In a patriarchal society, women are told to cook and feed the family and stay confined within the four walls. So much so, they are told to cover their faces and remain under a veil. However, Roshni Misbah has smashed all these stereotypes and has carved a niche for herself.
Even in today’s world, when most men frown upon the idea of women riding bikes, 22-year-old Misbah is teaching them a thing or a two. Well, this doesn’t mean she is not following her religious beliefs. Misbah attracts eyeballs as she rides a bike wearing a hijab.
“My bike doesn’t know my gender. It only knows that a person is riding it, irrespective of the gender,” says Misbah. She is currently pursuing Arab Islamic Culture at Jamia Millia Islamia in New Delhi.
Misbah rode a bike for the first time when she was in the ninth standard. “I always had a thing for bikes. The sound of the exhaust would make me go gaga and I just loved it,” she said.
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Initially, she tried her hand on her friend’s and her father’s motorcycle for years, but then after getting into Jamia, Misbah bought her first bike- Bajaj Avenger Cruiser 220. But that wasn’t enough, in a few months, Misbah was talking to the wind and driving at 100kmph and that was when she decided to upgrade.
“I bought the Avenger thinking that I will improve my riding and will use it for at least two years, but before I could even notice, I was talking to the wind and that’s when I bought the Royal Enfield Bullet,” said Misbah.
When asked about her motivation, she said that her father, who is also a badass rider, was her motivation and she has been following his footsteps.
“I feel riding is in my genes. My father taught me how to ride and has supported me in pursuing my passion. I really don’t care about the society and what they think and as long as I am happy and doing what I want to,” said the biker.
However, she doesn’t like people calling her as the ‘Hijabi Biker’ as religion has nothing to what she is doing.
“Religion is a part of me and riding is my passion. People are just mixing these two up and I really can’t understand why,” she said.
Misbah wants to do a PhD in Arab culture, help her father in the family business, and continue to ride motorcycles. She has already set her sights on her next steed, a Triumph rocket 2300 cc.