How this woman followed her passion to become India’s first female motovlogger
From facing gender bias to becoming India’s first female motovlogger, Vishakha Fulsunge has come a long way, and now wants to train young girls in motovlogging.
Twenty-six-year-old Vishakha Fulsunge’s fascination for two-wheelers goes back to her childhood days. It all started when she began learning to ride a bicycle as a child, and then a scooter at 12, and her father’s Hero Honda Passion at 14.
She was certain of earning a living out of the passion, and is now making records. She has two mentions in the India Book Of Records, including the title of the first female rider to cross the Bay of Bengal, and a ride across the Andaman Islands.
Vishakha Fulsunge aka RiderGirl Vishakha, India's first female motovlogger
Being a ‘woman’ motovlogger
Pioneering as India’s first female motovlogger, Vishakha turned to vlogging her journey on YouTube in 2017.
She would go on a ride, record it, and edit and upload regularly, sharing her daily adventure on her YouTube channel called RiderGirl Vishakha, which has 370,000 followers.
While her adventure thrives on random acts of generosity from local people, being a ‘woman’ solo rider comes with its own share of frowns as well.
In March this year, Vishakha started the Clean India Initiative and completed the Narmada Parikrama, which involved circumambulation of the holy river through fields, mountains, and villages, in eight days. The ride was aimed at alerting the inhabitants of the region on the ecological importance of the Narmada river, which originates from Maikal Hills of central India.
“When I had to make a stop, I was refused by three hotels who said they could not provide accommodation to a solo woman traveller. I don’t know what they thought but I eventually found homestays that let me in,” she recalls.
One late night, when the only hotel in a village refused to allow her to stay, Vishakha went live on Instagram, narrating the situation. Some of her followers promptly started posting negative reviews and ratings to the hotel. That is when she experienced the power of social media.
Stating that women solo riders are not celebrated as much as their male counterparts, especially in Madhya Pradesh, Vishakha says she wants to change that mentality, “which can happen only when more girls are encouraged to pursue the path”.
For this, Vishakha is currently working on a project to teach 10 girls the art of motovlogging. Six girls, with the youngest girl aged 19, have been chosen, and four more girls are currently being selected.
Recalling her initial days, Vishakha shares that the community of motovloggers, mostly comprising men, was not welcoming of her work. When she requested for collaboration, they would shy away and keep postponing it.
However, the tables have turned today. Vishakha has not only collaborated with big brands like Samsung, , , and Royal Enfield, but other motovloggers are also approaching her to create interesting content together.
Following one’s passion
An MBA graduate with dual specialisation in International Business, Marketing, and Finance, Vishakha started working after Class 10 as a part-time cashier at a bakery in Mumbai that paid her Rs 2,000 a month.
Working the 6 pm to 12 am shift, she quit the job after 15 days when she noticed a middle-aged man following her till home and felt unsafe. She then went on to distribute pamphlets at shopping malls and host events and got paid regularly.
Determined to follow her passion, she quit her job and bought her first bike - KTM U3 90 - in 2015 with her savings, and by taking a loan on her mother’s mangalsutra. She named her bike Kashish (meaning desire).
She says, she bought her first laptop only three months ago to edit her videos. Earlier, she would use her friend’s or brother’s laptop to edit the footage.
The road ahead
As outdoor activities are discouraged to curb the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, her vlogs are now mostly focused on techniques of motovlogging and accessories such as helmets and more.
Needless to say, as an influencer, she experiences her share of hate comments that has often taken a toll on her mental well-being.
“It hurts, but I try replying to trolls or completely ignore them. But gradually people end up accepting when they start enjoying the vlog. I want to focus on content and the good messages coming from my followers keep me going,” she says.
Edited by Megha Reddy