Acknowledging that the glaciers in Himalayas are melting at an alarming rate and that we need immediate action, project WVC or World Vlog Challenge has united notable Vloggers from across the world to be the voice of Himalayas. The show is hosted by the supremely talented Nikhil Chinappa. The awareness ride that took off from Lukla Village culminated at Khumbu Glaciers at the Everest Base Camp in Nepal.

The girl behind the expedition was Vishakha Fulsunge aka Rider-Girl Vishakha who has created milestones in the past like riding from Mumbai to Visakhapatnam (1800 km) at a single stretch or being the first and fastest female biker to complete Narmada Parikrama. Apart from her marvellous skills at the sports, she is also famous for filming scenic yet impactful videos clearly justified by her over 10 lakh plus followers on Social Media.

Vishakha shares her adventurous journey with Provoke Magazine
It took over ten years of hardship and constant hard work to achieve my first title as India’s first female motovlogger. Even when I finally earned the championship, it came as a shock because there had been so many setbacks along the way. People teased me, saying I wasn’t the first woman in the Indian motovlogging profession. However, many people were unaware that I had been posting videos of my motorcycle adventures to Facebook long before I started on YouTube. I claimed it as proof that they were wrong. But it was only the beginning for me. I quickly set my sights on my next title, which I earned following a solo trip to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The third one arrived after I went for a bike trip to Lakshadweep. One experience at a time, I want to debunk all the prejudices about female bike riders.

The World Vlog Challenge was a project that brought together well-known Vloggers from all around the world to speak for the Himalayas. The Himalayan glaciers, which span eight nations and are the source of all of the region’s major rivers, are melting at an alarming rate, putting billions of people’s livelihoods and the entire environment in jeopardy. Given that Vloggers are excellent storytellers, influencers, and information sources for the next generation, WVC was founded with the goal of informing young people about the Himalayas and their glaciers.

I still have trouble putting into words what it was like to represent India on the global platform of the World Vlog Challenge. I have many dreams about things I want to do and accomplish, but I had never envisioned visiting Mt Everest Base Camp! It promoted the cause of “save the Himalayas and melting glaciers.” It was something I could relate to, as I’ve been preaching the same message on my motorcycle journeys for years. We were expected to do several objectives and walk to Base Camp while vlogging the whole thing. Parting from my bike for an expedition was a new hurdle for me. But now that I’ve completed it, I feel strong and confident in myself, whether or not I’m riding my bike. That, I believe, was the most important lesson I learned from the amazing experience.

It was an enormous honour for me to be a part of it, especially considering all of the challenges I’d faced along the way. My difficulties began the day I made the decision to pursue this path in life. When I first released my vlog, folks had a lot of things to say about everything from my wardrobe to my motorcycling abilities. In the industry, I didn’t feel welcome. But there were also those who wanted to see something different and who encouraged me to continue doing what I was doing, that is what kept me going.

It was an honour to be a part of an event dedicated to conserving Himalayan glaciers as a rider. I pushed everything I had into it and attempted to complete this ride as quickly as possible. I was equally ecstatic to join my fellow bikers, who came from all walks of life and shared a common goal of conserving the Himalayas. WVC has aided us in coming together and expressing our support for a worldwide cause.

The most difficult task, though, was persuading my parents. My father took me out for my first bike ride, but he believed it was just for fun. But there was no stopping for me after that. My mother used to assist me sneak out of the house with the key so I could ride his bike since he wouldn’t have approved. When I finally admitted that I intended to pursue it as a full-time career, they were understandably anxious about how I’d make a livelihood and keep myself safe. When I took my mother on a brief monsoon trip to Lonavala as a pillion, I gave her my full trust! She realised I was capable of taking care of myself, and dad gradually warmed around to the idea.

The message that I would like to give to all the aspiring bikers is first and foremost, don’t be afraid to ride alone. The most important thing to remember is to trust yourself. You can do anything and everything once you begin to believe in yourself. Concentrate on your Plan A and never fall back on backups. Most importantly, dream with open eyes and not just while sleeping.

– By Namita Gupta