The High Octane Defiance of Veenu Paliwal


Known as India’s fearless “Lady of the Harley,” Veenu Paliwal turned the open road into a radical canvas, painting a bold picture of freedom, resilience, and enduring passion for women around the world.


Veenu Paliwal’s early love for motorcycles could be traced back to the age of twelve, influenced significantly by her father’s enthusiasm for his Royal Enfield, Jawa, and Rajdoot motorcycles. The presence of bikes and the symbolic allure of the open road were formative elements of her upbringing. As a student at Sophia School in Ajmer, Paliwal demonstrated a deep intellectual curiosity and determination. By the time she reached college — and with the support of her friends — she had acquired substantial proficiency in motorcycle riding.

However, consistent with the experiences of many women of her generation, societal expectations circumscribed her personal ambitions. Paliwal entered into marriage at a young age, adopting a domestic role that, for a time, displaced her passion for motorcycling. Following the dissolution of her marriage, she reasserted her autonomy in a remarkable manner — by acquiring a Harley Davidson motorcycle and reclaiming the personal freedom that she associated with the act of riding.

Paliwal rapidly emerged as a pioneering figure within India’s motorcycling subculture, notably as Jaipur’s first and — at the time — only female Harley rider. Rejecting the limitations of casual or recreational riding, she instead pursued motorcycling as a serious and disciplined endeavor. Between November 2015 and early 2016, she covered over 10,500 miles, with the explicit aim of reaching 31,000 miles within the year — an objective that underscored both her commitment and endurance.

 

Despite achieving speeds that reportedly approached 115 miles per hour, Paliwal consistently emphasized the importance of safety and responsible riding practices. She advocated for the use of protective gear and encouraged adherence to best practices, even as she challenged prevailing gender norms. Her oft-quoted assertion, “If men can do it, so can we,” functioned not merely as a slogan, but as an articulation of her core philosophy regarding gender equality in domains traditionally dominated by men.

Paliwal’s contributions, however, extended far beyond motorcycling. She was an accomplished restauranteur and actively engaged in philanthropic work, offering support to NGOs focused on heart patients. In addition, she served as a mentor to aspiring motorcyclists — particularly women who were apprehensive about entering what was widely perceived as a male-dominated sphere.

In a February 2016 interview with Hindustan Times, Veenu spoke openly about wanting to teach her daughter, Shivika, to ride, in order to pass on the same sense of power and freedom that she felt on the road. She remarked, “It’s my daughter who says, ‘Mom, I want to live up to your dreams one day.’ She is 18 and I hope that she will come to me after her boards this year so I can make her sit on this bike.”

 
 

Paliwal’s most ambitious undertaking commenced in March 2016: a cross-country motorcycle expedition from Kashmir to Kanyakumari. The journey, intended to be both personally and culturally significant, was to be documented on film, marked by visits to Harley Davidson dealerships nationwide, and envisioned as the prelude to larger future projects.

Tragically, on April 11, 2016, near Gyaraspur in Madhya Pradesh, Paliwal’s expedition ended abruptly. Her motorcycle skidded on a curve, leading to internal injuries from which she did not recover, despite prompt medical intervention. She passed away at the age of 44.

The loss of Veenu Paliwal sent shockwaves through India’s biking community, but her spirit undeniably lives on — in the bold women that she inspired to ride, in the innumerable biker groups that organize safe-riding campaigns in her memory, and in every woman who simply dares to dream beyond convention.


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