Teeth chattering in the early morning cold, cycling through foggy roads, flanked by cotton fields and the Krishna river in Amaravathi, Telengana, it was the best birthday gift Rajani Nair could give herself. At a charity event, Amaravathi Century Ride, where 74 participants rode 100 km through picturesque rural trails, Rajani was one of four women riders and the only one from Kerala.
For those who have already concluded that Rajani has been in the game forever, this is the story of a 34-year-old homemaker, who, fuelled by what she calls ‘vengeance’, went from being the victim to the ‘shero’ of her life.
Cycling happened by chance in 2015 when Rajani chanced upon a local cycling group on Facebook. Now, Rajani will stop at nothing to take her pet project off the ground. Called WOW TBC - Women On Wheels Trivandrum Bikers’ Club, Rajani is hoping to see more women take to cycling as a means to a life overhaul. “Fitness has nothing to do with the perfect vital statistics. The day I have 10 women bikers, WOW TBC will be launched,” she says with determination.
It is a trait that has seen Rajani through many phases where life seemed a dreary journey. Initially, she started cycling with a BSA Ladybird, which did not help tackle the city’s steep roads. After buying a second-hand BTWIN city cycle, when the cycling group she started with organised a ride in Ponmudi, Rajani used the same heavy bike to cover the stretch from Thiruvananthapuram to Kallar and back, complete with 22 hairpin bends. Rajani won the admiration of fellow bikers. By the time Shyam, her husband, gifted her a high-end hybrid bicycle, Rajani knew she had earned it.
Rajani Nair
Rajani has participated in numerous cycling campaigns to raise awareness on social issues. She has also ridden in five major events including the Cyclothon 14k race.
She is a marathoner too, with the Dream Runners Half Marathon 10K in Chennai, Vodafone Coimbatore Marathon, Trivandrum Marathon, Spice Coast Marathon and Goa River Marathon behind her so far.
When she started running, like most women, Rajani was self-conscious. “I would wait to run with the group. But running is a beautiful way to enjoy time alone.” She ran the Chennai Marathon 10K in 1 hour 15 minutes. “Not bad at all for a fat lady, considering I took 1 hour 50 minutes the first time,” she says, laughing.
“Then I learnt that running is a solo sport. Your ‘me time’ happens then. Since it complements the muscles used in cycling, I kept at it.”
As cyclist, marathoner, volunteer, eco-warrior, baker, traveller and student, Rajani is now making up for lost time with the backing of her husband and eight-year-old-son, Rajshekhar.
On the heavy side as an adolescent, Rajani’s life was marred by isolation and sadness, her weight inviting unsolicited advice and mockery. “I would stay in my room under the pretext of taking a shower and wait for visiting relatives to leave,” she says. Looking at her reflection in the mirror was an effort in itself. “I know there are many people who go through the same ordeal, which is why I am speaking out about it. The emotional abuse continued through school and college. Palpitations were a regular part of my life when around people. My parents would assure me that I looked beautiful but my constant thought was ‘How could two people be right as opposed to the many others who said otherwise?’”
Post-marriage, Rajani found herself in a routine that did not include exercise. “Women think housework is enough. But the body can get used to that too. Growing up, my family members were not in the habit of exercising so it did not occur to me too,” she adds.
It was after undergoing extensive treatment for a disc prolapse from a fall that Rajani decided to stop brooding and up her fitness levels if she wanted to run the house. “I lost weight because of the exercise and people were noticing too, but then I was getting addicted to their compliments. I realised that people were measuring my worth based on external and superficial factors. It put me off.”
During this time Rajani began to volunteer with a local NGO, Helping Hands Organisation.
“The children there loved me unconditionally,” she says, adding that for once, she also made a lot of friends. The association with children also inspired her to enroll for a post-graduation in dietetics with a specialisation in children’s nutrition. Rajani’s days are packed. Next up is the Auroville Marathon on February 12.
“I am imperfect,” she states, “but I am my own individual. Women say the husband and the children are their world. But your world has to start with you.”
Riding free
When boarding the train to participate in the Amaravathi Century Ride, all Rajani had for assurance was the words of a fellow TBC member who recommended the challenge to her. “He knows I am someone who loves the small joys in life. This trip was all that and more,” she remarks, recalling the sights that she couldn’t resist stopping to take photographs of, and the hospitality of strangers. “There were checkpoints by the organisers but there were villagers too asking if I was alright and offering me food. The ride was not a competition. The organisers only intend for participants to cycle through the beautiful areas of along the route while clocking 100km. It is the second such event. The organisers are from a family which holds a charity event every year in memory of a late elder held in high esteem by the community for his work as a lawyer.”
