Vroom with a veil

Delhi Girl Roshni Misbah, who is also part of Bikerni, talks about her love for two-wheelers and more.

The sight of a woman on a motorbike is rare enough. Rarer still is a woman in a hijab on a bike! Biker Roshni Misbah, often referred to as a Hijabi biker, doesn’t consider it extraordinary or unnatural. According to her, getting on two wheels, instills confidence and power. Roshni, who became an overnight sensation, has been dreaming of riding motorcycles, the Royal Enfield in particular, ever since she was a kid. A student of Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi, Roshni says, “All this happened overnight. Someone spotted me and wrote about me. I was already famous in some parts of Delhi. But it’s good to have support from people, especially from women.”

A simple girl who cooks, studies and finds joy in family and friends, she also loves riding bikes. “I would use my motorbike as a vehicle to travel to college. It’s people who started seeing me as an inspiration,” says Roshni Misbah, who has become something of a minor celebrity on social media, where she has been dubbed ‘Hijabi Biker’. A part of Bikerni, a Delhi-based women’s only biker group that works towards empowering women, she is also a member of groups like the Windchasers and Delhi Royal Enfield Riders, and was part of the Bajaj Avengers Club.

“I am born to love bikes,” she reveals. “My father is a superbike enthusiast as well. So, it was very obvious that I would fall in love with motorcycles. However, he owned giant bikes, and so, I never got to ride them. I tried my hands at a friend’s motorcycle and that is when I thought, ‘This is it — I need motorcycles in my life,’” she elaborates.

Talking about her interests in bikes, Roshini says, “I would ride motorcycles borrowed from friends. And finally, the day came, when I asked my dad for a motorcycle. He asked me if I am sure and I said yes. He was supportive. And we went ahead to get myself a Bajaj Avenger Cruise 220. I rode that for five months and sold it as I wanted a heavier bike. That’s when I upgraded to the Royal Enfield Classic 500 for I love its sound and feel. And a Honda CBR Repsol — I had this thing for sports bikes.”

Talking about the challenges she faced as a woman while biking, she says, “Initially there were people who said, ‘areyy ye bike chala rahi hai, iski shaadi kaise hogi? (She is riding a bike. How will she get married?)’ My abba would politely reply, ‘Let her do what she loves. We will find her a super biker.’ Sadly, even now women are stereotyped to get married, have children, cook and stay home, even when we have women excelling in all fields today,” explains Roshni.

“I have noticed that the people who have been criticising me have not understood the concept,” she says, talking about her experiences.

On being termed as Hijabi biker, she says, “That’s in accordance to my religion and my faith. It has nothing to do with my biking. That’s my personal choice. It is now that people see me as an inspiration.”

Roshni’s advice to others? “Follow your passion. You can still follow your culture, faith and norms. We all can do everything we want. Even Islam promotes education. Iqra meaning read or recite, and it was the first word revealed in the Quran. And I am following that. All women should follow it as well. As we are icons for the upcoming generation,” says the biker, who is studying Arab Islamic culture from Jamia Milia.

Biking not only gives her a lot of freedom and the opportunity to get rid of her stress, but gives her happiness too. “When I am on the bike, I forget all worries. I enjoy it.”