Five retired Mumbaikars completed a 4,000km cycle journey from Kashmir to Kanyakumari with the message of ‘Pollution Free Bharat’. Apart from the message of reducing pollution, the journey also aimed at spreading awareness about personal health and an active lifestyle for elderly people.
Jayanti Gala (55), Mangal Bhanushali (64), Satish Jadhav (67), Manoj Chougule (62) and Jeetendra Jain (56), all based in Mumbai, were largely unknown to each other but got connected through their common interest in cycling. Their shared interest got them together to complete their dream cycling journey covering the country’s north end to south end.
Ghatkopar-based Bhanushali, who is a former civic corporator and has also sever as the chairperson of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s health committee, has turned towards adventure as soon as he turned 60. He has become a certified scuba diver and a paragliding pilot and has also completed Mt. Everest base camp trekking, all while battling cancer and getting cured from the deadly disease.
Similarly, Gala, who has been friends with Bhanushali for a long time, has opted retirement from his own grocery store and has completed cycling trips from Mumbai to Lonavala, Mumbai to Mata No Madh in Kutch and Chennai to Rameshwaram. Both these retired adventure enthusiasts got connected with Jadhav, Chougule and Jain and decided to execute their dream trip together. They prepared for the journey by cycling for 50km to 100km daily and even took a trip together to Alibaug on their cycles.
This group of elderly cyclists took up the cause of environment degradation and advocated for ‘pollution-free Bharat’ for more than 4,100km that they paddled their way from Kashmir to Kanyakumari. The group started their journey from Srinagar’s Lal Chowk on January 16 and ended their 40-day trip at Kanyakumari via Jammu, Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka and Kerala. The group covered a distance of over 100km everyday without any assistance vehicle and completed the last stretch of 230km in 22 hours.
“Waste disposal in public areas has been a common sight in this country. Similarly, the use of pollution-causing vehicles has increased. We wanted to spread awareness among people that cycling will not only result in reducing the pollution but also positively impact a person’s health. It is important for us to shift back to cycling. As a senior citizen cycling group, our motive was also to inspire other elderly people to accept an active lifestyle,” said Gala.
The group conducted awareness lectures related to pollution and environment at various schools and colleges throughout their route. While they paddled their way from one city to another, various communities and government officials also welcomed them and flagged-off their trip.
“Many senior police and defence personnel, who have been good friends from my time as the corporator, welcomed us at various places where they are currently posted and also assisted us in many ways. Specially in Kashmir, we were provided with escort vehicles who paved way for us so that we can pass through the region safely. Overall the experience was memorable as we cycled in scorching heat as well as snowfall. Lieutenant Banvari Lal and his team assisted us throughout our journey across Rajasthan,” said Bhanushali.
