The Wonder Woman on Wheels from Kerala
- 23 Feb 2017
- Sunaya
- Features
Shyni Rajkumar, the daring bullet rider talks about her passion for biking and her approach to life.
Meet Shyni Rajkumar, the ‘Wonder Woman’ on wheels from Kerala! Hold your breath for a while because she is going to leave you flabbergasted with her story of bikes. She is the pride of Kerala who inspires women to come out of their shells and face the atrocities of the world with tooth and nail. Beaming with everlasting enthusiasm, positivity and valour, she has successfully become the hero of countless number of girls from in and across the state by now. Daring the harsh realities of life, this superwoman has a message for every female out there. FWD got a great opportunity to catch up with this biker and know more about her. Have a look.
- What exactly made you take up riding as a profession?
Actually I had never decided to make this my profession. It was due to my passion for riding that I left my profession as a police officer and got into this field. It all started with my love for cycling while I was a physical education instructor at a school in North India.
- How do you feel when you are on your bike?
I feel mighty proud! Just as the name Royal Enfield suggests, it gives you a royal feeling. You feel different from the rest of the crowd.
- Your earliest memories of seeing someone ride a bulletthat made a spark in your heart?
That has to be my father’s elder brother who was in the Police. He used to tell me everything about the super bike. The thundering sound it made was also a huge attraction for me.
- Your first experience on a bike?
It was a pleasant experience being in North India, when I first learned how to ride a bike. I explored places like Delhi, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh in those days. I also covered the boundaries of Nepal and the Himalayas. I wanted to tour all the places in India. It was an old model Bullet that I had back then. My first experience in Kerala in 2007 was not a good one since people there considered me as an alien who rode men’s bikes and called me by various names like ‘ahankari’, which is Malayalam for arrogant. I used to ride my father’s bike in the beginning.
- Someone in your life who has been a constant source of inspiration for riding?
They are definitely my father, mother and husband. My parents never forced me to grow up like a typical girl. I was let free just like boys. If it was not for my husband who supported me immensely after our marriage, I would not have even dreamt to reach where I am today.
- Has your family ever opposed your dreams as a woman biker?
No, never actually. Maybe, when it came to money matters they were a bit sceptic initially,but they have never demoralised me ever.
- Something about your club ‘Dauntless Royal Explorers’?
The club actually took form because of a small ego clash I had with another girl. My husband encouraged me to teach riding skills to any girl who approached me for help. This is how it took the shape of a big club on 6th of November in 2016 at Trivandrum. Initially it had just 20 members which has grown to more than 75 now. It includes housewives, doctors, engineers, architects, health inspectors, IPS & IAS aspirants etc. There are members who are as old as 52 also.
- About your previous rides and the last Thrissur-Palakkad trip on Feb 11.
The previous rides were in two different schedules, one at Trivandrum and the other at Thrissur. We have had as many as 5 trips till now. We had 24 members for the first ride. The last trip was awesome and I felt that people from Thrissur were really active and energetic.
- How many bikes do you have in your collection? Your favourite among them?
Currently I have 6 bullets in my collection. Two of them are old models, the rest being a standard, a classic, a Himalayan and a GT. I can’t choose a favourite amongst these since I love them all. But I feel Himalayan is more comfortable. I was the first proud female-owner of this off-road bike in Kerala.
- Ever faced criticism from people being a woman rider?
Yes, plenty of it. Especially from people in Kerala. My relatives also were against all this. People used to treat me bad and give me all sorts of looks. Auto and bus drivers used to make fun of me.
- Did you ever wish to quit biking and join some other job?
No, but soon after my initial days of biking in the North, I came back to Kerala and joined Kotak Mahendra as an execuitive, which I loved very much since it involved a lot of travelling on bikes. When the job felt like a burden, I quit it to continue my riding-dreams.
- Something that you have done or women empowerment.
I love giving speeches and encouraging feeble girls to achieve more in life. Whenever someone approaches me for guidance or for learning how to ride a bike, I try to involve fully in it.
- Possible future plans for your club.
I wish to expand my club’s base throughout Kerala. Hoping to have meet ups in all the districts soon.
- A message for your female friends out there.
Never be afraid of anything or anyone. Fight back and raise your voice against injustice. We should never be like ‘Saumya’ ( Saumya murder case) , who could not help herself out from the situation and must be brave enough to face anything. And I would suggest women riders to avoid wearing shawls, as these might pose great danger for them by getting entangled in the chains.
Words: Ankita Anand Photos: Various sources
