BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

It has been 67 years since India acquired Independence. Since then, women have been fighting for equal rights all over the country, and to some extent, they have succeeded too. Be it sports like cricket or football, to driving public transport like buses and auto rickshaws, women are putting up a good fight against men in all male dominated activities. On the other hand, women at rural parts are still bowing down before the male chauvinistic society. This week, on the occasion of the International Women’s Day, we bring a special person to your notice - a symbol of women empowerment.

            Women have always been related to dumb driving (no offense, ladies) or at least that’s what men say. They say they can never park a car properly, or overtake with confidence. All this, on four wheels. Two wheels are completely out of their league. It’s not often that you get to see a woman riding a bike, and that too with all the protective gear. If at all you get to see one, you’re lucky. They instantly get etched in your mind. The scene here in India has changed drastically. The country even has an exclusive “women-only” biking group – The Bikerni. But our subject this week, is much more aggressive on two wheels – way more aggressive than you think.Ladies and Gentlemen, meet the young and charmingAnam Hashim. She is the youngest female stunt rider of India hailing from Pune. Yes you heard me right. SHE IS A STUNT RIDER!! (Boys, take a look). So here is a fine example of how women have earned their freedom in a male dominant country like India. At 18 years of age, Anam is a young and energetic college girl, who has taken that extra step and made the entire biking fraternity proud.

Anam is now a very prominent name in the stunt riding scene in India. She is considered to be the only female stunt rider in India who can perform the much famed stunt named “The Christ”. The way she pulls off wheelies on huge bikes with her size zero body makes guys go weak in the knees. Even our very own M.S.Dhoni is not an exception. This young girl is probably the woman of every biker’s dreams. Currently, she owns an Apache RTR 180 which has been rebored to 220 cc, an FZ handle bar in place of the usual clip-ons, extra set of foot pegs, a dented tank, a higher rear seat, and othermodifications seen on a common stunt bike. She aspires to own a Kawasaki ZX – 6R someday. Currently, she is being sponsored by iCON – a motorcycle gear company based in USA. It is the same company that sponsor Leah Petersen, the world renowned female stunt rider. Here is an extract of the interview that she gave to Motorbeam magazine:

When and how did your love for bikes start?

I fell in love with bikes when I was 5 years old. My dad taught me riding small bikes and later started upgrading.

What prompted you to start stunting?

I always had a dream of doing something different on bike because riding bike for me is a normal thing. Once I saw few guys doing street motorcycle stunts(wheelies &stoppies). I then asked those guys how it is done, researched more through internet and learnt what stunt riding is all about. This way I started even though I just had Scooty that time. My 1^st stunt was Christ on Honda Activa. Later, I practiced on friend’s bike.

How did you convince your family?

It is nothing about convincing parents regarding this sport. In India people are unaware of Stunt Riding, so they take it in a negative way like mostly parents do but being a female stunt rider and coming from an orthodox Muslim family, parents are even more scared and negative. To be frank, my family is still not convinced with me getting into this sport but I believe if you have true passion towards something, nothing can stop you no matter how hard it is.

How did you get trained in stunting?

In the very beginning I had no bike of my own. I borrowed my friend’s bike to learn basics.

What was the biggest challenge you faced till now?

My health factor is the biggest challenge for me. Being very skinny, whenever I fall or crash, my bones easily get hurt. This gets really bad as once you fall and break your bones, you need to rest. That is when I miss my stunt rides. With this problem, lot of time got wasted in healing my wounds, cracks & stitches, which could have been used instead for practicing and upgrading skills.

Which has been you happiest moment till now?

Getting sponsored gears from ICON MOTORSPORTS from U.S.A., which is the world’s best riding Apparel Company. It was my dream which came true.

If not stunting, what would one find you doing?

When not stunting, people can find me making stunt sketches, painting and writing.

Which bike do you currently own?

Apache RTR.

When did you buy your bike?

I bought my latest bike on 21^st January 2013.

What made you buy this particular bike?

Apache is way lighter than other bikes which is easy for me to control for stunt training.

What do you love the most about your bike?

I particularly can’t describe my feelings for my bike. I love everything about her.

What you don’t like about your bike?

There is nothing which I hate about my bike because a rider can’t hate his/her own bike in whatever condition it is.

Will you trade your bike for any other bike? If yes, which one?

No.

What modifications have you done to your bike and what do you plan to do in the future?

I have changed the engine work and upgraded it from 180cc to 220cc, handle bar of FZ, seat, rear tyre, exhaust, installed handbrake. Now working on crash guard which is very important to protect the bike and double back pegs.

Why is your bike so special to you?

Its very very special to me because its my own 1^st stunt bike and I have lots of memories with her. She’s lucky charm for me.

Which is your dream bike?

Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R (636).

Which bike sold in India is your current favorite?

Apache RTR 180.

What are your future plans with respect to stunt riding?

For stunt riding future plan, I have to practice hard as much as I can, upgrade my skills to participate in stunt competitions like XDL, Stunt war.

            Being a Muslim girl and aspiring to pursue a challenging career in stunt riding is not an easy thing to do. Not even for men. It requires enormous amounts of dedication and practice. It is a matter of life and death. Injuries are a part and parcel of stunt riding – be it major or minor. But when you got the guts and the grit to do what you like, then there’s no one to stop you. It doesn’t matter if you’re girl either. There stands Anam, the girl who proves to be an inspiration to both men and women.

Interview extract courtesy: MOTORBEAM magazine

-        - NOVA