Meet 21-year-old Anam Hashim, India’s first female stunt rider who rode a scooty up the highest motorable road

If you are one of those who think girls cannot break barriers in male-dominated professions, Anam Hashim is going to crush your perspective under the wheels.

Meet 21-year-old Anam, who is India’s first female stunt rider and scaled the highest motorable road-Khardungla Pass-on her scooty.



Stunt riding is one the extreme sports in the world but Anam does it like a piece of cake. You have to see her popping up a wheelie on her bike, to believe it.

“A bike doesn’t know your gender,” said Anam.

How it started

Anam’s father taught her how to ride a bike but was little skeptical about stunting. But now, he is a proud father.

“I always had a thing for two-wheelers and used to go gaga over motorbikes and engines since childhood. During my school days, I used to get thrilled watching guys doing biking stunts on roads,” said Anam, adding “When I used to see guys doing wheelies and performing stunts, I used to think why I can’t do this? I began my research and decided to take up this sport professionally.”

Challenges



Anam’s stunt riding career started with a stunt-‘christ’- that on an Activa scooty, which went viral on YouTube.

She was able to do that without a crash in the first go.

“I was very much fascinated by stunts and I decided to go for it on my Activa. I did a ‘christ’ and was able to pull it off in first go and that’s when I thought that if am able to do it on a non-gear, which is far more difficult than doing it on a motorbike, I will opt for this career,” she said.

However, it was a tough road for her but she rode smoothly on it too.

“Initially, my father was not able to gulp the idea of me buying a bike. I somehow convinced him,” she said, who bought a Honda Stunner.

Anam has been doing stunts for the past three years and has faced many challenges. Belonging to a middle class family, she faced a lot of resistance from the society.

“Everyone told me stunt riding was a male dominated profession and it was nearly impossible to convince my parents for stunting. My mother still doesn’t approve of it. But, now when I see myself standing at such great heights, I feel it was all worth it,” said Anam.

Peaks conquered



Anam drove to Khardungla Top on TVS scooty Zest-the highest motorable road-that too with only technical support and when she went for the second time, Anam led a group of 10 girls.

“It was difficult for me to ride to Khardungla….I wasn’t used to such low temperatures and rocky terrains and I had TVS scooty Zest. Still, the ride was not that rough and I could easily finish it. It was fun at the end of the day,” she said.

Future plans

Anam is now learning dirt biking. She wants to stunt on super bikes and hopes to compete in the international stunt riding championships. Anam also wants to promote stunt riding in India and make a platform for Indian stunters.



She along with DreamsMotorsports is now looking forward to take a group of 250 people to Khardungla for the ‘Ride for Records’ as many records will be broken in just one ride.

She is currently sponsored by Sena Bluetooth, Ikon Motorsports, THH Helmet, SignODesign, Woodium etc. She is also endorsing TVS Scooty Zest 110.

When not stunting, Anam likes to sing and sketch.

(images: Facebook)