A few entrepreneurs and businessmen from the city whose passion for bikes matches their love for tattoos and combined, their fervour helped them become what they are Bikers and tattoos go together. Considered a mark of toughness and rebellion by some, it is difficult to point out which is the inspiration for the other.
Bikers love the ride for the freedom their powerful motorcycles provide them with and the promising allure of liberation. Tattoos give bikers a medium to express themselves and their lifestyles. On the eve of World Ride Day, which is observed on June 23 and 24, Mirror spoke to a few entrepreneurs and businessmen from the city whose passion for bikes matches their passion for tattoos and combined, their passions have helped them become what they are. Bikers from around the state will come together on June 23-24 to celebrate World Ride Day. About 60 bikers from will ride to Lothal, while 30 will travel to Kanha National Park.
SRIKANT PANICKER, 27 SRIJITH PANICKER, 22 : BIKING BROTHERS
Brothers Srijith Panicker (22) and Srikant Panicker (27) swear by their Harley Davidsons. The Maninagar residents who own a call centre bought their customised Harley Davidson Iron 883 and Night Rod with their first earning in December 2011 and 2012 respectively. Srijith says, “I never rode a two-wheeler till I saw the Iron 883. It was love at first sight. The rumbling sound of the powerful engine made my heart beat a little faster, and I fell for the machine. And since then, my life has changed.”
Nineteen months since buying his beloved Iron 883, Srijith has travelled 30,000 on his mean machine. “I have travelled to Karnataka, Rajasthan, Goa, Nasik, Madhya Pradesh among other places,” he says, proudly. Novemberborn Srijith has a scorpion tattooed on his neck. He smilingly quips, “The credit for the tattoo goes to my elder brother. His passion for tattoos rubbed off on me.”
Srikant, who rides the Night Rod, is the embodiment of the original biker. Tall, muscled and with an array of tattoos covering his body, Srikant was more passionate about tattoos than bikes. “That was till I took a bike ride to Mount Abu in October 2012. Srijith got me interested in bikes. The thrill and freedom that bikes provide is addictive,” smiles Srikant. And thus started his affair with bikes, which fit nicely with his passion for tattoos. Srikant has an array of tattoos including a Chinese dragon on his chest — his first tattoo, a Durga triangle, dragons, Buddha and the name of his lady love — Urvashi. Today, the brothers feel their passion for bikes and tattoos have brought them closer. The brother will join a group of bikers riding to Kanha National Park in Madhya Pradesh to celebrate World Ride Day.
URVASHI DESAI, 26 FREE SOUL BIKER
Twenty-six-year-old Urvashi is brimming with enthusiasm and excitement, ready to ride with Srikant to the Kanha National Park. An assistant filmmaker, Urvashi claims she has always been fond of biking. “As a kid, I would love watching bike racing, biker movies and racing bikes in video games. It is my love for bikes and tattoos that drew me to Srikant,” says Urvashi who is in a relationship with Srikant for past five years. “Even today, if we have a disagreement or a tiff, the solution lies in a long ride together,” claims Urvashi. Like her fiance, she too has an array of tattoos including an image of Srikant. “For me, tattoos are a means of self-expression and riding bike gives me a sense of freedom,” said Urvashi. She plans to buy a Forty-Eight very soon.
PRANAV NANDA, 34 : PEAK OF SUBLIME LOVE
Paldi-resident Pranav Nanda eats, sleeps and lives his bike. The 34-year-old automobile businessman, owns a Fat Boy bike. “My bike is reflection of me and is an extension of my personality,” he says. Nanda who is leading a bike ride to Lothal to celebrate the World Ride Day, is a Sagittarian and he has got a tattoo of the constellation on his right arm and on his bike, too. He has won the Best Customised Bike 2013 award at India Bike Week 2013, Goa. “My passion for biking and tattooing has given me the courage to comfortable with what I am,” he concludes.
The story appeared in Ahmedabad Mirror as The Sunday Read on page 4 on June 23, 2013
