BACK TO ROOTS – BICYCLE YATRA

I have been dreaming of going back to my roots – my village and back To Hyderabad – on a bicycle for a long time. It is my bicycle yatra – pilgrimage.  As I cycled for two days – morning 6:00 AM to 4:00 PM, people looked at me as if they were seeing an extinct animal. For them it was like driving 1940’s Buick in 2024! People think they came a long way from bicycle; the truth is – they have regressed. The so-called comforts of Science and Technology became a curse! In every sphere of human activity technology has entered. There is absolutely no need for the people to move, even to make a slightest movement; people eat, over eat; drink, get drunk; rest, continue to rest; and celebrate unending festivals of long dead gods. Almost all people have some ailment or the other – BP, Diabetes, heart diseases, cholesterol, obesity etc., thus becoming a liability for themselves. Moreover, these very people blame many others for not providing enough human right comforts. This is what I have observed while crossing metropolitan cities, towns, villages, hamlets on my bicycle. The life style of the people is to live in lifeless comforts of technology. The people have successfully ruined themselves and their future. The life cannot not take this more; it has already burst; imploded silently.

Thousands of vehicles swished past at an obscene speed. I cannot talk of two wheelers; they have broken the barriers of every vulgar human imagination. On both sides of the roads two things can be observed prominently and continuously – Eateries and Temples. People are swarming them; listing to the crazy demands of these very people, even gods ran away!

Throughout the 250 km (one way), I found a fuel station at every 2 km distance. Hospitals boasting to their ability to perform any surgery and cure every disease at no cost! Few of them even claimed that they could give ‘life’ too! I saluted and respected every doctor, for they are the warriors and conquers of death in this modern comfortable world.

People looked at me as if I am crazy to cycle, for them the term ‘cycle’ is ancient. I was sweating, puffing and enjoying living with lungs full of fresh air. I had no pains; nor did I feel bored of cycling. Mile after mile, inch after inch, I was discovering the miracles performed by the Super Supreme. I cursed myself from being away for so long from this unlimited bliss.

I was thinking and intently searching for a foot print of either of my grandfather or father or mother on either side of the long winding road. They had walked through the same route. I know they cannot exist. But there is no harm in searching. Am I stupid? Am I hoping against the hope? What is wrong in hoping against the hope? This is purely personal.

The Science and Technology (S&T) has taken over humans. It has inundated the people. Human beings ceased to exist as free willed people. They are having 200% comfort of S&T. This brings me to a basic question: “How much S&T does a human being need?”, like the Biblical question “How much land does a man need?” We have never asked this question. As I said, what we have is over 200% of S&T. For a healthy and comfortable life, we need no more than 5% of S&T.

These were the thoughts in my innermost core. My every faithful companion and friend Mr. Santosh following me on his bike at a distance. His support is essential in case of unfortunate emergency. My thoughts were interrupted by two good Samaritans belonging to Malyala Mandal of Jagtial district, Telangana State. They are the forever do-gooders. They are M/s Korutla Ravi & Azaharuddin.

I wrote some time ago about Mr. Korutla Ravi. You can see what I wrote here: The Barber Worker of Telangana. He is a barber by profession, knows his work well. I would rather say he is perfect at his profession. He is also my favorite personal barber and I always travel to my native village, from any corner of the world, to have the honor of getting a haircut done by this perfectionist. He was in the lime light, is in the limelight and will always be in the limelight. He is one of the unforgettable heroes of Telangana – who fought selflessly and successfully for the formation of the state of Telangana a decade ago. He has no tall ambitions of being recognized for his contribution in the formation of Telangana state. Says Ravi “Fighting for freedom with the British was much easier than fighting for the formation of Telangana. The fact that we had to fight for Telangana says it all”.

Azhar is a very humble auto-rickshaw driver by occupation with a sincere interest to serve the people. I think he is born to serve. He is a popular personality. Calling him a politician will be insulting him. He is also the MPTC member with his feet firmly planted on the ground. He never thinks big of himself. He knows the ground realities and has realistic outlook towards life. Azhar is tall, lean with an ever-smiling face. Fortunate is those who take a ride in his auto rickshaw. Azhar is a God-fearing man and a master story teller. These qualities are given to Azhar by the Almighty. He is like a magnet; he attracts people towards him and to reality.

Both Azhar & Ravi received me with loving warmth. They asked for the reason for this bicycle yatra. My reply was the truth and that is “Do I need a reason to travel to my ancestral village?” They were extremely happy to know of my love to my village Nookapalli. They requested if they can share my love with all the villagers through a small news insertion in the local press. I had agreed. In that agreement I realized that my bicycle yatra is nothing when I compare with the love I received from Ravi & Azhar. Thank you, sirs.

Dr. K. Raja Gopal Reddy is a seasoned internationally qualified Insurance professional. What you are reading here, may not answer all the questions we have, but has the absolute power of asking unsettling questions which increase the interest in the strange world, and show the contradictory wonders lying just below the surface of the commonest things of life. Look at this disturbing but beautiful thought of Friedrich Nietzsche “God is dead. God remains dead. And we have killed him”.

Dr. Reddy can be reached at: raja66gopal@gmail.com