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Media Brief
Mumbai, March 23, 2015
On International Women’s Day on 8th March, the 3rd All Women Bike Rally was conducted in 11 cities across India. Bennett Languages - the 5 Language publications of The Times Group (Navbharat Times, Maharashtra Times, Vijay Karnataka, Ei Samay and NavGujarat Samay) conducted the rally to celebrate the spirit of the modern Indian woman of today.
The languages business is a key strategic focus area for The Times Group, with the 5 language publications already contributing 30% to the Group’s circulation. Each of Bennett Languages’ Brands, caters to the needs & aspirations of progressive, upmarket Language audiences, and are amongst the fastest growing newspapers in their respective geographies. Characterised by sharp, incisive reporting, unbiased coverage and a print plus 360 degree engagement, they seek to be a partner with Language readers in addressing issues & celebrating causes that work towards a better quality of life, societal development & inclusive growth.
A key theme and priority across all Bennett Language publications is women empowerment & addressing gender bias. Women in the 21st century need to be recognized for their own selves, and not in context of their being a mother, sister, daughter or a wife alone. They have repeatedly made their mark in all spheres of life and achieved successes, storming many a male bastion. As a celebration of their liberated spirit, Bennett Languages has been conducting The All Women Bike Rally for 3 years now, across key cities of India. This marquee property was launched in 2013 in Delhi and scaled up across other cities - Pune, Nagpur, Kolhapur, Aurangabad, Mumbai, Lucknow, Ahemdabad, Nashik , Kolkata and Bangalore. It won the prestigious INMA (International News Media Association) Gold Medal in the category of best use of an event to build a news brand in 2014.
The rally has received an overwhelming response over the past 3 years. Participation has now grown to 5000 bikers in 2015, with a considerable proportion of women riding Bullets & Harleys. Organizations from different sectors pledged their support to the rally. Women members from CISF and Delhi Traffic police participated in large numbers along with active biker groups like the Harley-Davidson Owners Group (H.O.G.), Bikernis and Womaniya.
Political dignitaries and entertainment stars graced the rallies across India. The Delhi rally had more than 900 riders and was flagged off by Honorable Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Bollywood Superstar Juhi Chawla, TV star Lavina Tondon, and pop star Shibani Kashyap. The closing ceremony was graced by Dr. Harsh Vardhan, incumbent minister of Science and Technology.
The Mumbai rally was flagged off by Ayushman Khurana and others by the mayor, senior IPS officers and celebrities of respective cities.
Rahul Kansal, Executive Vice President – Brand, Bennett Coleman, said that “The All Women Bike Rally is testament to the strength, confidence and free spirit of women in India today. They do not need men to ‘allow’ them to lead their lives anymore, they are busy storming every male bastion, whether it is joining the Army, rising to become CEOs or riding a heavy 1500 cc bike. We salute their spirit and are with them every step of the way.”
For further information, please contact:
Bhuvi Gupta
Email: Bhuvi.Gupta@timesgroup.com
Phone: 011 43505386