Kerala Royal Enfield bikers go on a 'Bullets against Bullet' ride retracing Adi Shankaracharya's trail from Kalady to Kashmir
Over 1,200 years ago, a young monk from Kerala travelled from Kalady to Kashmir, propagating the oneness of existence, or what he termed Advaita.
That ancient route traversed by Adi Shankaracharya was retraced recently by a team of 52 bikers who rode from Kalady to the Line of Control (LoC) as a homage to the lives lost in the Pahalgam attack and a message against terrorism.
The bikers, who joined forces from across Kerala, rode under the motto 'Bullets against Bullet'. For the bullet that terrorists showered on tourists in Pahalgam, here were the bikers' own Royal Enfield Bullets. The two-week ride was flagged off on June 1 by Kochi City Police Commissioner Putta Vimaladitya, who also heads the state's anti-terrorism squad.
'The idea came up after my friend R Ramanand, director of the Abhinava Gupta Institute of Advanced Studies, Vagamon, posted on Facebook about how the Pahalgam attack would soon be forgotten after the initial hubbub. The post got a lot of support, which encouraged him to take the idea forward and form the 'Bullets against Bullet' team,' says Mani Karthik, a startup consultant, who was coordinated the core group and the planning of the journey.
'Some of us were researching the links between Kashmir and Kerala's tantric traditions. Also, Shankaracharya's influence in Kashmir is still revered. That's how we decided to follow Shankara's footsteps and named our mission 'Shankara to Sharda'. The Sharda here refers to the ancient Sharda Peeth, now in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, where Shankaracharya had travelled to in 7th century AD. We have restricted access to that place, and hence, our destination was the Yatri Sharda Peeth very close to the LoC, near the Kishanganga river.'
Planning the journey wasn't without challenges. 'Our discussion group was infiltrated by stray social media users from as far as Pakistan, and agenda-driven individuals who tried to mar healthy conversations,' says Mani, who left a career in the US to settle in Kochi and guide NRIs keen on migrating and investing back home.
'We had to weed them out and plan carefully. Only our core group knew the route map. Everyone who wished to join was verified. We finalised 52 riders, including 10 women and a trans individual. Among us were techies, a temple priest, a farmer, and even a 76-year-old.'
The 'biker priest' in the team was Praveen P M from Thiruvananthapuram, who rode with his wife Renjini and their five-year-old son Badrinath as pillion. 'We have done several such bike jaunts,' says Renjini. 'But this is the longest we have done.'
The team faced many hurdles along the way. 'The summer blaze in some places was horrifying. When it got too sultry and humid, Badrinath, who rode on the bike with us otherwise, would switch to one of the two cars that accompanied the team as support vehicle. At times, there were delays when a bike broke down or a rider fell ill,' she recalls.
Mani adds, 'On the leg from Nagpur to Guna through a forest stretch, we rode long into the night and couldn't find food. But through it all, we felt a higher power guiding us. Often, someone would appear just when we needed help. Other Royal Enfield bikers, whom we networked with, assisted us in finding service stations throughout the journey. People who came to know of our mission welcomed us warmly. In Hyderabad, we were treated to a five-star lunch. Our accommodation was mostly in auditoriums, ashrams, or sometimes open grounds.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hans India
3 days ago
- Hans India
Domestic air passenger traffic rises to 1.4 crore
New Delhi: India's domestic air passenger traffic registered a 1.89 per cent increase during May this year to 1.4 crore, compared to the corresponding figure of 1.38 crore in the same month last year, according to the latest data compiled by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). Operations at over 30 airports near the border regions were impacted for around a week's time in May, due to the India-Pakistan conflict that followed the massacre of 26 people in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam by Pakistan-based terrorists. The disruption in flight services also affected the passenger load factor (PLF) of all airlines, which reflects the number of occupied seats on a flight. IndiGo's PLF fell to 85.1 per cent from 86.9 per cent in the same month of the previous year, SpiceJet's PLF declined to 84 per cent from 86 per cent, and Air India's PLF dipped to 80.2 per cent from 83.3 per cent. Akasa Air's recorded the highest PLF for the month at 91.4 per cent. IndiGo, the leading country's leading airline, increased its market share to 64.6 per cent in May from 64.1 per cent as the low-cost airline carried 90.8 lakh passengers during the month. Air India, on the other hand, registered a decline in its market share to 26.5 per cent from 27.2 per cent. The airline national carrier carried 37.22 lakh passengers during the month. Among other carriers, SpiceJet saw a fall in market share to 2.4 per cent from 2.6 per cent, and Akasa Air raised its share to 5.3 per cent from 5 per cent. The domestic airlines received around 958 passengers related complaints in May, with Alliance Air receiving the maximum complaints followed by Fly Big and Spice Jet.
NDTV
5 days ago
- NDTV
Crime, Terror, Rape: United States Flags India Travel Risks
The US Department of State has continued to issue a Level 2 travel advisory for American nationals living in or traveling to India, urging them to "exercise increased caution" due to ongoing risks linked to crime and terrorism. The advisory, recently updated by the US State Department, highlights: • Key security threats • Travel restrictions by region • Legal considerations for US citizens visiting or residing in India Officials in the Trump administration have also recommended that women avoid traveling alone and stay alert, especially at tourist destinations and public spaces. "Exercise increased caution in India due to crime and terrorism. Some areas have increased risk. Violent crime and terrorism occur in India. Rape is one of the fastest growing crimes in India. Violent crimes, including sexual assault, happen at tourist sites and other locations," the advisory noted. It was reissued on June 16 after a routine review, including updates to entry and exit requirements. India has remained under Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution) since 2022. Similar warnings were issued on March 28, July 25, and October 5 in 2022, and have been reiterated through 2023 and 2024. Citing terror threats, the advisory recommends avoiding tourist hubs, transport centres, markets, and government buildings, calling them frequent targets for attacks. Renewing concerns around sexual violence, the notice follows the April 22 attack in Pahalgam where 26 civilians were killed by Pakistan-based militants. "Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir: Do not travel to this area (except for visits to the eastern Ladakh region and its capital, Leh) due to terrorism and civil unrest," the advisory states. "Terrorist attacks and violent civil unrest are possible. Violence happens sporadically in this area and is common along the Line of Control (LOC) between India and Pakistan. Violence also occurs in tourist spots in the Kashmir Valley: Srinagar, Gulmarg, and Pahalgam. The Indian government does not allow foreign tourists to visit certain areas along the LOC," it adds. The State Department also raised the risk of armed conflict between India and Pakistan and advised Americans to avoid travel near the international border. The notice further stressed caution for women, especially in rural areas, where US authorities have limited ability to deliver emergency assistance. The advisory also points to Maoist activity: "Maoist extremist groups, or Naxalites, are active in a large area of India that spans from eastern Maharashtra and northern Telangana through western West Bengal." States impacted include Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Meghalaya, and Odisha. For travelers heading to India, the advisory warned against carrying satellite phones or GPS devices. "Possessing a satellite phone or GPS device is illegal in India and may result in a penalty of $200,000 or jail time of up to three years. Do not travel alone, especially if you are a woman." US citizens currently in India are advised to stay alert, review travel plans, and ensure they have travel insurance. Travelers are advised to: • Enrol in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) • Carry a valid visa or e-Tourist visa • Avoid raw food and unfiltered water • Be cautious on roads and public transport The advisory also reminds Americans to respect local customs, laws, and dress codes, especially in conservative regions. LGBTQ+ travelers are advised to be discreet, given prevailing social attitudes in some areas.
New Indian Express
5 days ago
- New Indian Express
Kerala Royal Enfield bikers go on a 'Bullets against Bullet' ride retracing Adi Shankaracharya's trail from Kalady to Kashmir
Over 1,200 years ago, a young monk from Kerala travelled from Kalady to Kashmir, propagating the oneness of existence, or what he termed Advaita. That ancient route traversed by Adi Shankaracharya was retraced recently by a team of 52 bikers who rode from Kalady to the Line of Control (LoC) as a homage to the lives lost in the Pahalgam attack and a message against terrorism. The bikers, who joined forces from across Kerala, rode under the motto 'Bullets against Bullet'. For the bullet that terrorists showered on tourists in Pahalgam, here were the bikers' own Royal Enfield Bullets. The two-week ride was flagged off on June 1 by Kochi City Police Commissioner Putta Vimaladitya, who also heads the state's anti-terrorism squad. 'The idea came up after my friend R Ramanand, director of the Abhinava Gupta Institute of Advanced Studies, Vagamon, posted on Facebook about how the Pahalgam attack would soon be forgotten after the initial hubbub. The post got a lot of support, which encouraged him to take the idea forward and form the 'Bullets against Bullet' team,' says Mani Karthik, a startup consultant, who was coordinated the core group and the planning of the journey. 'Some of us were researching the links between Kashmir and Kerala's tantric traditions. Also, Shankaracharya's influence in Kashmir is still revered. That's how we decided to follow Shankara's footsteps and named our mission 'Shankara to Sharda'. The Sharda here refers to the ancient Sharda Peeth, now in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, where Shankaracharya had travelled to in 7th century AD. We have restricted access to that place, and hence, our destination was the Yatri Sharda Peeth very close to the LoC, near the Kishanganga river.' Planning the journey wasn't without challenges. 'Our discussion group was infiltrated by stray social media users from as far as Pakistan, and agenda-driven individuals who tried to mar healthy conversations,' says Mani, who left a career in the US to settle in Kochi and guide NRIs keen on migrating and investing back home. 'We had to weed them out and plan carefully. Only our core group knew the route map. Everyone who wished to join was verified. We finalised 52 riders, including 10 women and a trans individual. Among us were techies, a temple priest, a farmer, and even a 76-year-old.' The 'biker priest' in the team was Praveen P M from Thiruvananthapuram, who rode with his wife Renjini and their five-year-old son Badrinath as pillion. 'We have done several such bike jaunts,' says Renjini. 'But this is the longest we have done.' The team faced many hurdles along the way. 'The summer blaze in some places was horrifying. When it got too sultry and humid, Badrinath, who rode on the bike with us otherwise, would switch to one of the two cars that accompanied the team as support vehicle. At times, there were delays when a bike broke down or a rider fell ill,' she recalls. Mani adds, 'On the leg from Nagpur to Guna through a forest stretch, we rode long into the night and couldn't find food. But through it all, we felt a higher power guiding us. Often, someone would appear just when we needed help. Other Royal Enfield bikers, whom we networked with, assisted us in finding service stations throughout the journey. People who came to know of our mission welcomed us warmly. In Hyderabad, we were treated to a five-star lunch. Our accommodation was mostly in auditoriums, ashrams, or sometimes open grounds.'
