(Photo Courtesy: onen_nenty@instgram)
Ketholeno Neihu
Kohima | July 4
The upbeat idea of Onenienla Imsong to ride through unfamiliar paths in all corners of Nagaland was flagged off on June 17. More than 14 days since the flag off, The Morung Express caught up with the solo biker on her journey so far.
Covered over seven districts- Kohima, Kiphire, Tuensang, Mon, Longleng, Mokokchung, Wokha and Zunheboto in the state already, Onen expresses that different people she met so far have been her pillars and strengths for their “welcoming and warm hospitalities”, providing her love, food and shelter. “This has boosted me in spirit and physical and has made her more energetic.”
Onen is on a mission to spread the message of women empowerment and set examples and inspiration to women she meets.
Observing around, beyond the compassion she received from women in various districts, she feels our women are not empowered enough in knowing what is there for them, socially and economically. “We need to give them a lot of awareness and seminars citing schemes available for them.”
Her motorbike- a royal enfield as she lovingly named “Motek”, a Hebrew word meaning “sweetheart” has been the personification of her courage and independence. From fragility to fearless, she shared how she started riding two-wheeler when as a young collegiate, due to injury in her lower limb, her mother bought her a scooty (gearless) to commute to college. That was many years back. She is now a smart motorcyclist for over five years and has acquired her passion from it while balancing her profession as a banker as she opines, “making time for the society is important.”
Nothing is of excuse when it comes to the bold woman, and for her current venture although she is hemmed with the uncertainties of monsoon and road conditions, sometimes biking long hours of fresh-cut roads without the sight of any settlement or human, yet these perilous challenges enable her to persevere. Also making sure minute details are put in place to secure herself from any glitches in her bike for her super-engineered skills which she acquired during her training with Royal Enfield company. “Before the next morning ride, I make sure everything is okay,” she adds.
Till now, as she attributes to the grace of God and as she considers it a miracle, she or her motorbike has never gotten sick or encountered any untoward incident which otherwise would be an impediment to her schedules.
As of now, however she doesn’t wish to put in all details for security reasons but she is putting up alteast two nights in a district and bike along to reach the next. Not making use of the map or a GPS tracker, she is going the straight and traditional style of relying on first hand information by asking locals around, researching overnight.
