He is no longer among us, but his memories continue to live on. Coimbatore-based ardent biker Naren Rajan passed away last May in Spain, where he died of cardiac arrest while riding his motorbike. In order to celebrate his birthday on May 28, his close friends and family members have organized a motorcycle ride from Coimbatore to Kothagiri and back.

“This is his 56th birthday and we decided to celebrate it with what he was most passionate about – motorbiking. We coincidently had 56 bikers who rode from Coimbatore to Kothagiri and back,” Rashmi Rajan Kapoor, Naren’s daughter said. The riders were given t-shirts, designed by Rashmi, which had one of his quotes printed along with his image.

The bike ride was flagged off from Déjà Vu Hotel, Tristar Enclave, Avinashi Road at 7 am. The bikers reached Kothagiri around 11 am. After a quick brunch, they embarked on the last leg of the journey to Coimbatore. Around 1 pm they reached the start point and lunch was served. Seven cars carrying first-aid kits and short eats followed the bikes throughout the journey.

The participants were a mix of college students and the working professionals. Some of them had known Naren in his lifetime, while for others this even was an opportunity to get to know the legend.

Overwhelmed by the response they had received, his friends and family have plans of celebrating his birthday with similar events every year on the last Sunday of May.