When an Assamese rider moves around
Guwahati: Assam’s adventurous female bike rider Meenakshi Das, who has recently completed her mission to travel in 64 countries solo, was felicitated by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s Kharghuli Shakha of Guwahati Mahanagar in a small function near her residence on the southern bank of Brahmaputra. The 41 years old mother to a high school going daughter went to the mission solo with an aim to create a world and Meenakshi has done it. Thus she became the first solo two-wheeler rider to travel over 60 countries within a year. Carrying the national flag and Asomiya Gamocha with her, the fitness trainer by profession roamed around various Asian, Arabian and European localities canvassing her mission to empower women through adventure sports and tourism.
Addressing the tiny gathering, the passionate biker revealed a number of stories generated by the unknown individuals during her expedition, many of those were emotional and enriched with humanity. Meenakshi observed that many people on the globe remain lonely chasing their materialistic dreams. She could encounter many personalities in her mission and had a feeling of deep pain among them. So Meenakshi emerged as somebody’s daughter, sister, friend and a ray of hope for the women who are fighting for freedom from dictates imposed by the society and authorities. She fondly remembered the support extended by Indian diplomats, non-residents Indians (Assamese) and many foreign nationals irrespective of their nationalities and religious faiths.
Her landmark journey started from Guwahati on 18 December 2023 riding a 400 cc motorcycle (with no modification to her bike) and covered Nepal before arriving in Mumbai, where she was fully supported by the RSS volunteers. Meenakshi also visited Nagpur and stayed in a hostel, specially run for the girls of northeast India, where she came to know about various welfare activities of the RSS. The outspoken lady admitted that she had little idea about the largest socio-cultural organisation in the world, which promotes Hindu nationalism in India and influences millions of Bhartiya living inside or outside the country, but now she possesses a high regard for the RSS Karyakartas. From the commercial capital of India, Meenakshi arrived in Dubai and left for European countries after passing through many Arab nations.
During her tour, Meenakshi remembered meeting Hindu Swayamsevaks in London, who extended help during her stay in the UK. Meenakshi completed her mission with no official sponsorship from the government except the support from kind hearted individuals based in different parts of the globe. She strongly believes that humanity is still alive and Meenakshi enjoyed the patronage during her 371 days of adventures. Some countries, she could not enter due to visa problems and internal conflicts surfaced there, but Meenakshi wants to make it happen. She even nurtures the dream of riding in the entire American continent, adding she wants to travel wherever there is a landmass on Earth.
Meenakshi used to document her tedious journey through video blogs which are appreciated by hundreds of thousands of viewers around the world. She opined that a biking culture had grown in India lately which should be welcomed. But at the same time she warned that the making of stunts and racing by the youngsters on the busy roads cannot be appreciated as their actions may distract as well as annoy others. She proposed specially designed tracks for that kind of biking activities. Soon to be included in the Limca Book of Records, an annual reference book documenting world records created by the Indians, Meenakshi also eyes to insert her name at Guinness World Records as a solo rider travelling in the highest number of countries in coming days.
