From seven seas to seven sisters, Navy conquers all

PANAJI: On March 3, 1981, a young naval lieutenant walked into P.V. George Tharakan & Company store in Ernakulam and for a then princely sum of Rs 8,775 bought himself a black Yezdi 250cc motorcycle. With time, the Yezdi and the Ideal Jawa company faded into nostalgic memory till earlier this year when the Indian Navy and Jawa Motorcycles got together to organise an expedition to the North Eastern states.
And when the Indian Navy looked for the men to take on the 300cc, four-stroke machines, they looked at Goa Naval Area, the home base of the ‘Sea Riders’.
With their scuffed boots, black leather jackets, scruffy beards and dusty bandanas, the Sea Riders’ garb could not be further disconnected from the crisply-ironed white uniforms that the 25 riders normally don while on official duty. These riders form a biker group of naval officers who are all bound by their love for motorcycles.
For Philipose George Pynumootil, who followed his brother into the Navy, the expedition was a chance to rekindle the memories of his first bike, the Yezdi 250cc which was handed down to him by his brother.
In the summer of 2019, the Indian Navy and Classic Motorcycles (Jawa motorcycles) began to toy with the idea of an expedition to the North Eastern states. For the Indian Navy, the expedition was an opportunity to create awareness about the role and importance of the Indian Navy throughout the North Eastern States. “Riding together builds camaraderie and acts as a team-building exercise for young officers because we ride through adversities together,” says commander Pooja Rajput, a logistics officer with the Indian Navy, who helped plan and coordinate the expedition.
The expedition, which began from Guwahati on October 2, is being led by captain Rajesh Vishnu. While a total of 25 riders are part of the expedition, the riders will rotate during the various legs of the expedition with just four of them remaining constant through the entire ride.
When the opportunity to be part of the ride came knocking, Pynumootil jumped at the chance. “I had preserved the bill of the Yezdi my late elder brother bought in 1981,” said the rear admiral who is today the flag officer commanding Goa Naval Area. “He rode it like a centaur and shone it 20,000 times a day. He never let anyone other than me ride it.”
Pynumootil was one of the 25 riders who are currently covering the length and breadth of the North Eastern states usually referred to as the Seven Sisters. The riders have been on a gruelling but exhilarating adventure through difficult terrain across 3,000 kilometres. The four-week expedition will culminate on October 26 at Guwahati.
“Whatever we set out to do, we have achieved. This will go a long way to promote the spirit of adventure that the Indian Navy exhibits,” Pynumootil said.
During the expedition, the naval officers will stop at various schools where they will share with the students their experience with the Navy, and try to encourage students to join the armed forces.