Pune boy rides a cycle into Delhi, records book

Uma Karve

Pune, May 27: Kiran Joshi, 9, recently rode into Delhi from Pune and into the Limca Book of Records, 2002.

At six hours a day, Kiran covered 1,500 km, cycling through Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and into Delhi. His father Mahalaksh, an avid cyclist, and uncle Milind Gadgil were with him.

Vijaykumar Bhumkar, founder and chief of Vijayraj Sarvangin Vikas Kendra Public Charitable Trust, spurred Kiran on and sponsored his tour. The youngster realised his dream when he set out from Pune on April 18 and reached Delhi on May 18.

The feat has brought Kiran instant fame and the feeling is still sinking in. ‘‘I’m really happy I have done it. I would like to make more such records.’’ Kiran’s tryst with the cycle began when he was in class II. With his father’s encouragement, Kiran learnt quick and was soon riding far.

He recounted his latest experience. ‘‘It was fun riding along the highway. We would cycle from 7 to 10 in the morning. Then it would get too hot to cycle. So we would start again around 5 p.m. and continue till 7.30. I remember we were caught in a storm for two hours at Kosi. That was scary. But I wasn’t frightened. I knew I had to go on.’’

Mahalaksh added his bit to the story. ‘‘We were at Pachor in Madhya Pradesh on May 6. Kiran had high fever and an upset stomach. I decided to stop and return to Pune. But Kiran was adamant. He cycled 10 km to the hospital. After a three-day rest he was back on his cycle, ready to go again.’’

Kiran loves it because ‘‘it builds up my muscles and is good exercise too’’. He would need it because the youngster, who enjoys mathematics, wants to serve the country and join the armed forces when he is big.

The long journey to Delhi was not awesome because Kiran was practising by cycling 50 km a day every weekend. On his tour, he covered 50 km a day on a Hercules MBT.

Mahalaksh said: ‘‘The maturity with which he behaved and carried off the journey has made me look on him with so much respect.’’ On April 21, the Limca Book of Records’ editor, Vijaya Ghosh, confirmed Kiran’s entry into the 2002 edition.