By: Lt Col JS Sodhi (Retd), Editor, GSDN
As the weather in Vijaynagar in the eastern Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh started getting inclement, with heavy rains and thunderstorm lashing this beautiful part of India, the Indian Armed Forces authorities decided to prepone the flagging-off of the Indian Armed Force’s biggest bike rally which was originally scheduled on March 12, 2025 to March 10, 2025.
In a befitting tribute to Veterans of the Indian Armed Forces whose contribution to nation building is legendary, 90-year-old Rifleman Padam Singh Rawat (Retired) of the Assam Rifles who is settled in Vijaynagar, was given the honour and privilege of flagging off the rally in the presence of senior Military and Civil Administration Officers and other Veterans, Ladies and Children.
The 3900-kilometers long rally under the theme “Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat,” (One India, Great India) to Rann of Kutch in the western Indian state of Gujarat, will be the longest Bike Rally of the Indian Armed Forces ever, comprising personnel from Assam Rifles, the Indian Army, and civilians from Arunachal Pradesh. The rally contingent comprises of 12 bikers (04 each from Assam Rifles, Indian Army and civilians of Arunachal Pradesh).
The diverse group of the bike riders exemplifies India’s unity in diversity, national integration and collaborative strength. The poignant flagging-off ceremony witnessed several generations of soldiers and veterans coming together along with civilians from all walks of life, dedicating themselves to the “Bharat ke Veer” (Braves of India) initiative that acts as a beacon to all Indians to embrace secularism, unity, service and patriotism.
The bike rally apart from going in the history books as the biggest bike rally ever undertaken by the Indian Armed Forces will also showcase to the world, India’s military might and resilience which has reckoned the Indian Armed Forces as one of the finest militaries in the world.
