Journalism of Courage
Retired Wing Commander Surendra Deshpande remembers everything as though it happened yesterday — his commissioning into the Indian Air Force; flying sorties during the Indo-Pak wars of 1965 and 1971; and even his travels across the nation. Seated comfortably at his residence at the Tridal Nagar Cooperative Housing Society,Deshpande shares his latest adventure — a road trip from Pune to his birthplace Amravati on a bicycle. While he retains the seriousness and discipline of having led a life in uniform,his bicycle journey reflects his free-spirit. He describes the road trip,the sun beating down on his back and the amusing people he encountered.
I just had to do it for myself, he says. Everyone around me,including people I met during the trip,asked me why I was doing this especially since I was retired! he adds. But for Deshpande,this wasnt about anything else but traveling to his hometown to revisit lost memories.
Deshpande began at 6.30 am on February 20. Chalking out the route,he decided to make stops at Ahmednagar,Aurangabad and Jalna. I stayed at the Majhi Sainik Vishramgruha,which is a rest house for ex-servicemen, he says. On an average,he cycled for 100 kms everyday,and spend six to eight hours on the road. He says,The first day was difficult. Even though I had done practice runs,the weather had just changed and the temperatures were soaring during the day time. And by the time I reached Nagar,I was very tired. But the second day onwards,I got used to the heat,the road and the people.
In Mahekar,a small town ahead of Jalna,he encountered a drunk taxi driver. The man ran behind me for almost hundred metres because he wanted to ferry me to my destination. When I told him I would be cycling down,he felt dejected and just walked away! Deshpande laughs. He also stayed at a temple in Karanja. The total distance he covered in a span of five days was 530 kms. It just felt so good. I was revisiting the land of my childhood after so many years. En route I even managed to prove to myself that I was fit enough to undertake something of this sort, he says.
Whats next on his agenda? Teaching Yoga,his new found passion,to those who are interested. I might take a road trip again,but I dont really know when. I will continue to teach yoga. That is the purpose of our existence to constantly be useful to both ourselves and the society around. Otherwise there is no point in living a life that doesnt make a difference to anyone, he says.
