2 from Bengal pedal 4,249 km from Kashmir to Kanyakumari in 17 days
Times of India | 18 November 2025
Kolkata: Braving harsh terrains, unpredictable weather conditions, and mechanical challenges, two cyclists from Bengal—an engineering student and a chartered accountant—pedalled 4,249 km to travel from Kashmir to Kanyakumari in 17 days.
On Sunday, they completed the cycle expedition—titled as ‘Ride for Unity'—along with 148 other participants from different parts of the country.
Interestingly, the 19-year-old engineering student, Aritro Sarkar—who hails from Andal under Durgpaur subdivision—was the youngest participant of the expedition. Chartered accountant, Rajesh G. Sharma (38)—a resident of Mudiali in Kolkata—was the other participant from Bengal.
Organised by FIT India under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, the expedition was flagged off at Kashmir on October 31, marking the 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. All the riders were felicitated on Monday.
Both Sarkar and Sharma clocked over 250 km to 300 km daily on an average as their pedalling started at 6 am and continued as late as 2 am. The cyclists had to pass through Punjab, Delhi, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu.
After achieving this feat, the duo will return to Kolkata on Tuesday.
For Sarkar, who had been on cycling trips within the state before, this expedition was a first-of-its-kind experience. "Prior to this, I had pedalled to places like Susunia hills in Bankura and Ayodhya hills in Purulia. But, this expedition was a tougher challenge," he said. Sarkar had applied for the expedition about two months back to explore new places and create memories.
Sarkar had started cycling at the age of five. His father, Apurba Sarkar, shared how the family supported his passion for the pedal and let him travel to Kashmir.
Much like Sarkar's family, Sharma's daughter had also been the wind beneath his wings.
"I undertook this journey for my daughter and dedicated this achievement to my family and friends. It is a testament to the spirit of perseverance and dreams," Sharma said.