First Ride of 2023 – Cause Ride – GARVA Ride for Indian Army. Date: 07.01.2023.
As the popularity of IFMR is growing, many organisations look forward to IFMR’s participation in it. Big Biking Commune, an upcoming bike aggregator had planned a Bike Ride to mark the Army Parade show in Bangalore. In the past 75 yrs, this flag ship event of Indian Army is held in New Delhi, for the first time it was held outside Delhi and Bangalore was the automatic choice due to huge presence of army personnel here, a Bike Parade of top bike club was planned and IFMR was invited to join. Over 30 bikers registered for the event from IFMR.
Assembly point for our riders was Kanteerva Stadium gate and departure to Field Marshal Sam Maneck Shaw ground was at sharp 6.45 am. All had come on time, Prez Arun briefed all about today’s ride and its importance. In no time all were in the military ground opposite M G Road metro station. Already many other club riders were present and we were guided to take our positions. After parking the bikes, all got into fellowship mode, took many group/solo pictures with the backdrop stage and various standees of Army. Took pics with many senior Army officers, it was a great feeling, all were smiling and laughing with us.
Sharp at 7.30 am the bike ride was flagged off and one by one each clubs were asked to follow them in a column of two riders to avoid traffic jams. Soon over 200 bikes were on Bangalore roads for the next one hour criss crossing the CBD areas and reached ASC centre on Old Airport road, another military post of the Indian Army. Here was our breakfast stop. Many were thrilled to be inside ASC centre, a huge place occupying acres and acres of land, no one had an idea what was inside ASC, it was a township in itself with a Golf Course too. All had a great breakfast of Idly/Vada/Upma/Kesari Baath with Tea and Monster energy drinks. Food was prepared by the army mess. Great taste and awesome service by them.
After breakfast we started again for the next leg of Bike Rally to another military post, Madras Sappers in Ulsoor, again we were on the roads and were getting attention from all the passersby, few were taking pictures on their mobile. Bangalore was seeing such a huge bike rally for the first time and that too in an orderly fashion. Close to 10.30 am, we were inside the parade ground of Madras Sappers centre. It was full a house inside with all the family members of army personnel standing and cheering the riders, took two big rounds of ground on our bike, waving and cheering the audience present. Many big bikes were the centre of attention of public, many wanted to take selfie and few wanted to sit on them, it was wonderful to watch all this, one junior officer took a test ride of Rtn Rajesh’s BMW GS 10. It was a small gesture by we civilians towards the forces to have spent some quality time with them.
Again to our surprise we were directed to nearby ground for refreshments, what a vip treatment for we riders. There we met our main hero, Hon. Rtn. Umesh Jhadav, man behind today’s show called GARVA, in his trophy car. It was his initiative with Army officers that today’s ride was planned. He met all IFMR members, narrated his 1.2 lacs km expedition of collecting soils from villages/towns of martyrs of Pulwama attack 3 yrs back. All were speechless and impressed with his deed and soon we took many group pictures and all wanted solo pics too with Umesh Jhadav. President Arun Belur thanked him for inviting IFMR to today’s ride. Many were happy that despite living in Bangalore for donkey years they had not stepped inside all these Army installation and assets. It was experience of a different level. All cheered for Umesh Jhadav and Indian Army and we left the venue around 12 noon.
