Thursday, June 3, 2010

My Yatra! - before starting the Yatra

It was a strange period in my life. I wanted to do this Yatra (Traveling on bike across Bharat for 108 days) but everyone was opposing. My family members were not ready to give bike and money because of love, affection and unnecessary care. I did not slept on 28th and 29th February, continuously I was thinking about the yatra. I called all my friends and asked for bike, but no one was ready to support me and the cause. In that time I was serving for the nation so not having any income source, even I was not having a single rupee in that time.


One of my best friends Sunil Mane called me on 29th Feb and enquired about the preparation of Yatra. I told him everything and informed that I have to cancel the Yatra because I am not having bike. Suddenly he said that he will manage a bike for me.

I planned to go Pune from Chennai, but I had only 100 rupees. I borrowed 500 rupees from a friend (Santhosh Cheta) and booked train ticket on 4th March. I finished all work in Chennai and left to Pune on 4th March 2010.

In the train

I was not having money to have food in the train. I just closed my eyes and sat quietly. One Marwadi family was sitting in front of me. They noticed that I did not have food from yesterday. One of them asked me, I said that I am pure vegetarian so I never take food in the train. They gave me home made food, and said we are Marwadi, pure vegetarian, please have a food.

I arrived in Pune on 5th morning and got the bike from Sunil Mane. It was not in good condition; around seven thousand rupees were required for repairing.

I met to different people on 5th 6th and 7th March, most of them opposed and laughed at me. One of my friend Vipul Shaha supported fully and helped me. His father said, we wanted to contribute for this noble cause.

On 8th March Umesh Sardar called me for lunch, and asked in detail about my Yatra. I told everything. He said we will look for sponsorship, but I opposed because I did not wanted sponsorship from anyone. On the same day Parag Potdar a senior reporter from Lokmat called me, made a nice story and published in Lokmat on next day. I met to Shri Hemant joshi sir in the evening; he liked the project and wanted to help for it. Next day he called me in his office. He managed petrol expenses of the Yatra without any expectation.

My friend Viraj Nikam took responsibility of repairing the bike.

I met to Shri Mahesh jivane in the evening at 10 pm. He gave very important tips for the Yatra and asked me to take photographs. I replied I am not having a camera. He managed a new camera for the Yatra. I met to Shri Babasaheb Purandare on 9th March, he blessed me and asked from where are you starting this yatra? I replied its not decided, then he said come to my home, have milk and start your Yatra, let Mata bhavani bless you and give a great success.

Without nothing, everything! Nothing is everything!

The title sounds funny, but it is true.


I planned to visit the whole Bharat for 108 days without having anything. No money, no bike, no camera, nothing! In others opinion It was a just a silly idea or thought. When I talked with my friends, they asked me, Are you mentally ok? Is anything wrong with you? Any break up, family problem? Etc.

If we believe on our self then success is there. The start itself is a greater success. I became courageous, fearless, and very happy. My all family members strongly opposed me, till that I was happy. On 28th February the Yatra was cancelled, till that I am happy only. I never had such experiences in my life time.

I decided to start on 11th March without informing any one. I have only two pairs of cloths, one old shoes, one bag, one shall, one notebook and hundred rupees. I wanted bike to save time and money but no t having it! I am just traveling to experience and know the Bharat, to know myself.
Now everyone is asking a question how will you manage this journey without having money?

I don’t have anything and I am going to experience nothingness. That nothingness is everything. What we seek outside is there in side, but we can’t look inside because of ignorance, attachment, and fear of different things. These thoughts should be experienced then only we can say that nothing is everything.

I have written this blog before starting the Yatra and experienced that nothingness. I got bike, camera, laptop, petrol expenses without asking anyone. My friends and some good people managed it.