Knowing India through bicycle expedition

It must have been around April or May of 2019. A newspaper in Mumbai published a small news item about a student of J J School of Arts, Mumbai, who was to embark on a bicycle expedition throughout India. That’s all! Not a line more. That triggered my curiosity. I could see a story in this news item and I am surprised the newspaper missed it. 

We had just started Chinha Art News and Snehal Balapure was working with me then. I asked her to gather more information and that is how we came to know about this highly enthusiastic youth Prateek Jadhav. 

Prateek was pursuing his final year in sculpture at J J School of Arts in Mumbai. Snehal got in touch with him and wrote a beautiful piece on Prateek. This was her first attempt at writing but her efforts until now had finally paid off. That article by Snehal received very good response and was widely circulated. The article received numerous likes on Facebook too. People had started asking who is Prateek? People started seeking his phone. We have published the same article again on our website today. In case you have still not read yet, do read it.  

A lot of people came forward to help this young man. Help started pouring in from all quarters. On some occasions, we had to contain these offers. Some donated clothes, some shoes and bag while one person donated a bicycle to him. Financial aid was plenty. His journey started from JJ, Mumbai. Gradually he started sending in his experiences to Chinha in the form of small articles and this too was widely read and appreciated by readers. He had completed more than half his expedition when Corona struck India and he had to stop his bicycle tour mid-way due to lockdown. He was in West Bengal then. He somehow travelled back to Mumbai and during those times also took part in “Gachhivaril Gappa” (Talk on Terrace), a programme wherein Chinha chats with artists and those associated with the field.

He again started his expedition after almost two years and will end it on April 5-6 at the place from where he embarked on this journey- J J School of Arts, Mumbai. 

Last week, he suddenly called to inform that he was ending his journey and that he would be travelling via Thane to Mumbai. He told me that he was eager to meet me. I immediately decided to hold a talk show with him for ‘Chinha’s’ youtube, Facebook and Instagram handles on April 5 and instantly made an announcement of it. We are holding this programme at 5 pm and this time we have handed over this programme to an entirely new team. Geeta Kulkarni, who has been my associate in most of such programme will be conducting this talk show. With her Kanak Waikar, the Executive Editor of Chinha Art News will also be on the show. I will of course be there too.

We understand that Prateek Jadhav has quite a lot of stories and experience to tell from his 4-5 year long bicycle journey through the country. We also understand that it would not be possible to catch this vast and beautiful journey in one talk show, yet it is going to be our sincere effort to bring to you all these stories and experiences in the most candid manner. Do watch and give us your feedback on it. 

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– Satish Naik,

Editor, Chinha Art News

Chinha’s youtube channel Link :

https://www.youtube.com/@ChinhaMagazine