Pedaling for fallen heroes

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, March 27

He hung his boots last year when he retired from service, but the adventure didn’t stop for the 59-year-old Major General Somnath Jha. In his unique way, paying homage to the fallen heroes of Indian Armed Forces, he took a journey on cycle, pedaling across 26 states, covering roughly 9,500 km in 160 days. All geared up, he reached Amritsar early this afternoon, as he shared the passion behind his unusual journey.

“My expedition is about remembering the martyrs as I cycle for two minutes for every fallen hero. According to an estimate, we have 21,000 martyrs, so that means I have set myself up for cycling 42,000 minutes, out of which I have competed 38,000 minutes already. I started my journey from Ambala Cantonment on 19th October 2016 and will probably complete in on 19th April at Amar Jawan Jyoti in New Delhi,” he said.

Travelling across 26 states, Punjab being the 26th, the three states he will pedal through next are Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttrakhand. Covering the length and breadth of the country, he says that his motive is to not miss even a single state. “We have martyrs from all across these states, so I wanted to do this without missing out on my original route plan.” While he is happy to wear his passion for his country on his sleeve, fatigue and injury do not bother him much. “I have served my country for so long that these things don’t matter. I plan to compete my journey in time that is within these 23 days left.”