It was Teej celebrations in Dwarka and the women came dressed in their best. One among them, Seema Dora, I came to know later was a super biker! Looking at her then, one could hardly imagine a gritty, couldn’t-care-less biker — and an avid traveller.
So, I seized upon my chance to draw her into a conversation.
Seema Dora has also done dirt tracks — non-motorable paths. She even drives big trucks! Her mornings always begin with riding out to the sun in her favourite 1,000 cc super bike.
Daughter of an Air Force official, Seema was tomboy early on, and began riding at the age of 14. But her turning point came in 1998 when she was eight months pregnant. A few people in her locality taunted her, saying she couldn’t ride bikes — it wasn’t a thing for the women to do. Just to prove them wrong, heavily pregnant, she rode right past them.
And that was the beginning of a new world for Seema.
After that incident, Seema started riding formally and started taking part in bike rallies. Her husband, Kaleshwar Rao Dora, in the business of travel supported her completely. Seema is an entrepreneur in tour and travel business, a lawyer and a teacher as well — and she is a mother of two boys, Vaibhav and Vigyaan.
Recounting her training, she says, “I got great mentors at different stages of my riding journey. My father, then husband, and then Dr Arun Thareja, the founder of Group of Delhi Superbikers — all helped me to come into my own.”
“Women bikers are always an object of curiosity — sometimes, we badly damage male ego! They just can’t see women in challenging roles. Sometimes, I feel pretty harassed on roads. But within, I feel completely free when I am on my bike!”
She is the only woman in India to be completing Bun Burner 2462 km (1,530 miles) in less than 36 hours, and she was honoured with Iron Lady Biker title after she completed the distance. It’s a title that she holds close to her heart.
Motivating women of all ages, especially those in their middle years, she says, “You should never quit on your passion — your dreams. You should never quit on chasing them... keep them close to your heart. They will empower you and motivate you to move ahead. You can start any time, any day — whenever you are ready!”
Seema, along with her friends, plans to start a support group for women riders. She shares, “We are making a group called Refine Riders for passionate and enthusiastic girls and women bikers and drivers with a valid license. The group will support and guide women of all ages. They will ride and drive for social causes and spread awareness in our community.”
So what does this avid biker do when not riding? Well... she loves to cook and doing big family meals is just as important to her. She says, “I enjoy perfection, so cooking or taking care of family is also something that I do with a lot of attention. It gives me a good bit of happiness.”
