Quote: Life is a Beautiful Journey, ride Responsibly , if taken any wrong path,there is always a U-turn to get back on the right track.
Rev.Rajdeep Singh (42) : India’s first Biker Priest, Drug Addict Survivor (substance abuse), Social Worker, Motivational Speaker, Traveler , Founder/Admin Nomads On Wheels Riding Club Ludhiana & Priest In-Charge Focal Point Church. Founder Priest On Wheels Foundation
“Forget yourself and live for others, for it is more blessed to give than to receive, when you are in the service of your fellow beings you are in the service of God”
Above words inspired me to take away my focus from myself and concentrate on the wellbeing for the society/country. My name is Rev.Rajdeep Singh and I am a drug addict survivor as well as India’s first Biker Priest. There is a famous quote in English “Every Saint Has a Past and Every Sinner Has a Future” this quote came true very well in my life as Once there was a time when people use to call me addicted but now people call me as “Priest on Wheels”, since I am no more addicted and my past has been changed to a beautiful future. Now I do Motorcycling along with my Profession. A beautiful quote in Hindi goes like this “Wo Jawani hi kiya jiski koi Kahani na ho.” From my life “Meri Jawani ki Khanni” has been such a journey which has taught me many life lessons. I had learned from traveling experience that If ever we have taken a wrong path we can take u-trun and come back to the right track. This is what I exactly did in my own life. I believe sharing my real life story from drugs to life can inspire lot of young peoples.
Story from Drugoholic to Bikeoholic :
The Land of Punjab is called as the land of five rivers, as time passed there started a new river in the land of five river – The River of Drugs, in which myself also got trapped and started sinking. It was not until I was in obedience to my parents & teachers and I was working towards my aim in life, but as it is said “Bad Company corrupts a good character” this exactly happened with me, and my life became miserable day by day. During one day some of my friends was taking drugs and out of curiosity I have asked them what is this thing? they told me lie by saying Bro it’s a medicine for increasing memory power as u know exams are approaching & they asked me if also wanted to try this. I refused once, but they insisted me to have it just one time only.
I could not resist the pressure of my close friends and I also took it. After having those drugs I felt well for a while. But it was not just for one time as I had a desire to try again. Slowly this became a habit and my life started changing. Now other companies of drugs also entered in my life which was fear, failure, insecurity, fighting with the family, loneliness, selfishness, & disobedience. I started feeling lonely; a fear griped me that nobody should know I am an addict, so I stopped mingling with everyone. Not only this I also started losing interest in lot of other activities too. Eg. I skipped going to college, tuitions/caching center.
I was losing my career, friends. I was slowly pulling down those bridges which were necessary to take me ahead in life. But as I stated above there came a time which was a life changing moment. It turned my life completely. One day due to taking over dose of Drugs one of my close friend got unconscious and he was admitted in hospital. But the story didn’t end here……… as latter on he lost the battle of life. When I reached hospital the scene there shook me completely. I saw his crying sister and parents. They couldn’t believe that there son is gone. That moment lot of thought started running in my mind. I though would this be my future also. Lots of voices started shouting within myself that Rajdeep one day this will happen with you also, you will also die like this and your parents will cry the same way as they are crying. That moment was turning point of mylife and decided to take a U-turn. I made a decision with myself that I don’t have to die I have to Live & I have to live for my family.
With the blessing of Almighty God and with the support and encouragement of my Parents without going to any rehabilitation center and with my will power I came out from the traps of drugs, also I made most important decision of my life that now for rest of my life I will also encourage others with my story so that they can also leave their addiction. I made my aim that I will help & make people aware about deadly effects of drugs by giving my life transformation story, if I can come out of this addiction, anyone can also do the same.
Flag off to a new Journey :
From childhood itself travelling, coin & stamp collection and cycling was my best loved hobbies. As I grew up cycling turned up into motorcycling. So I started thinking how do I reach people. An idea struck in my mind that I will reach with my motorcycle which is my passion & decided to spread message of awareness with a slogan “Say No TO Drugs”. It’s my opinion “no matter how long you have been addicted there is always a chance to choose to take a new path. That is what we have to overcome, turning is hard but once you chose the path the going gets easy. Remember often difficult roads always lead to beautiful destination. The motivation is keep going.
Addiction replaced with Passion:
Addiction was replaced with passion for bike riding, I have unplugged myself from addiction and plugged into my passion for motorcycling/biking, I started rides (cause rides) with message on various social issues. I also Joined myself voluntary with India’s Leading NGO Evangelical Fellowship Of India (EFI an NGO with special consultative status with Economics & social council of the United Nations) in their Program called Drug Addiction Awareness Campaign (DAAC). With EFI’s DAAC Program which covers every village of Punjab I started giving example of my life transformation story through Skit and live testimony of myself how I my life was changed. I encouraged people if anyone has strong will power it is possible to come out from addiction as I had come out.
Flag off to a new Journey :
From childhood itself travelling, coin & stamp collection and cycling was my best loved hobbies. As I grew up cycling turned up into motorcycling.
So I started thinking how do I reach people. An idea struck in my mind that I will reach with my motorcycle which is my passion & decided to spread message of awareness with a slogan “Say No TO Drugs”. It’s my opinion “no matter how long you have been addicted there is always a chance to choose to take a new path. That is what we have to overcome, turning is hard but once you chose the path the going gets easy. Remember often difficult roads always lead to beautiful destination. The motivation is keep going.
Addiction replaced with Passion:
Addiction was replaced with passion for bike riding, I have unplugged myself from addiction and plugged into my passion for motorcycling/biking, I started rides (cause rides) with message on various social issues. I also Joined myself voluntary with India’s Leading NGO Evangelical Fellowship Of India (EFI an NGO with special consultative status with Economics & social council of the United Nations) in their Program called Drug Addiction Awareness Campaign (DAAC). With EFI’s DAAC Program which covers every village of Punjab I started giving example of my life transformation story through Skit and live testimony of myself how I my life was changed. I encouraged people if anyone has strong will power it is possible to come out from addiction as I had come out.
Milestones achieved:
As part of my passion I organized campaigns with the social message for societies along with the partnership NGO EFI. First time in the motorcycling History of Punjab I had organized the biggest awareness rallies on different themes. Under this on theme “Say No to Drugs” was a historic event. This even got recorded in Limca Book of Records. India Book of Records, Vajra World Records, Assist World Records , Global Records & Research Foundation. All these events were covers by india’s leading news/media agencies Like Times of India, Danik Bhaskar,Danik Jagran,Danik Savera,Punjab Kesri, jag bani and many more.
Another theme which also historic and got recorded in India book of Record was “Save earth-Tree Plantation.”it was also the biggest ride ever organized on tree plantation in punjab-Ludhiana . Many rally’s organized on various social cause like:
In my riding carrier of two decades I have been to Ladakh 6 times & lahaul –spiti numerous times with a message “Say no to Drugs”& done many famous passes like Shinkula Pass, Sach Pass 2 times, Chanshal Pass, Jalori pass, kunzum Pass and roam around India on my Motorcycle.
Inspired by my life changing story documentary was made which was telecasted on many nationalized TV channels Like Sony TV, Zee TV,Zee Punjabi ,Zee Telegu, Star Plus TV and City based print media (news Papers).
I would like to leave a message to the readers that our life is precious and we can .make a difference. As we never put adulterated fuel in our bike which if do so it will cease the engine, so our body need healthy diet and we should never put drugs in it. Let us use our life for a healthy cause. Be an inspiration. Let your life create beautiful memories. Ride responsibly while on roads and in real life also as Benjamin Franklin has said “A ounce of prevention if worth a pound of cure.”
Email : info@nomadsonwheels.in
Website: www.priestonwheels.com
Achievements :
