Couple on cycle journey to spread Bapu's message

Bhopal, Sep 20 (UNI) With the noble objective of propagating Gandhian philosophy, a young couple -- who hail from Tamil Nadu and began a cycle journey from Madurai on July 15 -- has reached this City of Lakes and was welcomed by various organisations and students.

M Karupaiyya and Chitra, who arrived here yesterday and plan to end a 5,000-km-long and roughly two-and-a-half-month journey in Jammu and Kashmir, told UNI that their itinerary includes Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Delhi, Haryana and Punjab.

Their cycle has a picture of the Father of the Nation in front while their luggage occupies the carrier. The duo believe that Gandhian thought alone can quell spiralling terrorism, improve living standards of the poor and establish lasting peace in India.

''We cover 50 km daily. NGOs help in facilitating discussions with schoolchildren and college-goers. The response is positive,'' says Karupaiyya who runs the Gandhian National Integration Social Work Movement Trust.

A language barrier compels them to seek local help. The cycle suffered damage twice but was repaired with public cooperation.

''I fell ill at Nagpur. Due to inclement weather and poor roads, we are able to cover only 50 km but will increase it to 70 to 80 km per day. In the course of ten journeys, I have covered about 12,500 km,'' Karupaiyya adds.

The couple will leave for the citadel town Gwalior tomorrow.

UNI AG-AC SY KN1736