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The Biking Queens received a warm welcome in India
The Biking Queens received a warm welcome in India after successfully completing their – All Women 10 Nation Ride
Received blessings from the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Sh. Narendra Modi at Delhi
Four Biking Queens reached Delhi after completing an unprecedented 10 South East Asian Countries’ bike ride, covering more than 10,000 kms in 39 days, met Hon’ble Prime Minister of India Sh. Narendra Modi and took His blessings. The ride was aimed at propagating the “Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao” campaign of Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, in the South East Asian countries of Nepal, India, Bhutan, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia and Singapore. Biking Quens namely, Dr. Sarika Mehta, Ar. Yugma Desai, Durriya Tapia and Khyati Desai began their ride to 10 nations on 6th June 2016 from Kathmandu, Nepal after the Flag Off by the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Gujarat Smt. Anandiben Patel on 4th June, 2016 from the hometown of Biking Queens – Surat, Gujarat. At the press conference in Delhi, Mr. C.M Paatil (M.P, Member of Parliament Navasari, Surat) appreciated the four women and said “After facing all the hurdles, they completed their journey and made the India proud”
The Biking Queens were welcomed and supported by the Indian Embassy in every country. They also got opportunity to meet school children, NGOs, women activists, bureaucrats and ministers. In Nepal, they met the President of Nepal, Rt. Hon’ble Bidhya Devi Bhandari. In Bhutan, they met the Hon’ble Prime Minster Tshering Tobgay, His wife Tashi Doma and the country’s first woman minister Ms. Aum Dorji Choden. In Vietnam, the Biking Queens met standing Vice Chairwomen of Vietnam Women’s Union of Ho Chi Minh City, Nguyen Thi Ngoc Bich. In Cambodia, they met the Deputy Prime Minister H.E. Dr. Sok An and Senior Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation H.E. Prak Sokhonn and met the Hon’ble Minister for Culture, Community and Youth & Leader of the House, Ms Grace Fu Hai Yien at Singapore. They discussed various women’s issues with them — from female foeticide, education to girl child, gender equality and welfare and supportive measures for women empowerment.
The Biking Queens during their 10 Nation Ride drove for 9 hours on an average during a day and many a times during the odd hours at night. “We had to ride in various different terrains in all the countries which included terrible mountains in the interior of Bhutan, risky forest terrain of Nagaland, shaky bridges in Myanmar. We also had trouble at the borders while entering Myanmar, Thailand and Singapore due to some changes in the policies of the government there and other such issues. It was really exhausting for all of us, but we managed it all owing to our strong will power and the blessings of many from our country and abroad,” said Dr. Sarika Mehta, Founder of Biking Queens and leader of the 10 Nation Riding Team.
“Food became a problem when the food we were carrying with us got over. Most of us being vegetarians, but the warmth of the locals, amused us when some of them offered their kitchen to us for cooking basic food for ourselves. Also the local bikers in all the countries we visited were very helpful and supportive to us during the whole ride. Many of them helped us with the local routes and at times with the paper works as well, especially at Thailand Border. The riders all over were way too excited to meet us and know about the campaign that we were propagating”, said Ms. Khyati Desai, Member of Biking Queens.
“We had attempted for various records before and after the ride. Amongst them, we have bagged a Guinness Record of Most People Waving checkered flags with – 500 people waving the checkered flags for 10 minutes continuously, during the flag off ceremony in Surat on 4th June, 2016. Also the record for First Female Bikers to Cover 10 Countries, certifying by Asia book of records and by India Book of records have been achieved by us. We attempted for these records so that the people of the World get to know about the campaign we are propagating and also our ride,” said Ar. Yugma Desai, member of Biking Queens.
Ms. Darshana Jardosh – M.P., Surat, Gujarat said “They have successfully completed a grueling expedition and propagated the campaign of our Hon’ble Prime Minister in the Asian countries while setting a personal example of Women Empowerment in all these countries. It is a commendable work our daughters have done and the country takes pride on their achievement”
“There were times when we were stuck at the famously treacherous roads and our GPS too didn’t work but with the good wishes and positive energies of so many people, we knew we would be safe. The honourable Prime Minister gave us the responsibility, to spread his message, when we met Him in the month of May before the ride, and we feel very happy and honored to have done it successfully,” said Ms. Durriya Tapia, Member of Biking Queens.
