“When I look back at my past, I feel mystified some times. We lived a very simple life, far from any affluence in our childhood. But, we knew how to absorb satisfaction from little things . I was not good at any game and was very introvert in nature. After joining FCI in Sindri (Jharkhand state), I found some friends bicycling to Deogarh and other nearby places . Bicycle was the most common mode of transportation at that time. I proposed to my friends that I would join them, if they would come up with a long trip. To my astonishment, the proposal was accepted and a cycle trip from SINDRI to KASHMIR was planned! It was an unthinkable and audacious plan! This was in August 1970. I was just 26 years old and a bachelor . Except for our leader, the others in our five member team were also bachelors. Our expedition turned out semi-official, the corporation approved it but would not finance it or take responsibility. We started our journey on 20th August and it took us 25 days to reach our destination. It was an unheard-of journey in those times wherein we cycled 2000 kms of India on Grand Trunk (GT) Road through Sasaram, Varanasi, Allahabad, Kanpur, Lucknow, Agra, Mathura, Delhi, Ludhiana, and finally Jammu! Raghunathji Mandir at Jammu was our finishing and deliverance point. “
With Pranab Mukherjee
Picture Credit Pranab Mukherjee
Picture Credit Pranab Mukherjee
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