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A ride to challenge China's stand
Staff Correspondent
ITANAGAR, Oct 25: Beyond his youth, Nabam Jose, at the moment, is filled with
more youthfulness than several youths put together. The other day he bought
himself a cheaper version of an iPod that can play songs and movies powered by a
2 GB memory. It also has several other functions such as games etc, but for Jose
these don't matter. To go with it he got a compact sound system that sounds more
than it looks. The only problem for Jose now is to install these on his Royal
Enfield Bullet a bike that has refused to faze out like other two wheelers.
Several other Bullet owners, all middle-aged like Jose, are also as excited. The
excitement sprouts from expectations of an ensuing ride on two-wheels, which in
no way is just for fun. This ride is for a cause, a cause that is causing a pain
in the neck for the Government of India.
These not-so-young roadies would ride their Bullets all the way to Bumla, the
last outpost on the Indian side of the border with China in Tawang district, to
protest against the repeated claims over Arunachal Pradesh by the neighbouring
country.
The Arunachal Bullet Club aka ABC is all set to set off on this ambitious ride
on October 30.
The frustration of Vijay Sonam, president of ABC and the brain behind the
ride-with-a-cause, over the repeated interventions of China in India's internal
affairs took the better of him. Searching for an outlet to express resentment
and protest against it, he evolved the idea to arrange a ride to Bumla on a
two-wheeler. His colleagues too promptly jumped into the ABC bandwagon. As of
now 15 members have confirmed participation in the protest-ride besides Jose.
"Eight riders from Pasighat, four from Tezpur, two from Jorhat and one from
Dimapur have already confirmed participation. However, the number may increase
as several Bullet riders are in touch with us expressing willingness to join the
all-important ride," informs Sonam.
Several National flags and placards with slogans like `We are Arunachalees, we
are Indians', `we love India' etc are being readied besides other logistics
including permission from concerned authorities.
The ride that would be flagged off from Itanagar, reportedly by someone special,
cover about 601 kms to reach Bumla at a staggering height of 21000 ft above sea
level. The ride-up would be divided into two phases. The first would be the one
from Itanagar to Bomdila, covering a distance of almost 395 kms, where the
bikers would halt for the night. Next day they would cover another 185 kms from
Bomdila to Tawang, which is one of the most blissful rides in the region passing
through the picturesque Sela Pass at 14000 ft. On the third day, the destination
would be Bumla, which is about 21 kms from Tawang towards the border with China,
which in the media is known for its yearly interactions between Chinese and
Indian army officials.
Sonam reveals that the ride back would be different, both in objective and
route. While the onward ride is to protest China's stand, the return would be to
highlight tourism potential of the region. Some of the riders are slated to ride
off the main road from Tawang, known as ring-road, to reach Dirang. Also some
would ride the rough stretch of road from Seppa to Sagalee via Pakkekessang and
reach Itanagar.
Surprisingly, the ABC has no sponsors for the adventurous ride. Completely a
self-sponsored project, the `patriotic' riders would be bearing their own
expenses.
"Actually we had no time to approach sponsors. But at hindsight, we are better
off without sponsors," says Sonam who feels that with big sponsors, it is always
`their' ride or project where the actual motto and feel of the participants get
overawed. This ride will be purely to express the genuine feeling of some
`die-hard Indians', Sonam adds.
Formed in 2007, the ABC has an interesting evolution story. A young APCS
officer, Pige Ligu, who is at present the deputy commissioner of East Kameng,
was the only one who rode around in the State capital on an Enfield Royal.
Searching for a partner, Ligu's undying persistence forced Sonam, also a
government official and friend, to end up buying a Bullet. The duo formed the
ABC and assumed the posts of president and secretary. Today the club has several
members across the state but is mainly headed by president Sonam, vice-president
Capt A Tangu, secretary Ligu, assistant secretary Nayen Kaye and treasurer Likha
Tapu.
"In younger days, we rode two-wheelers to commute between places. Today we ride
to commute a message," says Sonam in his 40s.
Meanwhile, Jose is yet to figure out a way to install the playback device on his
Bullet. In any case it would accompany him on the long drive, even if he stacked
inside his rucksack. A song here and there on the road would be rejuvenating for
the middle-aged knight-riders.
Beginning as an option for joyride, the ABC has come of age with the ensuing
ride that offers to challenge the might of an Asian Superpower.
Staff Correspondent
ITANAGAR, Oct 25: Beyond his youth, Nabam Jose, at the moment, is filled with
more youthfulness than several youths put together. The other day he bought
himself a cheaper version of an iPod that can play songs and movies powered by a
2 GB memory. It also has several other functions such as games etc, but for Jose
these don't matter. To go with it he got a compact sound system that sounds more
than it looks. The only problem for Jose now is to install these on his Royal
Enfield Bullet a bike that has refused to faze out like other two wheelers.
Several other Bullet owners, all middle-aged like Jose, are also as excited. The
excitement sprouts from expectations of an ensuing ride on two-wheels, which in
no way is just for fun. This ride is for a cause, a cause that is causing a pain
in the neck for the Government of India.
These not-so-young roadies would ride their Bullets all the way to Bumla, the
last outpost on the Indian side of the border with China in Tawang district, to
protest against the repeated claims over Arunachal Pradesh by the neighbouring
country.
The Arunachal Bullet Club aka ABC is all set to set off on this ambitious ride
on October 30.
The frustration of Vijay Sonam, president of ABC and the brain behind the
ride-with-a-cause, over the repeated interventions of China in India's internal
affairs took the better of him. Searching for an outlet to express resentment
and protest against it, he evolved the idea to arrange a ride to Bumla on a
two-wheeler. His colleagues too promptly jumped into the ABC bandwagon. As of
now 15 members have confirmed participation in the protest-ride besides Jose.
"Eight riders from Pasighat, four from Tezpur, two from Jorhat and one from
Dimapur have already confirmed participation. However, the number may increase
as several Bullet riders are in touch with us expressing willingness to join the
all-important ride," informs Sonam.
Several National flags and placards with slogans like `We are Arunachalees, we
are Indians', `we love India' etc are being readied besides other logistics
including permission from concerned authorities.
The ride that would be flagged off from Itanagar, reportedly by someone special,
cover about 601 kms to reach Bumla at a staggering height of 21000 ft above sea
level. The ride-up would be divided into two phases. The first would be the one
from Itanagar to Bomdila, covering a distance of almost 395 kms, where the
bikers would halt for the night. Next day they would cover another 185 kms from
Bomdila to Tawang, which is one of the most blissful rides in the region passing
through the picturesque Sela Pass at 14000 ft. On the third day, the destination
would be Bumla, which is about 21 kms from Tawang towards the border with China,
which in the media is known for its yearly interactions between Chinese and
Indian army officials.
Sonam reveals that the ride back would be different, both in objective and
route. While the onward ride is to protest China's stand, the return would be to
highlight tourism potential of the region. Some of the riders are slated to ride
off the main road from Tawang, known as ring-road, to reach Dirang. Also some
would ride the rough stretch of road from Seppa to Sagalee via Pakkekessang and
reach Itanagar.
Surprisingly, the ABC has no sponsors for the adventurous ride. Completely a
self-sponsored project, the `patriotic' riders would be bearing their own
expenses.
"Actually we had no time to approach sponsors. But at hindsight, we are better
off without sponsors," says Sonam who feels that with big sponsors, it is always
`their' ride or project where the actual motto and feel of the participants get
overawed. This ride will be purely to express the genuine feeling of some
`die-hard Indians', Sonam adds.
Formed in 2007, the ABC has an interesting evolution story. A young APCS
officer, Pige Ligu, who is at present the deputy commissioner of East Kameng,
was the only one who rode around in the State capital on an Enfield Royal.
Searching for a partner, Ligu's undying persistence forced Sonam, also a
government official and friend, to end up buying a Bullet. The duo formed the
ABC and assumed the posts of president and secretary. Today the club has several
members across the state but is mainly headed by president Sonam, vice-president
Capt A Tangu, secretary Ligu, assistant secretary Nayen Kaye and treasurer Likha
Tapu.
"In younger days, we rode two-wheelers to commute between places. Today we ride
to commute a message," says Sonam in his 40s.
Meanwhile, Jose is yet to figure out a way to install the playback device on his
Bullet. In any case it would accompany him on the long drive, even if he stacked
inside his rucksack. A song here and there on the road would be rejuvenating for
the middle-aged knight-riders.
Beginning as an option for joyride, the ABC has come of age with the ensuing
ride that offers to challenge the might of an Asian Superpower.
Of course I'll be shacking up with Army docs wherever I go ..... like potatoes and sardars, there is an AFMCite everywhere in the world!
