July 25, 2024 09:28 PM IST
Aarav and his father Dr. Atul Bharadwaj will pay tribute to the martyred heroes of Kargil by cycling for 13 days from the Kargil War Memorial to the National War Memorial in Delhi.
On the silver jubilee of the Kargil war (25 years of India’s victory), 12-year-old Aarav Bhardwaj from Delhi will begin his 1,200-km journey on a bicycle from the Kargil War Memorial in Kargil, Ladakh on July 26. Accompanied by his father, Delhi-based spine surgeon Dr Atul Bhardwaj, the father-son duo will cycle together while his grandfather, 66-year-old advocate, MS Bhardwaj will accompany them in a vehicle to the National War Memorial in Delhi. The eighth-grade student plans to complete the 1,200-km journey in 13 days by cycling for an average of 10 to 12 hours a day.
Speaking to us from the Kargil War Memorial, where he hopes Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off his cycling yatra, he told us, “I have been preparing for this for the last two years and for the last three months, my father and I have been gradually increasing our distance to around 90 kilometres per day while cycling with weights on our ankles.”
Though it is a tough journey, Aarav is excited that three generations are coming together for this cycle journey to honour the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the country, as well as the people of his village from Rohtak in Haryana. He adds, “My father has always told me stories of the freedom struggle and the war heroes of India. After hearing about the bravery of the people of my village, I too have been inspired to join the defence service when I grow up. I have always loved cycling and have been doing it since the age of 3. Though we have practised a lot in Delhi, this is an unknown territory for me. There is a lot of unknown about the hilly terrain and the weather conditions too.”
Extending full support to his son in this journey, Dr. Atul says, “Seeing Aarav’s passion, everyone from his friends to school and our entire family has extended full support to his journey. We are planning to start our day at 5 am and try to cover as much distance as possible. We will stay at government guest houses, army accommodation and even roadside dhabas. After reaching Delhi on August 8, we will pay tribute to the martyrs at the memorial.”
At the age of 10, he cycled 2,612 km from INA Museum Moirang in Manipur to National War Memorial in Delhi for 32 days to celebrate the 75th Independence Day Amrit Mahotsav and 125th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose.
