The Hindu : National : A gritty journey, with a message

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jun 29, 2005

National

National

A gritty journey, with a message

Shujaat Bukhari

Belgaum youth repeats feat; reaches Srinagar after 34 days of cycling

Dheeraj Gurunath Revankar in Srinagar on Tuesday. — Photo: Nissar Ahmad

SRINAGAR: A 22-year-old from Belgaum, Karnataka, has reached here after cycling 3,350 km. For Dheeraj Gurunath Revankar, Monday was a happy day, the day he completed his mission with the message: "Polio Free, Pollution Free India."

"My mission is complete, that too in this beautiful place which really is paradise," said Dheeraj. He started his trip on May 24. He passed through Mahrashtra, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Delhi and Punjab.

Dheeraj's typical day during the journey would start early. He covered an average of 100 km a day. "I used to take with me some bottled water. I enjoyed road-side food, in dhabas," he said.

All expenses were borne by the Rotary Club of Belgaum South. "Boarding, lodging and food was taken care of by them. I interacted with 70 Rotary Clubs." In Srinagar he was received by Sameer Wazir, treasurer, Rotary Club of Kashmir.

Impressed by Kashmir

Impressed by Kashmir's beauty and the "normal situation" here, Dheeraj said he would seek to spread the "good message" and urge people to make Kashmir their favourite destination.

He met hundreds during the journey and interacted with them on the issues of eradicating polio and pollution.

Working for the environment has been his passion. He distributed pamphlets and caps for children.

Dheeraj owns a printing press back home. He is the son of goldsmith. His parents were hesitant to let him undertake the trip. "Now they are happy. They have been a source of inspiration for me."

Along the way, the heat, particularly in Rajasthan, was unbearable, he said. "But I was committed to completing this." From Jammu to Srinagar it was a difficult route: he had to make a difficult climb to reach Patnitop, the highest point on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway. Then he had to come down and again cross the mountainous stretch of Banihal tunnel.

The story of the cycle

"I bought my cycle for Rs. 2,100 and I have been using it for three years. It is in good condition." On two occasions he had to change his tyres.

Reliance India Mobile had given him a cellular phone free of cost but he lost it somewhere in Rajasthan.

After spending a few days in Srinagar, he will take up the most difficult part of the journey: from here to Jammu. Then he will return by train.

"I have not decided my next programme," said Dheeraj. His first adventure was a cycle trip in 1999 from Belgaum to Kolhapur. In 2002 he travelled from Belgaum to Banglore. In 2003 he made a trip from Belgaum to Delhi. In 2004 it was a journney from Belgaum to Kanyakumari.

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