Out on a drive to eradicate hunger in classrooms

BENGALURU: Three hundred bikes zooming along Bengaluru's roads on a Sunday morning could look like a customary drifting by flamboyant bikers' clubs. But this rally had a motive larger than mere adventure, an urge to eradicate hunger from classrooms of city schools.
The 24-km Outride Hunger rally that took off from Akshaya Patra's Hare Krishna Hill kitchen on Chord Road, Rajajinagar, veered through Malleshwaram, Race Course Road, Lalbagh Road, Kanakapura up to Vasanthapura kitchen on Kanakapura Road.The bikers completed the journey from Iskcon temple to Kanakpura kitchen in one hour and forty minutes. A disciplined lot, they carried huge banners with messages to eliminate hunger in classrooms.
The grittiest among the messengers was 84-years-old R Chakravarthy, who fell in love with bikes at the age of 14.
"Bikes, cars, trucks, horses, plane, I have tried them all but my thirst for adventure is far from over. I feel extremely content to be a part of this rally because to associate your hobby with a noble cause like feeding the hungry takes one closest to godliness. These bikers would mean the world to these children," said the veteran rider.
The rally brought together various bikers club like Bajaj Avenger Club - Bengaluru, Biking Buddies, Bikers Of India, Free Spirits Motorcycle Club, Gold Town Bikers, Highwaymen, IBRMC, Royal Indians Enfield Owners Club, Royal Rides Bangalore, apart from individual riders.
For VG Krishna of Free Spirit motorcyclist club, the experience was not new as he has been part of the NGO earlier as well. "But the joy of giving is always overwhelming, irrespective of how many times you have done it," said the 30-year-old.
"No matter how rich or poor a man is, his basic need is to satiate hunger. Through this rally, we are trying to encourage more people to recognize the needs of these schools kids and come forwards to help them," said Krishna.
"So far, this has been the best ride for me and I take great pride in being associated with such a noble cause. We bikers love to give back to society and this rally has comes as a great opportunity to fulfil our responsibility towards the society. Some 38 bikers took part in this rally from our club. Since bikers are connected with people from across the nation, the message we are trying to convey will spread faster," said Ankit Gandhi from Bajaj Avenger Club.
"Classroom hunger is a national challenge and the Akshaya Patra Foundation is overwhelmed with the support extended by the bikers for the cause of eliminating classroom hunger and illiteracy," said Shridhar Venkat, CEO, Akshaya Patra Foundation.