Pedalling progress

The rally was received by medical practitioners, students and interested onlookers at all the stops en route. The rally passed through Kunjir Wadi, Uruli Kanchan, Yawat, Patas, Kurkumbh, Indapur, Tembhurni, Mohol to reach Sholapur on December 22, where they were greeted by 200 school-children encouraging the rally8217;s message 8211; a memorable event. At each stop, they would spread their message using different media like lectures, slide-shows, street plays and handbills.

The group included Shirish Patwardhan, the project coordinator, who says, 8220;my friend, Dilip Sarda and I took to cycling after our sojourn in Goa in October, 1996. And during a subsequent visit to Europe we realised the social benefits of cycling. At the World Congress, a cycle rally was organised for charity and although some of us participated, the speed and fitness of the foreign participants was astonishing. The idea of including a physical event in a conference appealed to me immensely8221;.

Back in Pune, Patwardhan planned an event with other doctors and the backing of the National Conference of Doctors, who helped raise funds.8220;Initially, we had just planned a rally to promote fitness. But later we combined a more pressing social cause with it, that is safe motherhood,8221; says Patwardhan.

And how does cycling help in promoting safe motherhood? 8220;Safe motherhood primarily deals with maternal mortality. Eradicating/reducing maternal mortality, eradicating pollution and enhancing fitness epitomise the rally, which, seen in a broader perspective, is an extension of protecting Mother Earth, which is our responsibility,8221; says Patwardhan.

There8217;s a simple connection between safe motherhood, eradicating pollution and using the cycle, since both do not command the attention of the medical fraternity they deserve. And they lead to substantial savings.8220;Use of the cycles would appeal to the rural population, we thought. The cycle also helps in focussing on the benefits eradicating pollution and the advantages of the bicycle. We tried to emulate Mahatma Gandhi who led by example and visibility. Act, do not wait vaat phahu naka is our new mantra now,8221; says Patwardhan.

From Sholapur onward, Anedurg and Naldurg proved to be interesting stopovers for the cyclists. At Anedurg they met Dr. Ahankari, who trains village women to serve as a link between the medical practitioner and the community. At Naldurg, they visited a school run for orphaned children from the Latur earthquake, where more than 300 children are provided with residential facilities and education. The rally turned out to be a learning experience as well!

Their arrival at Hyderabad was received by the leading doctors in the city. They were felicitated by the Director General of Police, Andhra Pradesh, and this ceremony coincided with the 42nd All India Conference of Gyneacology and Obstetrics, whose theme for the year is Mother8217;s Health 8211; National Wealth.8217; Souvenirs on the subject were also distributed.

After this successful rally, the group plans to organise many more such physical and interactive events with social purposes, under the banner of Pune Cycle Pratishthan, and Pune Obstetric and Gyneacological Society.