Nine cycling enthusiasts from various walks of life have joined hands to undertake a unique mission. They are going to cycle all the way from Panvel, near Mumbai to Islamabad, through Wagah, Lahore, and Rawalpindi  - spreading the message of peace between India and Pakistan on their way.

Mumbai, March 1: The group started for their destination on Thursday morning. Dhananjay Madan (47), an employee with Reliance Industries, is leading this unique expedition. Other members of the myriad group include Rupali Nehate (30), a production manager working with a production house, Mandar Karve (22), a doctor doing his post graduation, Vikas Chavan (28), a computer operator, Shraddha Tisgaonkar (28), a senior software engineer, Kaustubh Gujare (22) and Neeraj Ghate (20), both engineering students, Anand Lokhande (29) an insurance agent and Prasad Karve (22), who left his call centre job to participate in this expedition. All the group members except Nehate are residents of Navi Mumbai. Nehate is a resident of Bhayander

The expedition has been organised by the Pakistan-India People’s Forum for Peace and Democracy (PIPFPD)—an organisation which works towards establishing peaceful relations between the neighbouring countries.

“After politicians, even students have been participating in the peace process between the two countries, so why can’t a common man do anything in this regard? said Shraddha Tisgaonkar, a participant.

“We will also attend seminars and functions in Pakistan organised by a team of PIPFD,” added Tisgaonkar. The group is also planning to distribute pamphlets written in Urdu in Pakistan, which will give a boost to the ongoing peace process.

The group is expected to complete the expedition in 41 days. For the task of covering a distance of 3,100 kms, the group has been practicing for the last six months.  Earlier also the group members had cycled from Mumbai to Goa and parts of Maharashtra, to promote other causes.

Though the group has left for Pakistan, they still haven’t got their visas. “We are waiting for the visa clarification. By the time we reach Wagah border, the visa clarification should be done,” said Rupali Nehate.

March 2: Today was the second day of the Panvel to Pakistan Cycle Expedition and the route was toughest. Young cyclists had to climb Kasara Ghat (steep hilly climb) to reach Nashik. They started from Shahpur at 07.00 am and reached Nashik only around 08.00 pm. To climb Kasara Ghat on cycle is not an easy. It is steep and a very long ghat. Normally one can see traffic jam at Kasara Ghat. Even for vehicles it is not easy ghat. But, the cyclists are motivated and all climbed Kasara Ghat though it took long time. But, that was expected. From the beginning, we were of the opinion that Kasara Ghat will be the toughest.

It was thought earlier that cyclists should reach the place where they will be staying before sun set. But, it did not happen in case of Nashik. It is not advisable to travel on cycle at night because night traffic on the highways are always fast. Tonight, they had to use head light of cycle. They passed one of the major challenges.

They were received at Nashik by people from various segments of the society. Media people took their interviews. They also had a meeting with some prominent citizens. They spoke about India - Pakistan relations and the importance of people-to-people contact.

Tomorrow morning they will leave Nashik. Tomorrow night they may stay either at Malegaon or at Chandwad depending upon how much distance they cycle.

March 3: Today's journey to Chandwad was a pleasant one. Chandwad is a tahsil in Nashik District and the distance between two is arund 70 km. Local people had made lodging and boarding arrangements.

Young cyclists reached Chandwad only around 08.30 pm. This was because they started from Nashik quite late. It was necessary to check bicycles after crossing tough Kasara Ghat (steep hilly clinb). It took long time. But, it was most necessary.

Dhananjay Madan and Anand Lokhande said that on the way to Chandwad they met lots of farmers and others and they were curious to know about expedition. Everybody, whom they met and talk, gave their well wishes to the expedition. People appreciated their effort and talked about permanent friendship with Pakistan. The expedition has aroused lots of media attention and people are talking about the mission.

Tomorrow they will halt at Dhule. Local Journalists will be their hosts. Journalists and others are looking forward to meet young cyclists.

March 4: Tonight nine cyclists are staying at Malegaon. Originally, they were to stay at Dhule. Now they will pass Dhule tomorrow afternoon. Malegaon is in Nashik District. Malegaon is known for the powerloom industry. It is also communally sensitive city. It has a large Muslim majority. On the one side of Mosam river predominantly Hindus live and on the other side is predominantly Muslims.

On 8th September Malegaon saw bomb blasts including at Bada Kabrastan. Around 40 people, mainly Muslims, died in the explosions.

Cyclists reached Malegaon in the late afternoon. A meeting was organized at Chaufuli, where Muslims and Hindus participated in sizeable numbers. They met number of young Hindu and Muslim activists, who are working against communalism and for the peace. People in Malegaon are electrified with the sincerity and commitment of the young boys and girls who have decided to pedal more than 3,000 km for the promotion of peace. Local citizens asked them many questions regarding Indo-Pak friendship. Everybody enjoyed the interaction.

Again they will be having meeting with Hindus and Muslims late tonight. The decision of halting at Malegaon was taken only today morning and communicated to Sanjay Joshi, social activist, and he made everything possible. Activists of various organizations welcomed them. Tomorrow morning they will be going to a school before marching.

Today morning they began their onward journey from Chandwad. Everyone of them are fine and in good spirit.

March 5: Today morning all cyclists went to a school in Malegaon. They spoke before around 200 students about India - Pakistan friendship. It was a touchy moment for everyone. It was a frank discussion. Students had many questions. Students, teachers and non-teaching staff appreciated the initiative. Various organizations including Hum Hindustani, Gandhian Organizations, Rotary Club made their stay comfortable and worked hard to organize many programmes.

Yesterday night, they addressed two corner meetings in Malegaon and both of them were well attended. Young cyclists emphasised on communal harmony.

They were able to left Malegaon only around 09.45 am today. They cycled to Songir, a town in Dhule district. They passed Dhule. There was no light in Songir when they were entering. As everybody knows rural Maharashtra is facing severe electricity crisis. People has to live without electricity for 8-10 hours. But, as they entered town electricity came.

Young cyclists on the way to Pakistan will enter Madhya Pradesh tomorrow. They are expected to halt at Sendhwa tomorrow night.

March 6: Nine young cyclists on way to Pakistan entered Madhya Pradesh today. They started their onward journey from Songir in the morning. They were to reach Sendhwa by evening. Friends from Adivasi Mukti Sanghatana (AMS) were there hosts. Accordingly they made arrangements also. But, unfortunately they could not reach Sendhwa. They had to stop at Sendhwa Ghat (steep hilly climb), 12 km before Sendhwa. They had discussion with people at Sendhwa Ghat on IndoPak relations.

Sendhwa Ghat is steep and roads are not wide. They reach Sendhwa ghat in the evening. As road was not wide and because of traffic of heavy vehicles it was not advisable to go further. Because of narrow roads all the time they had to get down of cycle whenever trucks passed them. It was not easy for them to get in touch with friends from AMS because of no network. It became possible through Mumbai only.

Cyclists are staying tonight at Dhaba at Sendhwa Ghat as there is no other option. When I spoke to them they said things are fine. Tomorrow morning they will go to Sendhwa. Friends there have organized some programmes.

Such things are part of this unique Panvel to Pakistan Cycle Expedition. The morale of all young cyclists are high.

March 7: Nine young cyclists on the way to Pakistan from Panvel pedal from Sendhwa Ghat to Khalghat today. They reached Khalghat around 6.30 pm in the evening. As there are no contacts in Khalghat it took some time to settle down. Villagers helped them in making accommodation available. There is a small  Boys school hostel. Teachers and others made one room available to girl cyclists. Others will adjust in the hostel with other boy students.

When I spoke to cyclists they were excited with the response they got from Khalghat residents. They had discussion on various issues including communal harmony, India-Pakistan relation etc.

Today they began onward journey from Sendhwa Ghat. They first went to Sendhwa city. They had meeting with activists of Adivasi Mukti Sanghatana (AMS). Few journalists including Bhaskar and Jain tv came to meet them and discuss. Jain tv took extensive shoot.

Panvel to pakistan Cycle Expedition has generated lots of enthusiasm amongst people whom they have met. As all of them are young it is creating more impact amongst people.

Tomorrow they are planning to reach Indore. But, it seems little difficult as they have to climb two ghats. If they can not make it to Indore, they have to stay at Mhow.

March 8: Nine young cyclists on way to Pakistan from Panvel tonight reached Indore. Today morning they began their onward journey fro Khalghat. They reached Indore around 07.45 pm pedaling around 95 km. One friend from Panvel but settled in Indore has made lodging and boarding arrangement.

Tomorrow is rest day. They are continuously on cycle since 1st March. Tomorrow will be first rest day. Though, in reality it will not be a rest day. They have to get their cycle check and do some necessary repairing. It will take a long time. Apart from that they will be meeting lots of people. They are also likely to meet journalists. Indore is a major city in Madhya Pradesh.

Everywhere be it a small village or town they are getting spontaneous response from the people. They ask team members several questions about objective of Panvel to Pakistan Cycle Expedition. Convince they are giving them good wishes and expresses solidarity to the mission.

When I spoke to some of cyclists including Rupali they said everybody is fine and feel fresh. They will commence their onward journey on saturday morning.

March 9: Today was a rest day and so everybody is in Indore. It was a rang panchmi day in Indore. It was a festival mood in the city. All nine members of Panvel to Pakistan Cycle Expedition took rest for the first time since they left Panvel on 1st March, 2007.

They got their cycle repaired during day time. Some journalists came and interviewed them. As city was in rang panchmi mood they did not have much interaction with the general public.

March 10: Young cyclists on way to Islamabad, Pakistan from Panvel today rested in Indore. They met quite a few people. They had discussion with common people in the market. Some students came to meet them and had long discussion with them on peace in South Asia.

Tomorrow morning they will commence their onward journey. They are expected to reach Shajahanpur for stay at night. Some local people from Indore will be making lodging and boarding arrangements at Shajahanpur. Indore - Shajahanpur is 95 km.

Team members said they will reach Shahjahapur by tomorrow evening.

March 11: Today evening our nine young cyclists, who started from Panvel on 1st March for Pakistan, reached Shajahapur. They started from Indore and pedal 95 km to reach Shajapur. They town around 5.45 pm. As they had rest yesterday and a day before they covered this much distance before sun set.

On the way they distributed leaflets emphasizing on the India - Pakistan friendship. The leaflets are in Hindi and Urdu. While distributing leaflets they also had talk with people on the way to Shajahapur. Local people has organized their lodging and boarding. Though we had no contacts at many places but people are coming forward and making necessary arrangements.

Tomorrow the plan is to reach Biora. Then Shahupuri and Gwalior. There also we have no contacts but cyclists are making friends everywhere they are visiting. I spoke to Dhananjay Madan (team leader), Rupali Nehate & Shraddha Tisgaonkar. Everybody are fine and in cheerful mood.

- Jatin Desai is  member of Pakistan India Forum for Peace and Democracy and continues to report on this effort. He can be contacted at 093222 55812.