Classic Legends Private Limited, the company behind the resurrected Jawa motorcycle brand, has raised a sum of Rs. 1,49,25,000 by auctioning 13 motorcycles from its first batch of production motorcycles. The #Foreverheroes initiative by Jawa Motorcycles started with a fundraiser event in March in Mumbai, and the proceeds of the auction were handed over to the Armed Forces Flag Day Fund at a ceremony in the Capital on April 24, 2019. Anupam Thareja, Co-Founder, Classic Legends Private Limited, and Ashish Joshi, CEO, Classic Legends, handed over the amount to the Kendriya Sainik Board, Ministry of Defence, Government of India. The ceremony was attended by eminent armed forces veterans, war heroes and officers in New Delhi.
Also Read: 2018 Jawa First Ride Review
Speaking at the occasion, Anupam Thareja, Co-founder, Classic Legends Pvt. Ltd. and Founder and Managing Partner, Phi Capital, said, "This thought was born out of a cause that touches our personal nerve as well as the ethos of the company. We started with a modest target but were surprised by the participation of friends of Jawa; fans and community, truly in the spirit of this brand. We had people bidding for Jawas not just from metros like Bombay and Delhi but all the way from Krishnagiri in the south to diamond city Surat."
"Forever Heroes is not just a Classic Legends initiative. Rather, it is a movement created by Jawa riders as well as the motorcycling community who came forward to support this cause and helped us raise this amount. It is true that the sacrifices made by martyrs can never be weighed, but we will be glad if this gesture can contribute to the welfare of their family members," said Ashish Joshi, Chief Executive Officer, Classic Legends Private Limited.
Brig. Mrigendra Kumar SM, Secretary, Kendriya Sainik Board, said, "Forever Heroes initiative is a thoughtful step towards the benefit of the families of armed forces personnel by Jawa Motorcycles. What sets this apart is the way the brand has brought the motorcycling community aware of the sacrifices that the armed forces make to keep our country safe. We appreciate this gesture and it is our duty to ensure that it makes a difference to many lives by contributing to their better future."
Hell's Angels - former IAF veterans who used to own Jawa motorcycles in the late '60s and early '70s
Among the war veterans at the ceremony in the capital were four former Indian Air Force officers, veterans of the 1971 Indo-Pak war, who also used to be former Jawa owners. The groups of five IAF officers used to be called the Hell's Angels and were part of the same squadron in 1971. One of the veterans, Group Captain Ashok Bhagwat even took one of the new Jawa motorcycles for a short spin around the Maneckshaw Centre in New Delhi.
The Hell's Angels in 1966 with their original Jawa motorcycles
With the Forever Heroes initiative, Classic Legends intends to continue supporting the education of children of martyred soldiers who have given their life for the country in the line of duty. Now Jawa is committed to facilitate interactions of its employees and customers through its network and other suitable occasions with the armed forces personnel to help build regard and respect for their contribution to the country. The company delivered the first few motorcycles to its customers by getting them handed over by veterans, ex-servicemen and serving officers.
Jawa has been on a roll since the brand was resurrected and in just over six months since launch, the company has expanded its pan-India footprint to over 100 dealerships. On an average, many dealerships are receiving booking requests of more than 500 a month. Deliveries of the bikes have begun, but there's still a long waiting period for customers as the company scales up production to meet the number of bookings in the coming months.
