The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : At 70, 70,000 km to go

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Apr 13, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

At 70, 70,000 km to go

By Swahilya

M. Govinda Rao... raring to go. — Photo: N. Sridharan

CHENNAI, APRIL 12. B.M. Govinda Rao of Karnataka is 70. A bit hard to believe when he you see him sit astride his sleek, shiny TVS Victor, and hear that he's zipped up and down the length and breadth of the country.

His dream: doing one lakh km, wending his way through all the States. Mr. Rao says: "Older people usually think that age has set in and get stuck, forgetting to enjoy life. My effort is to create an awareness about how not to get caught up with the thought of old age but [to] live life to the fullest."

Two years ago he set out to explore the country on his bike at his own cost. He travelled for nine months covering 30,000 km through the cities and villages of Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand and Sikkim.

The trained Reiki master usually travels non-stop from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., covering 500 km a day, taking breaks only to eat. He once stayed overnight at a police station. "I have always had a warm welcome and have often been provided facilities to stay in Andhra Pradesh and Orissa."

His journeys are also aimed at spreading awareness of the power of meditation. "It does not do any harm, and has the strength to heal diseases," he tells young persons en route.

Even though he to ride 70,000 km more to complete his target, he wants to start afresh, this time with official support. He has communicated his wish to the Chief Minister, the Governor and other State and Central Government officials. The places he likes best are Cherrapunji, Gangtok and Darjeeling. "With nobody there, it is like going through the clouds," he says.

Mr. Rao stays at an ashram in Uthandi studying Sanskrit and Vedanta.

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