It was an emotional day for the members of the Wanderers Club of Hyderabad as it became the first South Indian civilian biker club to have got the opportunity to salute the valiant martyrs on Army Day.
A cavalcade of 15 motorbikes left from Sanjeeviah Park to take part in the official Army Day celebrations held at the Parade Grounds in the city on Tuesday.
Talking about the experience, Pavan Goda, who led the team, says, “We want to thank the officers for the opportunity to be a part of the Army Day celebrations. It gave us a new high.” He added, “Paying tributes to the Army men in our own backyard (Hyderabad) is special. As many as 83 Indian soldiers lost their lives last year (2018) across the LOC. So that was the point of discussion at the event and everyone got emotional recalling the services of the soldiers.”
Rahool Saxena, another member of the club, shares, “This opportunity came to us in recognition of our earlier ‘flag rides’ in honour of the Army men. Being a part of this event will only boost our upcoming rides. We interacted with the officers who shared their memories of Army Day and also told stories of those who sacrificed their lives for the country.”
The club also took the opportunity to felicitate the Army officers for their commendable service. “We distributed ‘thank you’ cards to all the officers. Appreciating the ‘flag rides’ that we often undertake, the officers further said that they would try and give us permission to officially be a part of other prestigious Armed Forces events that happen across the country,” explains Praveen Gandamalla.
Meanwhile, Pavan strongly feels that Army Day should be nurtured into a culture. “Not many are aware that January 15 is Army Day. Just like how we celebrate the kite festival, people should also give importance to this day and remember the sacrifices of the soldiers for our country.”
