Youth on wheels

In an attempt to "foster togetherness among Parsis and involve the youth in a community activity” Parsi Resource Group (PRG) founder Jimmy Mistry organized the second Youth on Wheels event in which 1,000 Parsis bikers from across the city rode from Dadar to Andheri and back on January 6, 2008. A Bombay Police band in full regalia belted out trumpet tunes on the sprawling grounds of the Dadar Parsee Colony Gymkhana as participants thronged the registration counters. Wearing color coded T-shirts, they came on all sorts of motorcycles, from the vintage to the flamboyant.

Having organized a similar rally in December 2006, the PRG team was better prepared this time, with a well demarcated road map circulated among the riders and pillion passengers, Hindustan Times of January 7, 2008 revealed. After priests prayed for the bikers’ safety, scores of engines purred to life as the first batch was flagged off. Several flag-offs in quick succession saw the show on the road headed for Tata Blocks, Bandra, across the Mahim Causeway. From there the rally proceeded to Dhunbai Wadi in Vile Parle, Cama Park in Andheri and onward to Jogeshwari’s Malcolm Baug where they stopped for a well deserved lunch. On the homeward stretch the bikers halted at Bharucha Baug and Panthaki Baug, both in Andheri before heading back to the Gymkhana. At Cama Park and Bharucha Baug a spectacle was staged by stuntmen, for the delectation of onlookers. The youthful Mistry rode his powerful Triumph Rocket 3, while other notable vehicles were a vintage 1924 Henderson, a German Steib with sidecar, a Harley Davidson, a Hayabusa and a host of other mean machines.

Jimmy Mistry and a section of the 1,000-strong two-wheeler roadshow (above)

The Daily News and Analysis (DNA) reported on January 7, 2008 that over 50 women rode on their own bikes all the way, in addition to several female pillion riders. "We conducted the event to give youth a platform and spread the message of community togetherness,” Nasha Jassawalla of the PRG informed DNA. "Since Parsis are fond of bikes, it was the best way to get them together.” The rally concluded with death-defying stunts, a rock concert, a religious talk and dinner for the troopers. "It was a successful event,” a satisfied Mistry told DNA.