Puri: He had lost one of his legs in a mishap a few years ago, but that did not deter him from travelling at least 8,000 km across 10 states on a bicycle to spread awareness about environment protection, sanitation, road safety and such other social issues.
Pradeep Kumar Sen of Indore in Madhya Pradesh now plans to travel across West Bengal, Bihar, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh before calling it a day in his hometown.
Sen, the youngest son of Shantilal and Kiran, had lost his left leg in a mishap while travelling on a train in 2013. Many of his friends and well-wishers had then thought that Sen would never be able to achieve anything big in life.
But, beating all odds, Sen participated in the Smart City Cycle Marathon in Indore in 2014 with the help of an artificial limb. He had also participated in the Dance Indore Dance programme.
Sen, a diploma holder in art, had begun his countrywide cycle tour from his hometown November 14, last year. He has so far pedalled through Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Chhattisgarh.
“I will reach Bengal travelling through places like Cuttack, Angul, Bolangir and Jharsuguda,” said Sen after reaching the Holy City Monday.
According to Sen, many government and non-government organisations have felicitated him during his tour. “I have planned to travel another 10,000 km to spread awareness on plantation drive, road safety and other social issues. I think my cycle tour will find a place in the world record book,” said Sen, who had also acted in a few films in Madhya Pradesh.