t-shirt at night.
[00:23:02] So pack light. It is better to keep emergency snacks. Tool kit. First aid kit is necessary. Keep lubricant. Keep a spare tube. You don't get spare parts easily. So keep the spare. But at the same time. It is necessary to keep a container for the tyre.
[00:23:22] And be smart. Always carry a pouch. With cash. Your license and everything ready. Whatever happens. You can show your documents. Perfect. It was fun talking to you. And my series you started. As a motorcyclist you started this series. I am very proud of it. Thank you.
[00:23:46] So this was our Baikadeva Urvashi Patolesan. We will meet again soon. With another Baikadeva. Till then stay calm and drive safe.