Darjeeling :

For India’s first woman Land Rover trainer Samantha Dong (28), it’s all about keeping the family legacy alive. Samantha had assured her grandfather Lakpa Tshering Dong that she would one day drive his lightweight Land Rover on the treacherous Sandakphu route. She has done that umpteen times since 2008.

She will head to Noida next month for the challenging Land Rover Experience Above and Beyond Tour. “The LRE tour event is held every month in different states. In Chandigarh, I instructed 10-12 Land rover enthusiasts. It is a nice feeling to share my experience with others,” she said.

Lakpa Tshering had purchased the lightweight series II-A war model Land Rover in the 1970s from Nepal. He used to ferry passengers and rations from Ghoom to Sandakphu to make a living.

But it was her father Kiran who trained her to drive the vehicle. Of the nine siblings, Samantha is the only one who drives the Land Rover, a passion that she now has developed into a career. “I was around 11-12 years when I first held the wheel of a car. It was our family’s Maruti Omni. I used to sit on my father’s lap who taught me to operate it,” she said.

Samantha has a master’s degree in public administration in 2016.

Life changed for Samantha when she participated in the Teesta Rangeet Tourism Festival in Darjeeling in December, 2017. She was the only female participant. Samantha was spotted by Asish Gupta, director of Cougar Motor Sport, during the event. Impressed by her capabilities, he had her inducted as a Land Rover instructor.

Samantha was, again, the only female driver in the seventieth anniversary celebration organized by Land Rover from Maneybhajyang to Sandakphu on April 30. She has been featured in leading auto magazines such as Top Gear, Overdrive and Autocar. As instructor Samantha is required to provide information about and knowledge about how the land rover runs and its features as she sits next to the learners.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> News> City News> Kolkata News / by Deep Gazmer / TNN / June 11th, 2018