Transforming Mobility: Jai Bharathi

Jai Bharathi is a motorcyclist from Hyderabad with a mission to empower a million women in mobility by 2030. During a trip from Kanyakumari to Kashmir, Jai Bharathi encountered a policeman who wanted a picture with her as women bikers were rare in that area.

Bharathi’s passion for motorcycling led her to create a not-for-profit organization that advocates for women in mobility through training and livelihood initiatives. Her goal is to change the perception of women riders from being seen as heroic exceptions to being considered the norm.

She teaches underprivileged women to ride two and three-wheelers, promoting independence and self-reliance. Her involvement in the biker community began with Bikerni, India’s first all-women biker group. Bharathi emphasizes that women can handle heavy bikes with confidence, just as they carry a child during pregnancy without any cantilever support.

She collaborates with various organizations to provide motor training for women and advocates for the adoption of electric vehicles. Jai Bharathi dreams of a future where a million empowered women will bring about social transformation. Her efforts seek to drive change and create a future where stories like hers become the norm rather than an exception.

-Re-reported from the article originally published in The Hindu