When I heard from friends in Conakry, that a Cyclist from Nepal with origins from India was there and his next destination was The Gambia, I didn't really think of it in terms of the magnittude of the effort. The thoughts bordered around possibilities of where I was to house him and what his agenda would be.
That was a few weeks ago. Four days back I received a call in the evening, in typical Gorkhali / Nepali accent. I'm aware of the accent with several members of the family having and currently served in the Army in the 2/8GR and thus my sister and neice too speaking the language fluently.
'Mein Lok Bandhu Karki hoon sab', he announced his arrival in Hindi over the phone. 'On cycle' he added . Ending the announcement with a 'sir' at the end. Probably a reflection of his upbringing in Indian Army environments.
We met at my office the following day after he spent the night in a Hotel in Banjul ( about 10 KM away). Dressed in a typically Nepali cream coloured cross breasted kurta pyjama, very neatly, with the trademark Nepali topi (cap) he entered profusely sweating and yet not giving one the impression of having cycled all the way from Nepal.
Over the last four days he has given us glimpses of his journey. Methodically collecting newspaper cuttings, photographs and testemonials from each of the 64 countres before arrivng here in The Gambia, he has recounted stories of his endurance, troubles, and successes during his 75,000KM journey from Nepal, India through Asia, South Africa upwards through the East Central and West Africa - all by bicycle except for one or two flights over continents or Island nations. He aparently left Nepal on the 7th of December, 2004 (an anniversary of Peral harbour if I'm not mistaken)
Stories on how they were Four at one point of time - two of whom passed away duing the journey - with illnesses and one accident in Laos. He has voyaged alone for the lat two years or so, dealing with weather, bad roads, governments, rebels, battle zones, rivers, Visas, accomodation , thieves, punctures etc - he has made his way exhausting 4 bicycles during the process. Near death experiences in Sudan, where he didnt know that he couldnt use the national Flag in the rebel areas, and thus almost was executed to brief meetings with Kofi Annan. At 130KM per day at his best, he stops in the evenings at the best possible place that he can sleep - petrol stations, homes, huts, bus stations... to make a few friends, exhibit his ever growing album and distribute his leaflets on pease and harmony - then he moves on.
The message he gives though sounding like a memorised mentally recorded message - is of spreading peace and harmony among people of the world. He similarly rattles out the names o 65 sountries in succession reminding me of our prose recitations in school.
He has no sponsors per say but at each destination, a majority in which he has found support of Indians - he now is accustomed to approachingh Indian associations or Consulates for assistance and says that he has never been turned away. We have done our part and given him 1500US$ from the Indian Community here to carry him to the next stage of his journey. We have also given him a solar torch ( ZonLight ) which will hopefully brighten up his nights and also help him charge his phone while he cycles on - adding to his zero carbon footprint trip.
He moves on to cover the 113 countries he has targetted till 2013. Tomorrow through Senegal then mali, Guinea Bissau and Mauritania and then he intends to 'hop' across to South America and finish his tour with Europe provided he is able to get a Visa.
Questions float around my head - Why does one undertake this voyage. Was it for fame, money or just an experience. Doesnt one lose heart half way through the journey. Someone once said that life was itself a journey. Perhaps this is his life.
