In the North East, there are exclusive Bullet clubs such as Assam Rhinos, Aizawl Thunders, Royal Enfield Riders Association of Meghalaya, Nagaland Motorcycle Club, Royal Manipur and Arunachal Bullet Club. Biking is not the only motto of these clubs but promotion and education of safe riding as well as doing their bit for society also forms a part and parcel of their calendar of activities. Aizawl Thunders regularly organizes Charity Rides during Christmas and other occasions and the proceeds of such events are donated to orphanages and the under privileged within the state.  

The annual meet of such clubs with invitees even from outside the region under the banner ‘North East Riders Meet’ is running into its fourth edition this year. This year’s meet to be held at Kohima during 4th – 8th December is being hosted by the Nagaland Motorcycle Club and is one of the attractions of the famous and one of its kind festival - the Hornbill Festival. This event with the theme ‘North East Friendship Rally’ echoes very much the motto of the NERM - ‘when we meet, we grow’.

During the NERM, riders from various states of the North East who share the pride and passion of owning a Bullet ride to the venue covering hundreds of kilometers on their bikes. Sometimes avid riders even from places as far as the metros join the bandwagon.  For about three to four days they camp at designated sites in the wilderness and connect with each other. It gives the riders a chance to share their experiences not only about biking and riding but about lives too. For many of the riders it is an adrenalin filled stress buster away from the hassles of their routine daily lives. NERM also provides an avenue for showcasing custom built and modified Bullets.
 
Sunil Karnany of Assam Rhinos, a seasoned Bullet biker first mooted the idea of NERM and the first edition took off in 2009 in Kaziranga. Though the first NERM was small with just over 20 riders, it has grown in size and last year’s edition at Sohra(Meghalaya) saw more than 200 Bullet riders congregate. The second edition in 2010 was hosted by the Arunachal Bullet Club and took place in Menchuka.

Metozhatuo Rutsa, one of the organizers of NERM 2012 says ‘NERM is a platform that can help people of the region to know more about the unexplored beauty of their own neighbourhood’. He adds ‘I am happy that the Nagaland Government readily accepted our proposal to include NERM as a part of the Hornbill Festival this year’. He expressed hope that this will not only boost the biking culture in the region but help promote tourism in the North East.

Rinchhana Tochhawng, owner of Lawma Enfield (Showroom of Royal Enfield) and Chief of Aizawl Thunders says ‘The aim of the NERM is not only to promote brotherhood and friendship amongst the states in the region but also with other parts of our diverse nation’. He hopes that in a few years NERM will be a riding force to reckon with in the country. Aizawl Thunders which made its debut last year at NERM is hoping to host next year’s NERM he added.

Pratap Chettri