Vandemaataram 2014 - An Awareness Motorcycle Ride Campaign

An awareness motorcycle ride campaign to all the state capitals to motivate young voters.

This is by far the largest ever youth awareness campaign in India, undertaken by the bikers of the country. A group of 29 riders representing all the 29 states, will do a Pan India ride. They will meet the youth as they visit the educational institutions during this ride. The motive is to raise awareness and appeal to them to exercise their power to change the country.

What Is Vanda Maataram?
It was the largest movement that united all the people of India before Independence. And it is now going to unite all the youth of the nation to come forward and vote.

The bikers of the country are uniting to undertake the largest ever biker movement to help build a bright future of this great nation. The movement is spearheaded by Bharadwaj Dayala, the first Indian to go around the world on his motorcycle.

The ride
29 riders representing 29 states of India will ride to each and every state capital, meeting and energizing the youth all along the way. They are not supported by anyone but the people of this country. No politics, no parties, no persons. It’s just the Call of duty!

The ride will start from Mumbai on 16th March 2014, with the largest number of bikers coming to support the National Team of 29 riders. The rally ends at New Delhi with the largest ever gathering of bikers in the world (the event will feature in the Guinness book of World Records).

A bit about our national song
Vandemaatram movement is based on Vande Mataram, our national song which means "I bow to thee, Mother" ,it is a hymn to the Mother Land taken from a poem by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhya/s 1882 novel Anandamath. Written in both Bengali and Sanskrit.

It played a vital role in the Indian independence movement, inspired people to attain independence. First sung in a political context by Rabindranath Tagore, at the 1896 session of the Indian National Congress. In 1950, post independence, when India became a republic, only the first two verses (stanzas) were taken as the national song.

Our freedom fighters laid their lives to earn a free nation for us. We were bom in a free and modem, developing nation. A country, that the whole world looks upto not just for our rich cultural heritage but also for being an upcoming economy.
We too have a role to play as the citizens of the largest democracy in the world; it’s certainly no mean feat! The need of the hour is exercising our rights as well as fulfilling duties towards our nation. We have to help get the right people to form our government.

Vande Maataram movement is launched just to address that - our little bit for our great nation. Everyone do your duty, go out and vote!

Now that we understand the idea behind Vandemaatram, Everyone is going to be a part of it either out there on the field or in the neighbourhood voting and inspiring everyone in the locality to do so. Youth has the charm and the power to move an entire nation

Selecting the riders
The riders were asked to register by emailing their details to team Vandemaatram. Based on the applications received the riders were chosen for this ride.

Vande Maataram, has already gained so much of support from everyone, if you go by the social media there are more than 7600 people already supporting the cause and the numbers are going up each moment It shows that we all have the pride of our nation as the topmost priority. It’s not even a month when the idea was bom. This is an achievement for sure, the achievement is certainly not numbers but the fact that people, citizens of this country are united in the idea and have something great and unique to look forward to. The riders/ rider groups from the different states can join the ride in their own home states and be a part of this unique mission.

Bharadwaj Dayala's thoughts behind the launch of Vandemaataram
"When I thought of this idea (Educating the youth of India the importance of their vote), I was not very sure whether I'll be able to do it or not As time passes by, few more gave me a thumbs up for this noble cause and motivated me to proceed.

Now, after looking at the response from people around the country (your queries, motivation, curiosity and most importantly willingness to join & support this movement) has built the confidence in me that We'll make it happen. I would like to thank personally each and every individual supporting this cause of uniting our nation once again. Let’s spread out and tell everyone out there that "We are coming for you in your city I college on our motorcycles just for your support'.

—Vande Maataram Movement— 15th March 2014 from Mumbai.
A lot of planning has gone into finalising the route, Bharadwaj Dayala has worked day in and out with his team of bikers to finalise the dates and the riding plan.

magnitude sure needs the basic funds, talks are on to mobilise that But it has been on a short notice, as the plan itself is not more than a month old. But it was so captivating and powerful that everything is failing in place and the Ride is all set to kick start Everyone connected is emotionally attached with the purpose of this ride. The team is hopeful that sponsors may join hands along the way. For the 40 days ride the budget required is a little over 1 lakh rupees per rider. The ride is anyway taking off on schedule and riders have pooled in their own money. Team Vandemaataram is trying to arrange sponsorship for the ride. Talks are on with a lot of big players and they are awaiting response from them.

It certainly would be a delight if people, the business owners themselves support the cauae. Every city the petrol pump owners, accommodation providers and hotel and restaurant owners can come forward and play the vital role. This support can ease a lot of financial pressures that the riders may face.