A group of disabled riders will hit the road on June 6 on a trip that will take them from Kanniyakumari to Khardung La pass in Ladakh in five days. Their 4,000-km journey using modified bikes and cars, aims not just at creating a new record, but to send out the message that people with disability too have a claim to space.
‘TriChakras,’ as the riders call themselves, are led by a normal person, Shankar Jaikishan, who has been modifying motor vehicles to suit the special needs of people with disabilities.
Mr. Jaikishan said that he has been training TriChakra members Veeramallu, Rajan Babu, Shankar Babu, Karunakaran and Anandavel, who are between 30 and 50 years old, for over two years. They have done several short and long trips, including one to Goa and back. All members have a disability related to sensory feeling below the waist, some more than others.
“We hope to reach Khardung La early on June 11. Our team will have 3 differently-abled people on bikes and two other differently-abled members in two cars. We will rest for 6-7 hours a day and cover as much ground as possible during the days,” said Mr. Jaikishan.
While Mr. Veeramallau, Mr. Rajan Babu and Mr. Shankar Babu will be riding modified KTM super bikes and Mr. Karunakaran and Mr. Anandavel will use cars.
“The general notion is that differently-abled people cannot drive. We want to change that view. Which is why we want to do it under 5 days,” Mr. Jaikishan said.
Mr. Veeramallu injured his spinal cord in an accident and became a paraplegic. He said that the team had been training for the last 18 months. “With the right tools, we want to prove that we also can lead a normal life. This is the first time, a super bike has been made compatible [with the addition of wheels] for the differently-abled,” he said, recalling the several trips he has undertaken across the country. “Ideally, we should be riding 12-14 hours a day,” he said.
Dilip Muralidharan, who is also part of TriChakra riders but is not participating in the expedition, said such efforts help reclaim physical and social space for disabled people.
“Equality is not handing out leftovers to the needy and calling it empowerment. It is inviting everyone to the dinner table and sharing a meal. Disabled people can ride race bikes just as well, like everyone else. We are here to claim our space on the roads, enjoy the bounty of nature on two wheels,” he said.
