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Motorcycle diary: First Pakistani girl who dared to ride solo

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Six-day journey from Lahore on June 14 and completed it on June 20
By
  • Ajanta Paul
Published Sunday, August 09, 2015

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For Zenith Irfan, riding a motorcycle is synonymous to challenging social norms. (Facebook)



Marketing student, 20-year-old Pakistani girl writes on her Facebook blog - 'Zenith Irfan: 1 Girl 2 Wheels'.

That summarises the story of Lahore-based Zenith Irfan's life.

Defying social taboo this young woman set on a journey through the Kashmir belt on the Pakistani side.

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What made her solo travels even more unusual is her choice of vehicle: a motorcycle.

Wearing a white helmet and backpack carefully tied at the back of her motorcycle, Zenith raced along the dangerous terrain of northern Pakistan.

Inspired by the dream of her deceased father who "wanted to travel the world on a bike", Zenith traveled through Kashmir, riding different motorcycle models including Honda 125, Honda CD -70 and Suzuki GS-150.

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On her Facebook page she wrote: "He wanted to travel the world on a bike. He wanted to experience every emotion and tantalize every sense he was capable of. I was 10 months old when I lost him and at a very tender age I understood that "some things just don't last forever". My mother accepted it quickly and we all knew this was all we had; 'each other'. With my brother still in her womb and with me cradled in her arms, she fought and raised us. I guess it's the whole emotional roller coaster that ignited the inner biker girl. I was 12 when I first rode one. All I could remember saying was "How do you stop this? How do you stop this?" With the twist of the throttle, the shift of the gear, I went to places carrying my father's legacy. If I fall, I have to get up by myself. Dust the dirt caused by my own failure and face the raging road again. There is no helping hand. You are the designer of your own catastrophe. We all try to find our escape routes. We all try to seclude in something or someone. For me, it was motorcycles."

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She describes herself as a 'free hearted soul', which is evident from her Facebook pictures, in which she can be seen crossing a river, spending time among remote tribes, playing with village children and admiring the brave truck drivers.

Zenith started her six-day journey from Lahore on June 14 and completed it on June 20th.

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Her blog is the testament of her adventures. Describing the challenges of backpacking in Kashmir, she writes, "Rocky plains, rugged landscapes, broken roads – a natural combination of all trails is presented to you and you have to ace it."

Zenith said she did not come across any resistance when she decided to make this journey.

For Zenith, riding a motorcycle is synonymous to challenging social norms, "A social taboo is enforced on them (female motorcycle riders) by creating a sense of disgrace and shame."

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This is the very perception that Zenith aims to change and dared to destroy gender stereotypes of Pakistan's society and embrace the freedom of soul.

In her own words, "With my motorcycle adventures, I aim to elevate and encourage them (women) to embrace their passions and goals, with open arms."

"I won. In the eyes of those who considered me of lesser strength. Who said I could not ride 20km continously, I won. I proved the world, I was no different and that a woman like me can in fact, ride a motorcycle."

In coming weeks, she will travel all of north, funding mosques for necessary renovation and providing aid to the flood victims in Chitral.


Motorcycle diary: First Pakistani girl who dared to ride solo - Emirates 24|7


A girl is going solo on a motorbike and international sport people are not allowed to play in Pakistan...Shame on such chickens who made such rules!!
 
Motorcycle diary of the first Pakistani girl who dared to ride solo through northern areas


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LAHORE (Nudrrat Khawaja) – Defying societal boundaries and norms, a 20-year-old young woman set on a journey through the Kashmir belt. What made her solo travels even more unusual is her choice of vehicle: a motorcycle.

Inspired by the dream of her deceased father who “wanted to travel the world on a bike”, Lahore-based Zenith Irfan traveled through Kashmir, riding different motorcycle models including Honda 125, Honda CD -70 and Suzuki GS-150.

When asked about her decision to ride a motorcycle, she defiantly replied, “Why not?”


Wearing a white helmet and backpack carefully tied at the back of her motorcycle, Irfan raced along the dangerous terrain of northern Pakistan.

The daredevil started her six-day journey from Lahore on June 14th and completed it on June 20th. On her return, Ifran documented her journey in a personal photo blog on Facebook, “Zenith Irfan: 1 Girl 2 Wheels”.

Irfan said she did not come across any resistance when she decided to make this journey. “My mother is a very liberal woman. In fact, she was the one who motivated and pushed me to ride a motorcycle,” said the braveheart.


For Irfan, riding a motorcycle is synonymous to challenging social norms, “A social taboo is enforced on them (female motorcycle riders) by creating a sense of disgrace and shame.”

This is the very perception that Irfan aims to change with her motorcycle adventures.

She describes herself as a “free hearted soul”, which is evident from her Facebook pictures, in which she can be seen crossing a river, spending time among remote tribes, playing with village children and admiring the brave truck drivers.


Irfan’s personal blog is the testament of her adventures. Describing the challenges of backpacking in Kashmir, she writes, “Rocky plains, rugged landscapes, broken roads – a natural combination of all trails is presented to you and you have to ace it.”

Despite the difficult terrains and rocky mountains, one thing she found challenging was “public stares”. She said that being a Pakistani woman there are certain limitations, “I have to calculate my speech and body language.”


Her carefully documented journey can serve as a guide for future women adventurers, who dare to destroy gender stereotypes of Pakistan’s society and embrace the freedom of soul.

In Irfan’s own words, “With my motorcycle adventures, I aim to elevate and encourage them (women) to embrace their passions and goals, with open arms.”

In coming weeks, Irfan will travel “all of north, funding mosques for necessary renovation and providing aid to the flood victims in Chitral.”

For more photographs and updates on Zenith Irfan’s motorcycle adventures, connect with her on her Facebook page.



Motorcycle diary of the first Pakistani girl who dared to ride solo through northern areas - Daily Pakistan Global
 
Well looking at this article I am thinking that I don't have much of an idea about biking situation for women in Pakistan. I would love to know about the biking scenario among Pakistani females.
As here in India a lot of females drive bikes (even heavy ones like Harley) and things like this is not a big deal.
If this news had been from Afghanistan type of country then that should be a big news, but in case of Pakistan is it really that big??
 
but in case of Pakistan is it really that big??
It is big coz she is "riding"
through the Kashmir belt on the Pakistani side.
And we all know what happens near Kashmir area!

Heck normal sportsmen from overseas dont have the balls to play in Pakistan while this lady is riding on a path that is dangerous coz of the area itself ...
 
this is real Pakistan . If some one asks me what Pakistan should be like, i would say this is real Pakistan where a girl is upright , confident , daring and independent .
 
Well looking at this article I am thinking that I don't have much of an idea about biking situation for women in Pakistan. I would love to know about the biking scenario among Pakistani females.
As here in India a lot of females drive bikes (even heavy ones like Harley) and things like this is not a big deal.
If this news had been from Afghanistan type of country then that should be a big news, but in case of Pakistan is it really that big??
No our girls/women's don't move around on bikes or Harleys its not common here,most of the time they use cars
 
Brave, brave girl man. Hats off.

Koi mujhe uska email do. I want to write to her.
 

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