Meet 82-year-old Haryana dadi who learnt to ride a bike at 74, drives tractors

Photo: Instagram/@dadisukhma

At an age when many people are encouraged to take things slow, Sukhma, an 82-year-old woman from Sundana village in Rohtak, Haryana, is finding joy in doing just the opposite. From riding motorcycles to driving tractors, the octogenarian has become an internet sensation for taking on adventures that many would not associate with her age.Her journey into the world of two-wheelers began eight years ago, when she was 74. At the time, her grandson was learning to ride a motorcycle. During one of their interactions, he jokingly suggested that she should learn to ride one too. He told her, “Dadi aap bhi bike chalana seekh lo.”What was meant as a playful remark soon turned into a real learning experience. Rather than dismissing the idea, Sukhma took her grandson's suggestion seriously and decided to give motorcycle riding a try.

From a joke to a new hobby

Sukhma began practising alongside her grandson, gradually learning how to balance the motorcycle, accelerate and brake. With practice, she gained the confidence to ride on her own.For her, the suggestion was not something to laugh off and forget. It became an opportunity to try something new, proving that the willingness to learn does not necessarily disappear with age.But motorcycles were only the beginning. After learning to ride a bike, Sukhma turned her attention to tractors, taking on another driving challenge.

She eventually began sharing videos of her adventures on social media, where her unusual hobby has drawn attention.

Photo: Instagram/@dadisukhma

Sukhma’s videos have drawn admiration from social media users, with many calling her the “coolest dadi” and others saying that her story proves “age is just a number”. Her enthusiasm for riding bikes and driving tractors at 82 has struck a chord with viewers, who are impressed by how she turned a playful suggestion from her grandson into a hobby she continues to enjoy.Her story stands out because it challenges the familiar image of a grandmother who is expected to remain within the boundaries of conventional activities associated with old age. Sukhma, instead, has chosen to explore interests that bring her excitement, regardless of what people might expect from someone in her eighties.

‘Dar koi na laagda’

When it comes to fear, Sukhma has a simple response. “Dar koi na laagda,” she says, meaning that she is not afraid.The statement captures the spirit of her journey. What began as a casual suggestion from her grandson has grown into a hobby that she continues to enjoy years later.Her story also highlights the role that family can play in opening doors to new experiences. A passing comment from her grandson gave Sukhma the opportunity to discover an interest she might otherwise never have explored. Instead of deciding that she was too old to learn, she approached the challenge with curiosity and a willingness to practise.

Age need not mean giving up on new experiences

Sukhma's journey is a reminder that learning something unfamiliar does not have to be limited to childhood or youth. People can discover new interests at different stages of life, whether through a hobby, a skill or an activity they have always wanted to try.

Photo: Instagram/@dadisukhma

Her story is not about setting an age record or proving that everyone should take up motorcycle riding in their eighties. Rather, it is about the freedom to remain curious and to find enjoyment in activities that feel meaningful.For Sukhma, that has meant moving from learning to ride a motorcycle at 74 to driving tractors and sharing her experiences online at 82.Sometimes, a new adventure begins with little more than a joke. In Sukhma's case, her grandson's playful suggestion became the start of a hobby that continues to capture attention- and a reminder that the desire to try something new need not come with an expiry date.