The peaceniks on wheels began their journey on June 1 in Kanyakumari and were in the capital on Sunday. They plan to reach the Wagah border around Independence Day. One of their key appeals is that India and Pakistan should have a joint two-day independence celebration on August 14 and 15. The group is carrying a petition, which has over 5,000 signatures, demanding lasting peace. They plan to deliver it to the prime ministers of both the countries.
Praveen Kumar Singh (30) is leading the pack. Singh, who hails from Ghazipur, is a student of Buddhist Studies at Delhi University and the convener of Delhi University Students for Peace. "On our way we met students, farmers, professionals -- all kinds of people. Everybody supported us. If people are aware, then the India and Pakistan governments will also pay more attention to this issue," he said. The group managed to meet Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit and get a support letter from Gujarat CM Narendra Modi.
Frail, short and thin, Dr Oza is accompanied by five other senior citizens from Gujarat. She said that the group managed to find food and accommodation in places of worship or in dharamshalas and they are both excited and anxious to reach Wagah. "I don't know how visa officials at the border will react to a group of people just cycling through," Oza added.
The group came together after almost two months of offline and online campaigning. Singh said the idea of a road trip on cycles struck him when he saw a group of students protesting against the lack of hostels in Delhi University. The administration, he said, told them that there were no funds to construct one. "That set me thinking. All over the country, we are short of funds for welfare activities because we spend most of it on defence. So we thought peace between the two neighbours will be fundamental for development in other areas," said Singh, who is travelling light with two sets of clothing in a small backpack and hopes to do similar trips to Dhaka and Beijing.
The group has covered over 3,000km so far on regular cycles with no special features to aid them on rough terrain. The only gear bike in the group belongs to 18-year-old Faisal Latif. A geography student from Jamia Milia Islamia University, he joined the group in Delhi for the remaining journey. Latif had cycled from Kashmir to Kanyakumari last year. But this trip beyond the border will perhaps be a special one.
Source: http://tinyurl.com/oqjqtnl
Post a Comment