Image: thenewsminute.com
Vaishali Kulkarni More, a 49-year-old retired teacher began her journey on February 22, in light of International Women’s day which falls on March 8.
Image: newindianexpress.comVaishali is no stranger to long distance biker journeys, she completed her first solo 1,700-km ride from the port city of Vizag to religious hub, Shirdi in July of last year, making this her second long ride.
Ultimately, her main mission is an All- India trip to spread awareness amongst women on genital hygiene and cervical cancer in Mid-2017.
The former teacher told an Indian news agency, Express, that, “For me, riding is a meditation and it has always been a symbol of empowerment. Solo biking has always been my dream and I will pursue it.”
Image: newindianexpress.comThe theme for International Women’s Day 2017 is “Be Bold for Change” and Kulkarni along with two other biker enthusiasts, Sonal Bhat and Anagha Sant, are doing just that.
Kulkarni had met Bhat and Sant in Pondicherry after discussions via whatsapp to meet.
The biker enthusiasts have since been on the road with Kulkarni and hope to arrive in Kolkata on March 7, to participate in the Women’s Day Celebrations organised by the Women and Child Welfare Society of West Bengal.
“As part of our ride, we have met various organisations and biking groups and shared our experiences and interacted with the villagers to sensitise them on various women’s issues,” Kulkarni said.
“My ultimate dream is to promote the riding culture among women in our society as several of them are still living in fear,” she added.
India’s patriarchal society places many restrictions on women from marriage to movement and it is through these norms that many women face various forms of abuse.
Gender sensitisation in this day and age is of great importance to end the chronic issues women face, not just in India but around the world.
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